International Trade Committee on May 15th, 2006

[Helena Guergis, Conservative, Simcoe—Grey, ON]

Thank you, Mr. Chair.

I just want to point out that the status of women committee actually agreed to do this as well. I think in keeping with the spirit of having a good working relationship around the table, it would be a good idea to go forward with this.

I think we did a really good job today having the minister here, and I really appreciate all the great questions and the cooperation we've had around the table. I think this just extends that cooperation.

[The Chair, Conservative, Leon Benoit]

Okay. Any further discussion before we go...?

Mr. Cannan.

[Ron Cannan, Conservative, Kelowna—Lake Country, BC]

I just want to reiterate that that was the reason: to try to utilize our committee time more effectively. If we sit around here for half an hour and try to figure out what's on the agenda, we waste half an hour. So we have a subcommittee that tries to build bridges and that works together, as in our first meeting. I think we all have the same objective. I was trying to be accommodating in utilizing our time as efficiently and effectively as possible.

[The Chair, Conservative, Leon Benoit]

Mr. Temelkovski.

[Lui Temelkovski, Liberal, Oak Ridges—Markham, ON]

I believe in our first meeting we did pass a motion and registered as a steering committee who will make up that committee.

[The Chair, Conservative, Leon Benoit]

Yes, and that motion did not have the extra government member, so the chair could be taken out of the position of having to present the government position. That's why this motion has come forward, to change that.

[Lui Temelkovski, Liberal, Oak Ridges—Markham, ON]

My understanding so far on the steering committee is that the chair has the same right as all the other members. It wasn't a non-voting position; it was a position of representing your party and being the chair at the same time.

[The Chair, Conservative, Leon Benoit]

That's correct, Mr. Temelkovski.

The issue is that you don't settle issues at the subcommittee meeting by votes anyway; there has to be agreement. I really don't care which way the committee goes on this; it's up to you entirely, of course, as always.

[Lui Temelkovski, Liberal, Oak Ridges—Markham, ON]

What was that?

[The Chair, Conservative, Leon Benoit]

The clerk just explained to me that in fact at the subcommittee meeting the chair wouldn't get a vote unless there was a tie. I guess that's the normal way business is done; however, this is a committee that operates by consensus.

Are you ready for the question or do you want a little more discussion?

Mr. Menzies, go ahead, please.

[Ted Menzies, Conservative, Macleod, AB]

Could we have a point of clarification on that?

If the planning committee did come to a vote, then the government side wouldn't have a vote unless it was a split decision. Is that correct?

[The Chair, Conservative, Leon Benoit]

That would be correct.

How you determine consensus is always an issue. You've probably been on many committees in which you've tried to determine what consensus means. There is no one definition, of course, for consensus, but that's certainly an issue.

Are we ready for the question?

(Motion agreed to)

[The Chair, Conservative, Leon Benoit]

Is there any other business before the committee before we adjourn?

Mr. Paquette, go ahead, please.

[Pierre Paquette, Bloc, Joliette, QC]

Can you tell me whether or not a meeting is scheduled for Wednesday?

[The Chair, Conservative, Leon Benoit]

Actually we want to have a subcommittee on agenda and procedure meeting tomorrow at 3:30 if we can. If that isn't going to work, then we'll have to have it at the normal committee time on Wednesday. Again, I seek your guidance here.

[Pierre Paquette, Bloc, Joliette, QC]

I won't be here Wednesday and I want to be certain that the subcommittee will not be meeting. I do want to be there when future business is discussed. Is there any chance the steering committee will be meeting on Wednesday?

[The Chair, Conservative, Leon Benoit]

The plan was to have a subcommittee on agenda and procedure meeting tomorrow at 3:30, and that committee will decide on the agenda and take it to the full meeting probably on Wednesday. So a replacement would be necessary.

Yes, Mr. Temelkovski?

[Lui Temelkovski, Liberal, Oak Ridges—Markham, ON]

Who is the member of the Conservative Party that will be on it?

[The Chair, Conservative, Leon Benoit]

Mr. Cannan, I guess.

[Ron Cannan, Conservative, Kelowna—Lake Country, BC]

I got the losing end of the straw. That's another meeting.

[The Chair, Conservative, Leon Benoit]

Monsieur LeBlanc, go ahead, please.

[Dominic LeBlanc, Liberal, Beauséjour, NB]

Mr. Chair, I think that was a useful exchange with the minister, and we were able to get some questions in, but we were hoping it would be a two-hour visit. We understand he had to go to a cabinet committee meeting.

I don't know how you want to proceed, but my hope is that you, on behalf of the committee, can invite him to come back to complete the discussion as quickly as possible. If you'd like a formal motion put forward to that effect, I'd be happy to do so. We had some questions we were hoping to ask, and even in the five-minute rounds we just ran out of time.

[The Chair, Conservative, Leon Benoit]

I would suggest—and this is a good test for whether the subcommittee on agenda and procedure works or not—that members of each party get their input to the member representing them on that subcommittee, and we'll take it from there. I would be very surprised if that weren't one of the things brought to the subcommittee meeting.

Mr. Maloney, go ahead, please.

[John Maloney, Liberal, Welland, ON]

My intervention is the same as Mr. LeBlanc's. We were scheduled for two hours, but we got three-quarters of an hour. At least another hour would be appropriate under the circumstances.

[The Chair, Conservative, Leon Benoit]

Send that message to your representative on the subcommittee.

Ms. Guergis.