Evidence of meeting #1 for Library of Parliament in the 42nd Parliament, 1st session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was agreed.
A recording is available from Parliament.
Conservative
Dave Van Kesteren Conservative Chatham-Kent—Leamington, ON
We are just aware that this motion, which was passed, has not been implemented. To our knowledge, and I think it's public knowledge as well, these records are still not being transferred.
We are asking that we just allow this motion to follow in this....
Liberal
Mark Gerretsen Liberal Kingston and the Islands, ON
I'm curious as to whether the motion is redundant. If the direction has already been given, wouldn't it be incumbent upon the Library of Parliament to follow that direction? If not, is there a reason somebody can offer that it hasn't been followed to date? Is anybody able to provide that information? It seems odd.
The Joint Chair Hon. Lucie Moncion
It does, I'll acknowledge that. I can't answer your question, but we will keep it in mind.
Senator Mercer.
Senator, Nova Scotia (Northend Halifax), Lib.
It would seem to me a very good question, but a question better directed to the librarian. Perhaps, as you develop the agenda for future meetings, the librarian should be one of the first people we hear from. Obviously, one of the first questions will note that this committee passed this motion on said date and will ask why it has not been implemented. That's a good question to put to the librarian, and this is the place to do it.
The Joint Chair Hon. Lucie Moncion
All right. Thank you, Senator.
How do we address this? I come from the Senate, and we talk to senators.
Member of Parliament Wrzesnewskyj.
Liberal
Borys Wrzesnewskyj Liberal Etobicoke Centre, ON
Of course, we'd need to hear from the librarian, but I'm not sure of the exact date you mentioned that the motion was passed. It speaks to the 39th Parliament, and if it were late in the session, that might perhaps be a reason.
I would respectfully suggest, if the intent is to let the sun shine in, that we might fall into a similar situation by just referencing the motion for the current session of Parliament. If a friendly amendment were considered, it would be that we not reference just one particular session, but that going forward this be the policy for all sessions of Parliament. That would then limit us strictly to what we have left going forward.
Conservative
Dave Van Kesteren Conservative Chatham-Kent—Leamington, ON
I see there's some confusion as to whether or not this motion, which was passed—2014, of course is when it was passed—has been implemented.
Could we possibly agree that we adopt that type of motion, but have the Parliaments...?
The problem is this, of course, that the last time we met I think was three years ago. I really wouldn't want to prolong this to a period of time. That's the reason we thought we should make a new motion that would implement this. If we can work something out here, that makes sense....
The intent, of course, is that from this time forward we enact this motion that was passed in 2014.
The Joint Chair Hon. Lucie Moncion
I do have a question for you, or maybe a proposition. Could we ask why it hasn't been implemented and receive the information as to the reasons? Then from there we'll have the answers to the question, and maybe we won't need the motion.
Liberal
Mark Gerretsen Liberal Kingston and the Islands, ON
I was just going to add that there might be a legitimate reason that it wasn't carried out, so just by passing a motion to call on the Library of Parliament to enact a previous motion might not end up accomplishing what you want. Ultimately, what you need is to get the information from the librarian on why this hasn't occurred, and then the next step would be to go from there.
I'm not suggesting that it wait three years for that to happen, but perhaps that's the best course of action. This committee has just tasked itself with something to do, so it would be great to see that information come back so you can understand why and then make a decision as to how to proceed.
Conservative
Colin Carrie Conservative Oshawa, ON
Just to follow up on what Mr. Gerretsen was saying, why don't we just write them a letter? Then we can get the correspondence back and act appropriately, depending on what they say.
Liberal
Mark Gerretsen Liberal Kingston and the Islands, ON
Then we can decide whether to call a meeting to address it at that time.
The Joint Chair Hon. Lucie Moncion
It's a good idea. The other proposition that is being put forward by our helpers here is that in a couple of weeks we could reconvene to look at the estimates. The clerk will be here and we would be able to ask the question at that time.
All right. Is that...?
Conservative
The Joint Chair Hon. Lucie Moncion
Are you withdrawing the motion for now or are you leaving it?
Conservative
The Joint Chair Hon. Lucie Moncion
Okay, then we will reconvene in two weeks on this matter and be able to....
Yes, sir.
Conservative
Colin Carrie Conservative Oshawa, ON
I'm just wondering if it would be prudent to write a letter so that the clerk comes prepared.
