National Defence Committee on June 13th, 2017

[Cheryl Gallant, Conservative, Renfrew—Nipissing—Pembroke, ON]

If I understand the comments across the way correctly, the military ombudsman can speak in public any time he or she chooses and say whatever he wants, except he cannot speak in public at this committee. That's what I understand.

Thank you.

[The Chair, Liberal, Stephen Fuhr]

We're back to the amended motion from Mr. Bezan. Essentially it's the exact same one. At the end I've removed the period and added “in camera.”

All in favour?

(Motion as amended agreed to)

[Mark Gerretsen, Liberal, Kingston and the Islands, ON]

What do you have next, James?

[James Bezan, Conservative, Selkirk—Interlake—Eastman, MB]

I'll move the next motion that I gave notice of on May 23. It reads:

That the Standing Committee of National Defence (Committee) study the recent fixed wing search and rescue project competition. That the Committee convene a minimum of three panels, and the Committee hear from the following witnesses: Leonardo S.p.A.; Airbus Defence & Space, and PAL Aerospace; Lisa Campbell (ADM Defence and Marine Procurement), and Patrick Finn (ADM Materiel).

Shall I speak to that?

[The Chair, Liberal, Stephen Fuhr]

Go ahead.

[James Bezan, Conservative, Selkirk—Interlake—Eastman, MB]

As you know, the contract is tied up in court. There is some concern that the budget envelope as well the request for proposals were not clearly outlined to all participants in the tender process.

I think we should look at that competition and determine, after we hear from these witnesses, whether or not we want to write a report at that time. I think we need to clear the air and allow them to speak to how this procurement took place and why it got caught up in court.

[The Chair, Liberal, Stephen Fuhr]

Before I turn it over to Mr. Fisher, if there are proceedings going on, how much are these guys going to be able to talk about it anyways? Are they not just going to show up and say they can't talk about it because it's in some sort of—

[James Bezan, Conservative, Selkirk—Interlake—Eastman, MB]

I understand that they can easily talk to the issue of request for proposals, and because the budget envelope has been inconsistent, they will be able to mention that. What was in the request for proposals is different from what's tied up in the court.

[The Chair, Liberal, Stephen Fuhr]

Mr. Fisher.

[Darren Fisher, Liberal, Dartmouth—Cole Harbour, NS]

Thank you, Mr. Chair.

I think that while this is well-meaning, we have a crazy packed agenda. We have so much stuff. We have the NATO report coming up. We have peacekeeping. I would suggest, respectfully, that we adjourn debate on this.

[The Chair, Liberal, Stephen Fuhr]

Okay.

[James Bezan, Conservative, Selkirk—Interlake—Eastman, MB]

Do you mean adjourn the meeting or adjourn the debate?

[Darren Fisher, Liberal, Dartmouth—Cole Harbour, NS]

Adjourn debate.

[The Chair, Liberal, Stephen Fuhr]

All those in favour of adjourning debate on this particular motion by a show of hands?

[Some hon. members]

Agreed.

[Mark Gerretsen, Liberal, Kingston and the Islands, ON]

Next.

[James Bezan, Conservative, Selkirk—Interlake—Eastman, MB]

From April 3—

[Randall Garrison, NDP, Esquimalt—Saanich—Sooke, BC]

On a point of order, now I'm going to have to try to understand what's going on. We can move to table motions. If we adjourn the debate, we go to a vote on the motion, don't we?

[The Chair, Liberal, Stephen Fuhr]

No.

[Randall Garrison, NDP, Esquimalt—Saanich—Sooke, BC]

Is it tabling a motion in a sense?

[Darren Fisher, Liberal, Dartmouth—Cole Harbour, NS]

If we adjourn debate we can discuss it later.

[The Chair, Liberal, Stephen Fuhr]

Yes, it just goes—

[A voice]

—to tabling.

[The Chair, Liberal, Stephen Fuhr]

He can bring this motion back to the floor.

[James Bezan, Conservative, Selkirk—Interlake—Eastman, MB]

Just like the Liberal budgets, they punt things down the road.