Evidence of meeting #54 for National Defence in the 42nd Parliament, 1st Session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was camera.

A recording is available from Parliament.

On the agenda

MPs speaking

Also speaking

Melissa Radford  Committee Researcher

4 p.m.

Liberal

Mark Gerretsen Liberal Kingston and the Islands, ON

Who normally determines if meetings are going to be televised?

4 p.m.

Liberal

The Chair Liberal Stephen Fuhr

I know the committee can pass a motion.

4 p.m.

Liberal

Mark Gerretsen Liberal Kingston and the Islands, ON

Is that the only thing that dictates it?

4 p.m.

Liberal

The Chair Liberal Stephen Fuhr

What are the resources that go into that?

Cheryl.

4 p.m.

Conservative

Cheryl Gallant Conservative Renfrew—Nipissing—Pembroke, ON

It used to be that anytime there was a minister or a chief of defence staff or anyone of a high stature, a commissioner, he or she would be the one. Specifically we didn't even have to specially request it. It would be automatically televised. But when we decided our routine orders for this particular committee at the beginning, when it was first set up, that was not included. So now, because it's not happening automatically, we have to specify that it does.

4 p.m.

Liberal

The Chair Liberal Stephen Fuhr

James.

4 p.m.

Conservative

James Bezan Conservative Selkirk—Interlake—Eastman, MB

If it's a public meeting and the media want to televise it, the chair has to accommodate. So the media can also—

4 p.m.

Liberal

The Chair Liberal Stephen Fuhr

I don't get the opportunity to say no to that. The media can come if they want.

Sven.

4 p.m.

Liberal

Sven Spengemann Liberal Mississauga—Lakeshore, ON

Just two—

4 p.m.

Liberal

Leona Alleslev Liberal Aurora—Oak Ridges—Richmond Hill, ON

[Inaudible—Editor].

4 p.m.

Conservative

James Bezan Conservative Selkirk—Interlake—Eastman, MB

If it's a public meeting, but not televised, they can make a request. If you remember when we used to be over in East Block, they would sometimes come in and set up their camera behind the chair.

4 p.m.

Liberal

The Chair Liberal Stephen Fuhr

Sven.

4 p.m.

Liberal

Sven Spengemann Liberal Mississauga—Lakeshore, ON

I have two considerations. One is that our agenda is quite full—certainly for the rest of the spring. The second one is that there are probably views on that out there. To add to that through another public meeting may be less productive than to consider at least the possibility of—

4 p.m.

Conservative

Cheryl Gallant Conservative Renfrew—Nipissing—Pembroke, ON

Chair, I don't think he's speaking to the amendment, which is to ensure that—

4 p.m.

Liberal

Sven Spengemann Liberal Mississauga—Lakeshore, ON

I was just about to say that.

4 p.m.

Liberal

The Chair Liberal Stephen Fuhr

He's getting there. Go ahead.

4 p.m.

Liberal

Sven Spengemann Liberal Mississauga—Lakeshore, ON

Because his views are public and we understand his views, I think there may be more value in having this session in camera. Let's have a robust exchange internally in this committee and ask him those things that we think we should contemplate among ourselves as a committee.

4 p.m.

Liberal

The Chair Liberal Stephen Fuhr

Mr. Gerretsen.

4 p.m.

Liberal

Mark Gerretsen Liberal Kingston and the Islands, ON

I agree with Sven. Anything that has to do with oversight or with really digging into an issue, unless the objective is to grandstand, I don't see the point in having it televised.

4 p.m.

Conservative

Cheryl Gallant Conservative Renfrew—Nipissing—Pembroke, ON

Grandstand.

4 p.m.

Liberal

Mark Gerretsen Liberal Kingston and the Islands, ON

Yes, that's what I said. Unless the objective is to grandstand by making something televised, I don't see the point in necessarily doing it. I would think that if the interest is really to get the ombudsman here so we can ask him questions in a very frank manner, then I don't understand why it needs to be televised.

I would not be supporting this amendment. I would further suggest that the meeting should be in camera.

4 p.m.

Liberal

The Chair Liberal Stephen Fuhr

Mr. Bezan.

4 p.m.

Conservative

James Bezan Conservative Selkirk—Interlake—Eastman, MB

I think, Mr. Chair, that's unfortunate language to suggest that the defence ombudsman is going to come in here and grandstand.

June 13th, 2017 / 4 p.m.

Liberal

Mark Gerretsen Liberal Kingston and the Islands, ON

You'd be grandstanding. Sorry, you took that the wrong way.

4 p.m.

Conservative

James Bezan Conservative Selkirk—Interlake—Eastman, MB

I would suggest—