National Defence Committee on Nov. 2nd, 2023

[The Chair, Liberal, John McKay]

Thank you, Ms. Mathyssen.

Am I to conclude that there are no further questions? Okay.

With that, I just want to thank you, Mr. Clark, for your immensely practical advice and the utility of that advice, given that we sometimes get lost in the weeds of these major procurements and that this is actually where things are at for the daily experience of procurement at DND. Thank you for coming up from Cobourg. Thank you for your advice and thank you for your experience.

With that, I'm going to suspend.

[Proceedings continue in camera]

[The Chair, Liberal, John McKay]

Now we're back on.

Earlier there was a motion by Mr. Bezan, which you all currently have. Subsequently Ms. Lalonde moved an amendment to that motion. Mr. Bezan then challenged it for being in scope. I am referring to page 541—

[A voice]

[Inaudible—Editor]

[The Chair, Liberal, John McKay]

Do you mean I'm not going to get a chance to fake this?

Okay, go ahead, Mrs. Lalonde.

[Marie-France Lalonde, Liberal, Orléans, ON]

Mr. Chair, if I have approval with unanimous consent, I would like to withdraw my amendment.

[The Chair, Liberal, John McKay]

Did you say you want unanimous consent to withdraw the amendment?

[Marie-France Lalonde, Liberal, Orléans, ON]

Yes, unanimous consent.

[The Chair, Liberal, John McKay]

Does everybody agree to that?

[Some hon. members]

Agreed.

[The Chair, Liberal, John McKay]

Why did I get all this research done?

Okay, go ahead, Mr. Bezan.

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

I believe there have been some discussions among parties. I will withdraw my motion in favour of a motion being proposed by Ms. Mathyssen, which is a good compromise.

[The Chair, Liberal, John McKay]

Do you have a copy?

Can you read your motion into the record, and are there copies? I have one in front of me....

We will suspend.

[The Chair, Liberal, John McKay]

Okay, colleagues, we're back. Everyone has copies now.

Before I call on Ms. Mathyssen, I'll just review this. Mr. Bezan made a motion. The Liberals proposed an amendment. By unanimous consent, the Liberals withdrew their amendment. Mr. Bezan then withdrew his motion. I don't know whether he needed unanimous consent or not, but it's off.

With that, Ms. Mathyssen, do you wish to speak to your motion?

[An hon. member]

Couldn't she read it into the record?

[Lindsay Mathyssen, NDP, London—Fanshawe, ON]

I will do both.

As New Democrats always seem to be providing compromise and good governance, I am happy to bring this forward.

[Voices]

Oh, oh!

[The Chair, Liberal, John McKay]

Now we're really losing the crowd.

[Lindsay Mathyssen, NDP, London—Fanshawe, ON]

The motion is as follows:

That, pursuant to Standing Order 108(2), the committee undertake a study on the contracting of consulting services and other professional services within the Canadian Armed Forces, including the impact of the reductions announced in budget 2023;

That the committee hold a minimum of two meetings for this study;

That the committee invite the Minister of National Defence, the President of the Treasury Board, the Commander of the Canadian Forces Real Property Operations Group, the Deputy Minister of National Defence, the Assistant Deputy Minister (Finance), the Assistant Deputy Minister (Infrastructure and Environment), and the Assistant Deputy Minister (Review Services).

[The Chair, Liberal, John McKay]

Do you wish to speak to it, other than that?

[Lindsay Mathyssen, NDP, London—Fanshawe, ON]

I believe, ultimately, that this is a compromise between what both the Conservatives and the Liberals were trying to accomplish.

My motion gives further teeth to the study to ensure we have the people in the room to talk about the contracting services that are a significant problem that needs to be looked at and to deal with the budget and the reductions put forward. I think we could have some very good conversations with those who are actually involved with the process we're trying to get into.

[The Chair, Liberal, John McKay]

Is there any other debate?

(Motion agreed to)

That motion passes.

Go ahead, Mr. Fillmore.

[Lindsay Mathyssen, NDP, London—Fanshawe, ON]

I also—

[The Chair, Liberal, John McKay]

Sorry, but I saw Mr. Fillmore before I saw you, unless you have another motion.

[Lindsay Mathyssen, NDP, London—Fanshawe, ON]

I do have another motion, yes.

[The Chair, Liberal, John McKay]

Okay, but I saw Mr. Fillmore before I saw you.

Go ahead, Mr. Fillmore.