National Defence Committee on Nov. 9th, 2023

[Andy Fillmore, Liberal, Halifax, NS]

Yes.

[The Chair, Liberal, John McKay]

Okay. Are we all on the same page?

Go ahead, Madame Lalonde.

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

Mr. Chair, for clarity, could you or the clerk read it please?

[The Clerk of the Committee, Ms. Hilary Smyth]

First, I'm going to clarify.

We're looking to remove “and that the competition be done on an accelerated timeline”. It's that whole highlighted section.

[Andy Fillmore, Liberal, Halifax, NS]

We want to keep the “Canadian Multi-Mission Aircraft” part.

It would read “before awarding any procurement contract for the delivery of the new Canadian Multi-Mission Aircraft”.

[The Clerk]

Okay. I will read this into the record. “That considering the joint statement of the respective Premiers of Quebec and Ontario dated November 7, 2023 concerning the public procurement of the CP-140 Aurora replacement by the federal government, the Committee is of the opinion that the government must proceed by way of a formal request for proposals before awarding any procurement contract—

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

It's “contract of the new”—

[The Clerk]

It's “contract of the new Canadian Multi-Mission Aircraft”.

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

He is striking from “and” to “competition and delivery".

(Subamendment agreed to)

[The Chair, Liberal, John McKay]

We will go back to Mr. Bezan's amendment, which would amend the motion as it's just been amended, except I'm not sure how I could read that.

[The Clerk]

If you would like to suspend for a moment, I can send it.

[The Chair, Liberal, John McKay]

Distribution would probably be helpful.

[An hon. member]

You have to ask for a suspension.

[The Chair, Liberal, John McKay]

I'll just do one anyway.

[An hon. member]

That's a violation of privilege.

[The Chair, Liberal, John McKay]

Go ahead, Ms. Lalonde.

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

Mr. Chair, I would like to suspend.

[The Chair, Liberal, John McKay]

All those in favour?

[The Clerk]

I can send it. We don't need to suspend.

[Pat Kelly, Conservative, Calgary Rocky Ridge, AB]

You have to have the consent of the committee to suspend. I merely ask for the courtesy of being asked before there is a suspension.

[The Chair, Liberal, John McKay]

You were asked, and you turned it down.

[Pat Kelly, Conservative, Calgary Rocky Ridge, AB]

I'm okay with suspending. If it takes a minute to—

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

Mr. Chair, I'm hoping we can actually hear from the witnesses in the second hour. At what time do we have a hard stop?

[The Chair, Liberal, John McKay]

The hard stop is at six.

While we're waiting, I need someone to move a budget to cover the costs of the—

[A voice]

We can't do that. We're in debate.