Evidence of meeting #33 for Natural Resources in the 40th Parliament, 3rd session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was water.
A recording is available from Parliament.
NDP
Nathan Cullen NDP Skeena—Bulkley Valley, BC
Yes, if the committee wants to do this, then to assist the clerk to have enough time to call the people in our usual....
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Leon Benoit
We are beyond the end of the committee meeting, so we'll just get a quick view.
Go ahead, Ms. Gallant.
Conservative
Cheryl Gallant Conservative Renfrew—Nipissing—Pembroke, ON
I just want to confirm. You're willing to wait until the CNSC gives their decision to call them in here.
NDP
Nathan Cullen NDP Skeena—Bulkley Valley, BC
The reason we're trying to get them before the CNSC decision is that once the CNSC decision is made, the shipments, presumably, could go down the lakes and out the river. That's the concern. It is that the CNSC has done this with what we'd have to admit is very little public consultation. I think the groups have written all committee members here with concerns about there being insufficient public input into something that's pretty important.
November 23rd, 2010 / 1:05 p.m.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Leon Benoit
Mr. Cullen, do you want to bring this back at maybe the next committee meeting, briefly?
NDP
Nathan Cullen NDP Skeena—Bulkley Valley, BC
The only reason we wanted to get it done today is that if the committee has an interest in looking into this, and I'd be surprised if we didn't, it would assist the clerk to know that this is the intention of the committee, and he can go ahead and begin to contact potential witnesses. Our problem is that if we wait, witnesses can't come, it is delayed past the decision from the CNSC again, and the relevance dramatically changes.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Leon Benoit
Okay. Could it wait until Thursday, though, and we'll deal with it on Thursday morning? We're past the committee end. I know I promised you a couple of minutes. I thought it would go more quickly than this.
NDP
Nathan Cullen NDP Skeena—Bulkley Valley, BC
Just for process, then, Chair, the confusion we have is that we delivered this well before the 48 hours so as to have this as committee business. I guess what would be helpful is to have this on the agenda, clearly.
It feels as if we've wedged something in, but we followed all the guidance you've given us on delivering new business.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Leon Benoit
I understand that, Mr. Cullen, but often members will bring a motion before a committee and won't bring it up for weeks or months. It is up to the member who presents the motion to the committee to decide to do that.
NDP
Nathan Cullen NDP Skeena—Bulkley Valley, BC
Just to be clear, and I know that people have to go to other things, Chair, to be fair, I came to you halfway through this meeting and gave you notice that I'd like to talk about this. We went overtime. I'm not sure what my options were in being respectful of committee members' time. I did everything I could. I submitted the motion. I notified you that I was going to talk about it. And now I'm not being heard.
Of course we'll do it Thursday, but I'd just like some clarity on process, because we're trying to be very respectful of committee members' time. We did everything we were told to do, and we're not hearing this discussion. It's unfortunate.
Conservative
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Leon Benoit
You said a couple of minutes. I thought that's what it would take. Obviously, it will take longer, so we'll bring it up Thursday.
Thank you, everybody, for your involvement in the committee and another great meeting.
The meeting is adjourned.