Evidence of meeting #5 for Natural Resources in the 41st Parliament, 2nd session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was experience.
A recording is available from Parliament.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Leon Benoit
That does not, Mr. Julian, deal with the qualifications or competence of the board members.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Leon Benoit
It's not an appropriate question for them to answer in this meeting today.
NDP
Peter Julian NDP Burnaby—New Westminster, BC
Mr. Chair, in the way that we would ask about any other aspect of energy policy, of course it's directly related to their job. In fact it's their principal role.
It is impossible, and anyone listening in would see it as impossible, to subtract that from the work they do on a daily basis. It's related directly to their competence and skills. It's their principal role.
I'm simply asking a question about how they feel the changes that were brought in the budget bill last year impact on the independence of the NEB.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Leon Benoit
We can have a long discussion on this, Mr. Julian, but your time is going to run out.
NDP
Peter Julian NDP Burnaby—New Westminster, BC
Mr. Chair, none of this.... No, I'm sorry, you cannot steal away an opposition member's time in the way that you're doing.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Leon Benoit
I've made a ruling, Mr. Julian, and I asked you to word a question—
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Leon Benoit
—dealing with qualifications and competence. Again, whether there is a way you can word that to—
Conservative
NDP
Peter Julian NDP Burnaby—New Westminster, BC
Would you prefer that I said, does it impact on the independence?
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Leon Benoit
Order, Mr. Julian. Please wait until I'm finished saying what I want to say. Then you can go ahead, but you're going to run out of time if you keep arguing.
Conservative
NDP
Peter Julian NDP Burnaby—New Westminster, BC
Does the budget bill have an impact on the independence of the NEB?
Conservative
Bob Zimmer Conservative Prince George—Peace River, BC
On a point of order, I would ask the chair if it would be appropriate to ask a question about a particular project before us, and I think the answer clearly is no, because this meeting is about the qualifications of the board, and I will not ask a question because it's not relevant to this conversation today.
Mr. Chair, I would request that if the member opposite cannot change his question, we move on.
Thank you, Mr. Chair.
Conservative
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Leon Benoit
Oh yes, that was a point of order and it's appropriate to stop the clock.
You have about two and a half minutes left, Mr. Julian.
Again, focus on the qualifications and competence of these members whom we are asking questions of today.
Peter Julian NDP Burnaby—New Westminster, BC
Well, actually, I have about six minutes, Mr. Chair, but—