Natural Resources Committee on Oct. 21st, 2024

[The Chair, Liberal, George Chahal]

Mr. Patzer—one at a time—you're actually next on the speaking list. She's done. I'll go to you.

[Shannon Stubbs, Conservative, Lakeland, AB]

I wasn't done.

[The Chair, Liberal, George Chahal]

Go ahead, Mr. Patzer.

[Jeremy Patzer, Conservative, Cypress Hills—Grasslands, SK]

She's actually not done.

This is a point of order, Mr. Chair. You only offered what our next meeting is. We're looking to know what the schedule is. What is built out?

Clearly you operate on a schedule and not just by the seat of your pants here. At least, I hope that's the case: that you have a fulsome schedule. As long as I've been a member of this committee, I have never seen a circulated schedule from you, and I do think that is a problem, because this discussion about trying to figure out what actually is our schedule has happened numerous times. You do not seem to want to share that with committee members.

I think it would be important for you to share with the committee what the schedule is. Every other committee I've sat on has operated off a paper schedule that has the weeks and the schedule outlined. Because we have so many meetings that we've agreed to when we agree to do studies, it's laid out in a schedule and it's sent out to committee members. That has been the standard practice of other committees.

As long as you have been chair of this committee, I have not seen that. It has not happened once. In fact, the only way we find out what's happening is that we get the notice of meeting for the next meeting. That's the only way we find out what happens in this committee, because you have not bothered to put out a schedule to members so that we can be informed about what it is that we have going on.

We have clearly asked for that. That's what my colleague has clearly asked for. I firmly believe that we cannot resume this debate until you produce said schedule.

[The Chair, Liberal, George Chahal]

Thank you, Mr. Patzer, for your debate on that. As mentioned—

[Earl Dreeshen, Conservative, Red Deer—Mountain View, AB]

I have a point of order.

[The Chair, Liberal, George Chahal]

We have a point of order from Mr. Dreeshen.

Go ahead.

[Earl Dreeshen, Conservative, Red Deer—Mountain View, AB]

It was clearly stated by Mr. Patzer that it was a point of order, and you have just said “your debate”.

My question is this: Is he continuing with that point of order, or have you deemed that he is finished and that it was debate that he had engaged in?

[The Chair, Liberal, George Chahal]

Originally, after Mrs. Stubbs, I had Mr. Patzer on a point of order. She had completed. She had gone to him. He had started, but then he did, in his debate, say that.

I'm not sure, because he was debating the whole time—

[Jeremy Patzer, Conservative, Cypress Hills—Grasslands, SK]

Mr. Chair...?

[The Chair, Liberal, George Chahal]

I'll go to you.

[Jeremy Patzer, Conservative, Cypress Hills—Grasslands, SK]

Mr. Chair, I said it was a point of order. I was on a point of order because Mrs. Stubbs is actually not finished her main—

[The Chair, Liberal, George Chahal]

Look—

[Shannon Stubbs, Conservative, Lakeland, AB]

I was just participating....

[Jeremy Patzer, Conservative, Cypress Hills—Grasslands, SK]

Yes.

Chair, you went to me on a point of order.

[The Chair, Liberal, George Chahal]

Thank you for your point of order. As previously mentioned, we have provided information. We are in the middle of a debate on a motion. We're not going to discuss committee business during that time, because we are debating this motion.

I have clarified what's happening at the following meetings. As mentioned, it's not written in this motion that it would take precedence over anything else that's supported by the committee when it comes to studies.

[Jeremy Patzer, Conservative, Cypress Hills—Grasslands, SK]

I have a point of order, Chair.

[The Chair, Liberal, George Chahal]

Go ahead with your point of order.

[Jeremy Patzer, Conservative, Cypress Hills—Grasslands, SK]

We're talking about committee business right now. The whole point of this motion is committee business. That's what this pertains to.

[The Chair, Liberal, George Chahal]

Actually—

[Jeremy Patzer, Conservative, Cypress Hills—Grasslands, SK]

Where is the schedule? You only said for Wednesday. You only said for this week, for our next meeting. You have not produced a schedule for the members of this committee to let us know what our next meetings are until the next break week. We can't make a determination until you do that.

[The Chair, Liberal, George Chahal]

Mr. Patzer, thank you for your point of order. I have heard your point of order.

[Jeremy Patzer, Conservative, Cypress Hills—Grasslands, SK]

I don't think you have.

[The Chair, Liberal, George Chahal]

I have heard your point of order, and I will now go to Mr. Angus.

[Charlie Angus, NDP, Timmins—James Bay, ON]

Thank you, Chair.

I believe, since I raised the issue of the three ministers coming, that getting dates is always something that has to be negotiated with the ministerial departments. As long as I have an understanding that the ministers are coming, I will slot them in whenever I think we can carry on with the work.

I trust you as chair. You've done a very good job in terms of keeping this committee going. I know that sometimes, if a witness doesn't come or if something falls through, it's always good to have something we can back it up with. That's why I'm interested in starting another study. I think you provide us with as much information as you can.