Evidence of meeting #23 for Official Languages in the 42nd Parliament, 1st session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was tests.
A recording is available from Parliament.
Liberal
Darrell Samson Liberal Sackville—Preston—Chezzetcook, NS
Second, there will be a ten-minute presentation on the roadmap, and then questions for 20 minutes. Bing, bang, all done!
That way, we will be sure to have it.
Conservative
Sylvie Boucher Conservative Beauport—Côte-de-Beaupré—Île dOrléans—Charlevoix, QC
I do too. We have to get organized.
Liberal
René Arseneault Liberal Madawaska—Restigouche, NB
So, Mr. Samson, there would be two blocks of 10 minutes per witness.
Liberal
Liberal
René Arseneault Liberal Madawaska—Restigouche, NB
We would take time out of the hour, but it is still...
Liberal
Darrell Samson Liberal Sackville—Preston—Chezzetcook, NS
That would only be the case for people for whom we schedule an hour. People for whom we schedule 30 minutes would have just 10 minutes.
Liberal
Darrell Samson Liberal Sackville—Preston—Chezzetcook, NS
This is so they can discuss both subjects. It also depends on the group.
Liberal
René Arseneault Liberal Madawaska—Restigouche, NB
Is it complicated to let our witnesses know to prepare on that basis?
The Clerk of the Committee Ms. Christine Holke
It is not that it is complicated to let them know, but some witnesses have their own specialty. Certainly, I will do what the committee wants me to do. Some will probably tell me that they cannot speak to the roadmap, for example. There will probably be choices to make and we will have to reorganize everything, particularly for Thursday, but we can do it.
That is why we sent a statement. The statement was adopted at the last meeting and it was sent to the witnesses.
Liberal
Darrell Samson Liberal Sackville—Preston—Chezzetcook, NS
I agree with my colleague Mr. Arseneault. Some groups specialize in one subject but not the other. That does not correspond to our objective. Those groups are going to have only 30 minutes. The groups that are able to address both subjects are going to have an hour. That is what is going to contribute to our work.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Denis Paradis
We are going to start next week. On Thursday, we will see how things go with the two groups who are to appear before us.
Mr. Choquette, you have the floor.
NDP
François Choquette NDP Drummond, QC
I have a question about the speaking time.
How is that going to work? Will it be different, or not?
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Denis Paradis
We are going to spend one hour with the group. We will see on Thursday how easy it is for us to operate and whether we will have to make adjustments next week.
Conservative
Sylvie Boucher Conservative Beauport—Côte-de-Beaupré—Île dOrléans—Charlevoix, QC
I think that is the best way to proceed.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Denis Paradis
Since we are in agreement, we will not change anything. We will try to proceed somewhat as Mr. Samson suggests, but without being inflexible. We will simply see how things can work.
Liberal
René Arseneault Liberal Madawaska—Restigouche, NB
To avoid unpleasant surprises, I would like to make sure that this will not apply on Thursday.
Liberal
René Arseneault Liberal Madawaska—Restigouche, NB
The witnesses have been invited and they have received the statement, so we will not have any unpleasant surprises. There will not be ten-minute blocks divided between immigration and the roadmap. On the other hand, that is how we will operate after that.
Liberal
Liberal
Darrell Samson Liberal Sackville—Preston—Chezzetcook, NS
It is necessary because the two groups we are meeting with can easily address each subject for 10 minutes. They specialize in this area. There will not be any problems. They are actually going to want to speak to both subjects for 20 minutes. I can guarantee it. Rather than asking to speak to the two subjects for 20 minutes, we will ask them to speak for 10 minutes, then we will go to questions, and so on. We are not going to change anything.