Evidence of meeting #46 for Public Accounts in the 39th Parliament, 1st Session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was senior.
A recording is available from Parliament.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Shawn Murphy
Let me try to summarize what I sense. On the 16th we'll dedicate half an hour to this particular issue. I think we can deal with Mr. Wrzesnewskyj's motion and the direction of the committee, because this is a complicated matter. I think everyone agrees with that.
Mr. Laforest.
Bloc
Jean-Yves Laforest Bloc Saint-Maurice—Champlain, QC
Mr. Chairman, I have not had an opportunity to express my opinion and that of Ms. Brunelle on this matter. We would have been in favour of unanimous consent. We agreed to vote on this motion immediately. I do not think that we really need a half hour of discussion. We have been engaged in the debate here for two hours today. We have been given additional information that is in direct contradiction to what we heard in February.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Shawn Murphy
This is on Mr. Wrzesnewskyj's motion. So does Mr. Wrzesnewskyj have unanimous consent to put his motion to the assembly now?
All in favour--nobody is saying yes or no. Please help me here.
Liberal
Borys Wrzesnewskyj Liberal Etobicoke Centre, ON
Chair, a point of order.
I believe we can actually accommodate both points of view. We can pass this motion but also dedicate the first half hour of the meeting on April 16 to discuss various other options we have and other issues that need to be addressed--perhaps other witnesses that need to be called.
NDP
David Christopherson NDP Hamilton Centre, ON
You need unanimous consent to have the motion on the floor and you don't have it from me. If you want it, I need some questions answered. If you don't want it, I will just not give it.
I'm concerned that there are other options that don't necessarily involve us having hearings. If we lock ourselves into a motion to have hearings, we will have to go through the procedural process of undoing it, and it just gets messy. If you hold off, give us the half hour, get the law clerk there, and get the motion there, we can cover the waterfront. We need to look beyond the usual tools we have every week. That's my concern.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Shawn Murphy
Mr. Christopherson, if you agree with your concern, then I suggest you not give Mr. Wrzesnewskyj unanimous consent.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Shawn Murphy
The bells are ringing, so I'm going to adjourn the meeting. I want to thank everyone here for their excellent presentations. We appreciate everything that was said here today.
The meeting is adjourned.
