Evidence of meeting #43 for Public Accounts in the 41st Parliament, 1st Session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was going.

A recording is available from Parliament.

On the agenda

MPs speaking

Also speaking

Alex Smith  Committee Researcher

10:40 a.m.

NDP

The Chair NDP David Christopherson

Sorry. Okay, so that's committee work. So we've already got it in hand. So there's that report, there's the public accounts report, and there's another one in translation that would be ready too.

10:40 a.m.

Conservative

Andrew Saxton Conservative North Vancouver, BC

Canada's economic action plan.

10:40 a.m.

NDP

The Chair NDP David Christopherson

Right. So that's what would be available to work on this Thursday and next Thursday. And quite frankly, if we can clean up three reports in two writing days, we will have done pretty well.

So again, to push a little further, what could be in front of us is report writing on Thursday, all day. Next Tuesday, the AG for the first and second hours, and the following Thursday, report writing.

That could work too.

Mr. McKay.

10:40 a.m.

Liberal

John McKay Liberal Scarborough—Guildwood, ON

I have no objections, whether it's an amendment or a new motion, etc., but I think we detected Mr. Saxton expanding Mr. Kramp's issue, and Mr. Kramp, as I heard him speak, was concerned about motions being entertained by the chair. You said the chair wouldn't entertain motions

I then heard Mr. Saxton say...F-35 stuff, in effect wandering into main estimates, and I don't think you can restrict the questions that members might wish to ask, so I didn't—

10:45 a.m.

NDP

The Chair NDP David Christopherson

That has to become--

10:45 a.m.

Liberal

John McKay Liberal Scarborough—Guildwood, ON

As a point of clarification, so that you're not put in an awkward position, I agree with Mr. Kramp. I'm not quite sure that Mr. Saxton—

10:45 a.m.

NDP

The Chair NDP David Christopherson

I hear your point, and that was not the intention. Questions that are legitimate and germane to the estimates that happen to relate to F-35 are absolutely fair game. What I would not allow is for you or anyone else to move a motion next Tuesday that would prohibit us from moving to estimates by virtue of using the second hour for F-35 only. That's what I'm saying, as part of this agreement, I will not allow. Beyond that are the usual rules and the usual questions.

Mr. Saxton.

10:45 a.m.

Conservative

Andrew Saxton Conservative North Vancouver, BC

If we're going to be able to get this accomplished today, I think we'd better go ahead and vote on my first motion—no amendment, just the motion as it is.

10:45 a.m.

NDP

The Chair NDP David Christopherson

We're very close. Please, Mr. Saxton.

10:45 a.m.

Conservative

Andrew Saxton Conservative North Vancouver, BC

I don't think we are.

10:45 a.m.

NDP

The Chair NDP David Christopherson

Let me try once more. Let me try the House once more.

There are two versions. There can be a short version and a long version. The short version is this Thursday, report writing; next Tuesday, the Auditor General with the first hour for F-35 and second hour would be the estimates; and the following Thursday, May 10, would be report writing. If you don't want to commit to May 10, then at the very least, let's make a decision for this Thursday and next Tuesday. I think there is agreement on that.

Does anybody disagree with that?

Mr. Saxton, I think I've got agreement, if you would stay with the compromise motion--your friendly motion, if I might acknowledge.

10:45 a.m.

Conservative

Andrew Saxton Conservative North Vancouver, BC

Mr. Chair, it doesn't adequately address my concerns, the amendment to my motion. I agree with you, we should definitely have something on the table for this Thursday, and hopefully for next Tuesday as well. My motion does take care of this Thursday and next Tuesday. So I would propose that we just carry on this Thursday, report writing, next Tuesday we have the AG for the first hour on the F-35s, and we just pass that right now.

10:45 a.m.

NDP

The Chair NDP David Christopherson

What about the second hour of next Tuesday?

10:45 a.m.

Conservative

Andrew Saxton Conservative North Vancouver, BC

That wasn't part of my motion, was it?

10:45 a.m.

NDP

The Chair NDP David Christopherson

Help me out. Why not? Why wouldn't we do it?

10:45 a.m.

Conservative

Andrew Saxton Conservative North Vancouver, BC

I think it was report writing, wasn't it?

10:45 a.m.

NDP

The Chair NDP David Christopherson

Why would we not do it?

10:45 a.m.

Conservative

Andrew Saxton Conservative North Vancouver, BC

I put a motion before the committee and I'd be happy if we'd vote on that motion.

10:45 a.m.

NDP

The Chair NDP David Christopherson

Come on, now. We haven't been splitting hairs on motions. We're trying to find an agreement.

All right, let me see if I can get a bare minimum agreement.

Good grief. You know, people are not impressed with this. I know I sure as hell am not.

Thursday.... Please pay attention, government members.

10:45 a.m.

An hon. member

Can we take a moment?

10:45 a.m.

NDP

The Chair NDP David Christopherson

Sure, let's take all the time in the world.

10:45 a.m.

NDP

Mathieu Ravignat NDP Pontiac, QC

Mr. Chair, it's 10:47. I think we should move to adjourn.

10:45 a.m.

NDP

The Chair NDP David Christopherson

Oh, please don't do that. We have no meeting on Thursday if you do that.

10:45 a.m.

Conservative

Andrew Saxton Conservative North Vancouver, BC

Mr. Chair.

10:45 a.m.

NDP

The Chair NDP David Christopherson

Mr. Saxton.