Evidence of meeting #149 for Public Accounts in the 44th Parliament, 1st session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was sdtc.
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NDP
Charlie Angus NDP Timmins—James Bay, ON
It's an honour to be here, Chair. The Speaker asked that I come and maintain the decorum of the place. I know you can handle it, but if you need any backup, just give me a nod and I'll be there for you.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative John Williamson
You'll notice there are often more Conservative MPs here than government members, which is unusual, but that's the way we roll.
Mr. Cooper had the floor. I see Madame Sinclair-Desgagné had her hand up.
Mr. Cooper, why don't you just go ahead or wrap things up wherever you were?
Conservative
Michael Cooper Conservative St. Albert—Edmonton, AB
To be very brief, the testimony of former Liberal Minister Bains when he last appeared, in some respects, contradicted other evidence the committee heard. It is why I support the motion to call Leah Lawrence, who was the CEO throughout all of the material times that are at issue in terms of the various conflicts and mismanagement at SDTC.
We need to hear from her. That's why I will be supporting the motion.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative John Williamson
Thank you.
I see Mr. Drouin, but first, I have Madame Sinclair-Desgagné.
Bloc
Nathalie Sinclair-Desgagné Bloc Terrebonne, QC
Thank you, Mr. Chair.
To end the debate on a positive note, I propose that we just adopt the motion and invite the witnesses listed in the amendment and in the motion. Then, I propose that the subcommittee meet so that each party can discuss its priorities for the next group of witnesses to be invited. Those discussions will be informed by the schedule the chair sent out during question period. We also know that the Auditor General will be tabling another report in early December, and that report will probably take precedence over the SDTC study.
It would be nice, then, if all the parties could come to an agreement in subcommittee. That way, they could discuss their respective priorities, and the committee could move forward. I propose the meeting take place on Thursday or Friday of this week. To do this, though, we would have to wrap up this debate and adopt the motion first.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative John Williamson
Thank you. I would certainly agree to that.
Mr. Drouin, you have the floor.
Liberal
Francis Drouin Liberal Glengarry—Prescott—Russell, ON
Mr. Chair, we made a complaint to the chair, and the chair acted really quickly on the work plan. You have provided that work plan, so we are ready to call the question to order.
On what Madame Sinclair-Desgagné said, I'll let the vice-chairs decide that. I don't have an opinion, but if they want to meet, they can meet. Otherwise, we can proceed, but we're good to go.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative John Williamson
Great. I have no more speakers then.
Give me just one second, please.
First, we're going to vote on the amendment to the motion. Do we need to read that?
Do you have, by chance, the amendment to the motion?
The Clerk of the Committee Ms. Hilary Smyth
The amendment is to add Zoë Kolbuc and Doug McConnachie to the invite list.
Conservative
The Clerk
Okay.
Shall the amendment by Nathalie Sinclair-Desgagné carry?
(Amendment agreed to: yeas 10; nays 0)
Conservative
The Chair Conservative John Williamson
Now I will look for speakers on the motion itself.
I don't think there are any, but I'm going to canvass the room.
This is on the motion, which now includes the four witnesses.
We'll call that question now, please, Clerk.
The Clerk
Shall the motion by Mr. Perkins, as amended, be adopted?
(Motion as amended agreed to: yeas 10; nays 0)
Conservative
Liberal
Iqra Khalid Liberal Mississauga—Erin Mills, ON
Are you sure? I was ready to go for a very long time tonight.
Conservative