Public Safety Committee on Oct. 5th, 2006

[Gord Brown, Conservative, Leeds—Grenville, ON]

Thank you, Mr. Chair.

I have a couple of comments. I visited New Orleans a few months ago and saw the devastation, and I'll agree that had the levees not broken, it probably would have been just another hurricane that we probably wouldn't have been talking about.

I learned quite a bit when I was there about how things worked. Maybe Mr. Comartin was down there as well afterwards. There were a lot of issues surrounding communications; that seemed to be a problem as well.

When I was in municipal politics in eastern Ontario, we had the ice storm. Of course nobody anticipated that type of emergency. I'm happy to hear, and Canadians should be reassured, that people are talking about this and thinking about potential disasters or emergencies. I'm happy to hear ministers and deputy ministers are meeting.

Our real purpose here today is to understand how the act will affect any eventuality. Is there anything in the act we should be concerned about? Is there anything potentially missing? I'll just throw it out to our witnesses. Is there anything there in the act that we should be looking at, or are you pretty happy with what's there?

[James Deacon]

I think the bill was intended to provide for, and does provide for, a complete, integrated framework that covers the issue of lead and coordination at the federal level--the responsibilities of the ministers within the federal ministry--and reflects the appropriate connections and appropriate relationships with provincial jurisdictions. That's its purpose, and I would suggest it's complete in that respect.

[Gord Brown, Conservative, Leeds—Grenville, ON]

That's really my concern.

Thank you.

[The Chair, Conservative, Garry Breitkreuz]

Thank you very much.

Mr. Deacon, do you or any of the other witnesses have any concluding remarks? Were there any loose ends you don't feel comfortable with in some of the comments that have been made?

[James Deacon]

I think not in that respect, but we have made note of the various information requests that members of the committee made. We'll follow up with the clerk on those requests as soon as we can.

Thank you very much for the opportunity.

[The Chair, Conservative, Garry Breitkreuz]

We thank you very much for coming. I think this has been an informative session. You came at very short notice, and I think things went very well. Thank you again very much.

We're going to break for a minute as you leave the table. I would like to ask the MPs here not to leave, because we're going to deal with two items very quickly before we adjourn.

[A voice]

Did you want to go in camera for that?

[The Chair, Conservative, Garry Breitkreuz]

No.

[The Chair, Conservative, Garry Breitkreuz]

Let's reconvene and deal with a couple items.

As soon as Mr. Comartin can give us his attention, we'll ask him to clarify.

You had suggested that the committee invite the Canadian Nuclear Association. We need to make a final decision on this matter as a committee. Do we want to invite them here? Maybe the reason we'd like them to come is self-evident, but could you briefly describe your request?

[Joe Comartin, NDP, Windsor—Tecumseh, ON]

I think it is self-evident in terms of one of the major risks, and I would like to have their input as to whether they are satisfied that the bill is extensive enough and that we have not missed anything. I was saying earlier today, Mr. Chair, as well that if we're going to have them, to augment them we may want to bring somebody in from either Hydro-Québec or the hydro system in Manitoba or Ontario, although with Mr. Hawn's point about the oil industry, I just wondered. All three of those obviously have to be concerns for it, and I would think they must have done some extensive thinking--perhaps not as individuals, but the associations that represent them may have done some extensive thinking about what's needed at the governmental level and the federal level. That's where I'm coming from.

[The Chair, Conservative, Garry Breitkreuz]

Can I put this out for the committee's consideration: is there any risk to them in coming here?

We were talking about access to information and the fact that they would be exempted from some of this. Would we be exploring any sensitive areas here that may put them at risk in any way? Might the committee want to take this into consideration when we invite these people?

Mr. Hawn.

[Laurie Hawn, Conservative, Edmonton Centre, AB]

I think all of those people in those organizations would be very well aware of what they don't want to tell us or what they don't want to make public. I think they would couch their comments accordingly.

[The Chair, Conservative, Garry Breitkreuz]

Mr. MacKenzie.

[Dave MacKenzie, Conservative, Oxford, ON]

I would agree with Mr. Comartin, because I think the petroleum industry indicated that they did wish to appear before us.

The part that is absolutely right is that we are looking at those groups and the need for critical infrastructure or whatever we call it. But we should also be concerned about what their needs are for protecting their proprietary interests. It would do the committee well to hear that need, so that we're comfortable with it when it is drafted.

[The Chair, Conservative, Garry Breitkreuz]

Do we have a consensus on that, then, that we will invite them? Everybody agrees on that? Very good.

That includes one of the hydro companies, either Hydro-Québec or Manitoba Hydro.

[Joe Comartin, NDP, Windsor—Tecumseh, ON]

Mr. Chair, my thinking is that actually it would benefit us if they were all here. Perhaps there could be a panel if they were here all at the same time. That would save the committee time.

[The Chair, Conservative, Garry Breitkreuz]

We'll all agree that they will try to come at the same time.

What came up at the meeting today was a visit to the Government Operations Centre in November. They may be able to accommodate us by then. Do we want to follow up on this? Sometimes during a meeting it seems like a good thing, but on sober second thought maybe it's not possible. How does the committee feel about this?

[Joe Comartin, NDP, Windsor—Tecumseh, ON]

I would like to, just because of the history of what happened during the blackout. But I would suggest, Mr. Chair—again because of the schedule we have as a committee—that if we do, we still have our regular committee meetings, and do it at an off time.

[The Chair, Conservative, Garry Breitkreuz]

You know that involves preparing a budget, travel, and all this kind of thing. It's just one of those rules.

[Brent St. Denis, Liberal, Algoma—Manitoulin—Kapuskasing, ON]

Just do it here.

[The Chair, Conservative, Garry Breitkreuz]

A visit to the Government Operations Centre would be a few blocks off the Hill.

[Philip Rosen, Committee Researcher]

If I may, Chair, they're in the Jackson Building, which is at Bank and Albert. It's a block away.

[The Chair, Conservative, Garry Breitkreuz]

I realize that, but the rules of the House of Commons are such that.... Okay, I'll handle the travel.

Are we agreed that we would like to go when we can find the time that will accommodate all of us? Do you realize that would then delay referring the bill back to the House?

[Dave MacKenzie, Conservative, Oxford, ON]

Would it have to? It doesn't have to be in conjunction with this.

[The Chair, Conservative, Garry Breitkreuz]

It wouldn't have to delay?