Public Safety Committee on Oct. 20th, 2010

[Don Davies, NDP, Vancouver Kingsway, BC]

Mr. Chairman, on a similar note, this committee published a calendar in which we all agreed as a committee to have one day to explore the Fadden issue. We had two witnesses scheduled for that. I understand that you can't subpoena a cabinet minister or member of Parliament, but you can subpoena--and we ought to subpoena--Madame Morin.

I want to express publicly here how disappointed I was yesterday that as a vice-chair of this committee I found out through the media that the minister was not appearing and that Madame Morin was not appearing.

When we left the last meeting, it was you, Mr. Chairman, and Mr. MacKenzie as the ranking Conservative, who said you would be checking with the minister and checking on dates. Nobody had the courtesy to this committee to even let me know that wasn't happening until a media release went out saying that the minister refused to appear.

[An hon. member]

I have a point of order.

[Don Davies, NDP, Vancouver Kingsway, BC]

This is a point of order that I'm raising right now.

[The Chair, Conservative, Kevin Sorenson]

You can't do a point of order on a point of order.

[Don Davies, NDP, Vancouver Kingsway, BC]

Mr. Chairman, the day that we were to study the Fadden issue was not merely limited to two witnesses. It was a topic as well. We have to find another day. This day can't just disappear while we replace it with Bill C-5. That calendar schedule was agreed to by this committee. We all made compromises--

[The Chair, Conservative, Kevin Sorenson]

Well, on that point--

[Don Davies, NDP, Vancouver Kingsway, BC]

Can I just finish my point, Mr. Chairman? I have a right to finish my point.

There were compromises made back and forth where we all got our issues; it's not fair to have one issue just evaporate.

I also want to say that you should also talk to Madame Morin, who is not a cabinet minister and who can be subpoenaed. She is not entitled to refuse to come, which is what it appears from the media that she appeared to do. She didn't say she couldn't come; she is refusing to come. That's not acceptable.

[The Chair, Conservative, Kevin Sorenson]

Mr. Davies, you will have the opportunity to ask her that question on Monday. My understanding is that she will be here on Monday.

[An hon. member]

Mr. Chair?

[The Chair, Conservative, Kevin Sorenson]

He has another point of order.

Yours wasn't a point of order, was it? It usually is a point of order.

[Mark Holland, Liberal, Ajax—Pickering, ON]

Well, I can make it one.

[The Chair, Conservative, Kevin Sorenson]

Thank you.

Mr. McColeman.

[Phil McColeman, Conservative, Brant, ON]

I would like to remind Mr. Davies that the issues he's discussing were discussed in an in camera meeting. To my knowledge, we're not in an in camera meeting right now.

I'm wondering, Chair, if it's appropriate that he express his regrets in speaking about business publicly, as he has for the last minute or so, in this environment.

[Don Davies, NDP, Vancouver Kingsway, BC]

Mr. Chairman, I'm talking about the calendar that has been published. It's a matter of public record that this day is scheduled to hear from certain ministers--

[Phil McColeman, Conservative, Brant, ON]

Sir--

[Don Davies, NDP, Vancouver Kingsway, BC]

There's nothing privileged--

[Phil McColeman, Conservative, Brant, ON]

Mr. Chair?

[Don Davies, NDP, Vancouver Kingsway, BC]

--about that whatsoever.

[Phil McColeman, Conservative, Brant, ON]

Mr. Chair?

[The Chair, Conservative, Kevin Sorenson]

I'm just checking on that right now.

[Phil McColeman, Conservative, Brant, ON]

He's talking about what was said in the meeting.

[Don Davies, NDP, Vancouver Kingsway, BC]

No, I'm not.

[Phil McColeman, Conservative, Brant, ON]

Yes, you are.

[Don Davies, NDP, Vancouver Kingsway, BC]

No, I'm not.

[Phil McColeman, Conservative, Brant, ON]

You just did.