Public Safety Committee on May 12th, 2015

[The Chair, Conservative, Daryl Kramp]

For the department, on many occasions that has not taken place. However, everybody has the availability of calling the witnesses they do wish to hear. I will simply go now to our other business. Thank you very much.

There are three issues that the chair will be considering, and I wish to draw them to your attention so you have some input thought out before we move forward.

The first issue is the witnesses for Thursday's meeting. The chair does not have a complete confirmation on the number of witnesses yet. It is the chair's intention if we have a lesser number than we expected to simply go for one hour. However, I'm at the will of the committee, so I will leave that with you. That is one point of consideration the chair is going to take under advisement.

The second issue is the budget implementation legislation. It's my understanding there may be potentially six divisions that may be referred to this committee. I give you that just for your information, and you can start to make some preparations based on that. The chair has no indication yet of what they are. Once it's been referred to the chair, the clerk or I will give that information to everybody for consideration. That is an issue that may come before this committee for committee business.

The third issue I will raise is that we've had a request for a meeting with the Czech delegation. They are also requesting a meeting with defence. It's a high-level delegation. Defence is willing to meet with them. We may meet with them as well, depending on this committee's thoughts. We either need to meet with them as a full committee or as members of the committee, whatever your preference is. We're exploring options right now to see whether we would potentially join with defence at the same time for the hour, or whether we would do a stand-alone after our meeting.

Those are some thoughts that you can stew over for a little bit. Going forward, the chair would appreciate some input, and we'll make some decisions.

Yes, Mr. Easter.

[Wayne Easter, Liberal, Malpeque, PE]

We've done these before in the past, Mr. Chair. Regarding the Czech delegation and the possibility of a joint committee, that may not be possible given that defence information may be privileged, but if it's possible to do a joint meeting, that's what I would certainly prefer. We are willing to meet at other hours than committee time, if it can be worked out. That's one point.

Point two, just for the clerk's information, we will change our priority list. I would like to see the Department of Public Safety here, not necessarily at the next meeting, but give them a little time at Tuesday's meeting.

[The Chair, Conservative, Daryl Kramp]

I have just one comment, Mr. Easter. The defence committee, of course, would not be in a position of sharing any confidential information with a foreign delegation. That concern would not be there.

The tentative date is down the road and we're looking at May 28. That is the potential date, so we have plenty of time to give it some thought between now and then, but that is the date that they will be in town and have requested an audience with us.

Ms. Ablonczy.

[Diane Ablonczy, Conservative, Calgary Nose Hill, AB]

I'll just make an observation that none of us are going to get any votes from this delegation. In the interest of the reputation of our country, as much as possible, if we could speak with one voice—it could be a little bit difficult—but I know others have been on these things. If we get into a lot of partisan bickering, it really is not helpful to the delegation. It doesn't do our country proud.

If we could keep our observations as straight up as possible, we can say there are differences of opinion, but I don't think we should get into bickering.

[The Chair, Conservative, Daryl Kramp]

The chair would just advise that as we have not discussed any committee business right now, we are just having a casual conversation. We are still public at this point. It's not the chair's intention to go into committee business. I'm just drawing that to your attention.

We'll have a further discussion going forward. If we wish to deal with it in committee business, we will do so. This just gives you an opportunity to do a little planning and/or some consideration of thought that you may wish to bring forward at committee business.

The meeting is adjourned.