Evidence of meeting #31 for Public Safety and National Security in the 44th Parliament, 1st session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was information.
A video is available from Parliament.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Jim Carr
Everybody who wants to speak to it has already spoken to it, so we should be in pretty good shape. I like it when we're in good shape.
We would go back to the main motion. Is that correct?
The Clerk
We're already in agreement with the subamendment that the minister is to be removed and the officials remain, so there doesn't need to be a vote on this.
Liberal
Pam Damoff Liberal Oakville North—Burlington, ON
Chair, I just want to speak to Mr. MacGregor's concerns about broad timing by the end of August.
I appreciate Ms. Dancho's giving the chair flexibility here to get witnesses. We also know there's a time in August, particularly the first week of August and also towards the end of the month, when the House is doing its system maintenance, so we're trying to be respectful of that. Again, I commend Ms. Dancho for recognizing that.
I am a little hesitant to put in a specific date, just because we already know that two witnesses were unable to appear today, but I'll give you, Chair, the flexibility to work with the clerk to try to find a date that would work for these witnesses. This is with the caveat, though, that all of us are trying to make plans in our constituencies. Many of us have already made plans in our constituencies, and if we can get more than a couple of days' notice from the clerk as to when the date might be, it would make it a lot easier for us, rather than just leaving the rest of the summer open.
I'd like to hear from Mr. MacGregor on that, but I think we should leave it with the chair to find a date and notify us with good timing so that we can make plans accordingly.
Liberal
Conservative
Dane Lloyd Conservative Sturgeon River—Parkland, AB
Substantively, I agree with Ms. Damoff. As long as it's within the timeline that we passed in the motion, I'm fine with it. I totally agree that we need some advance direction from the clerk so that we can all make plans around it. I agree with that.
NDP
Alistair MacGregor NDP Cowichan—Malahat—Langford, BC
Given that the critical system maintenance starts on Monday, August 22, perhaps the specificity we're looking for that would also give us a little bit of leeway is possibly during the week of Monday, August 15. Again, some of us are going to have events set up then.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Jim Carr
I don't know if that's going to work for everybody or not, so I think we need a bit of discretion here. I'm very happy, on your behalf, to provide that discretion. I can hear clearly the willingness of the committee and that this must happen before the resumption of Parliament. Given the holiday schedules, the House of Commons' capacity and the infrastructure available, there are a lot of moving parts here. If the committee is okay with it, you can leave it up to the clerk and the chair to come up with the most convenient time given all those exigencies. I'd be glad to take on that responsibility.
Mr. Lloyd.
Conservative
Dane Lloyd Conservative Sturgeon River—Parkland, AB
I think we've covered this. I agree with using the chair's discretion, and unless anyone's against that, I move to adjourn the meeting.
Conservative
Conservative
Dane Lloyd Conservative Sturgeon River—Parkland, AB
We've already been told the motion has been passed.
Liberal
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Jim Carr
I wish they were all this easy, but I'm sure the clerk would be very happy if we had some formal roll call on the main motion. Wouldn't you, Clerk?
The Clerk
You can choose to have a roll call or you can unanimously agree that it's at the chair's discretion.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Jim Carr
Can we unanimously agree that it's at the chair's discretion, given what we have heard, and that the motion carry? I see thumbs-up. Is everybody okay with that?
Liberal
Greg Fergus Liberal Hull—Aylmer, QC
Mr. Chair, I fully agree with your having full discretion in finding a date that would be convenient.
I would like to know one thing, though, and this is for all members of the committee. If the date falls on September 1 or 2 instead of August 31, would it respect the spirit of the motion?
I see people nodding their heads on the other side of the room.
I just want to give you as much flexibility as possible to find a date that works for everyone.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Jim Carr
Yes, I would interpret “the discretion of the chair” to include any minor modification that would be within the motion itself.
We have agreement, then, on the main motion.
(Motion as amended agreed to)
With that agreement in place, I think that our work is done for the day. It was a long day with very efficient use of our time.
I would like to thank all of our members. We will get back to you as soon as we've come up with the best date, given all of the contingencies. I thank you all for a very productive meeting. We'll see you the next time.
This meeting is now adjourned.
