Science and Research Committee on March 23rd, 2023

[The Vice-Chair, Conservative, Corey Tochor]

I would like to take this opportunity to thank our witnesses for being here today and for responding to the great questions from the members of Parliament. Witnesses are now welcome to leave the meeting.

Members, we have a little bit of business to handle at the tail end.

There were questions about the travel budget from MP Cannings. I believe our clerk, Mr. Buck, has an update on that.

Also, we need to discuss next Thursday's meeting. We can't have the time slot we usually have. They want to move it to 6:30 that evening. The options are to either move it next Thursday to 6:30 p.m. or cancel the meeting.

I have mentioned this to the members. We just need to come up with a game plan. I'll open up the floor.

First of all, I will make the motion to move the meeting to 6:30 p.m. and then open up the floor for discussion.

Gerald, will you make the motion?

[Gerald Soroka, Conservative, Yellowhead, AB]

I will move that motion.

[The Vice-Chair, Conservative, Corey Tochor]

I can't move the motion, as chair, but Gerald's going to move the motion.

I'm opening it up to the floor for discussion. Seeing none, are we in agreement to move it to 6:30 in the evening?

I'm seeing agreement.

(Motion agreed to)

[Valerie Bradford, Liberal, Kitchener South—Hespeler, ON]

I guess once again I'll be changing my travel plans. I've been trying to get to BWX Technologies on a Friday morning for many weeks now, but it doesn't seem to happen.

[The Vice-Chair, Conservative, Corey Tochor]

I'm in the same boat. I don't really want to change my plans, but we do have two constituency weeks afterwards.

[Lena Metlege Diab, Liberal, Halifax West, NS]

Could you say that for the benefit of those who have no idea? We've been told we can't have the meeting on....

[The Vice-Chair, Conservative, Corey Tochor]

Yes. I was informed that we can't have the meeting at the regularly scheduled time. They're proposing to move it to 6:30. The whips' offices have agreed that it could be moved if we agree to that. The clerk has mentioned it's still subject to resources. It could still, ultimately, get cancelled, as well.

[Charles Sousa, Liberal, Mississauga—Lakeshore, ON]

Are we moving all meetings or just one meeting?

[The Vice-Chair, Conservative, Corey Tochor]

Just the meeting coming up on Thursday.

[Charles Sousa, Liberal, Mississauga—Lakeshore, ON]

It's at 6:30 on what night?

[The Vice-Chair, Conservative, Corey Tochor]

It's on Thursday, March 30.

[Charles Sousa, Liberal, Mississauga—Lakeshore, ON]

I'll have to do it by Zoom.

[Lena Metlege Diab, Liberal, Halifax West, NS]

I won't be able to do that.

[An hon. member]

Actually, I won't be able to do that.

[The Vice-Chair, Conservative, Corey Tochor]

There are always substitutes. We'll figure that out.

I wasn't watching online, but Mr. Collins, do you have any comments on this?

[Gerald Soroka, Conservative, Yellowhead, AB]

You were on mute when you answered, Chad.

[The Vice-Chair, Conservative, Corey Tochor]

I think the majority wants this to be, seemingly, moved to 6:30 p.m.

[Gerald Soroka, Conservative, Yellowhead, AB]

I don't think anyone's crazy about it, but we'll live with it.

[The Vice-Chair, Conservative, Corey Tochor]

All right. We'll adopt that motion as accepted. We'll move the meeting to 6:30 if there are resources.

(Motion agreed to [See Minutes of Proceedings]

Now I'll turn it over to Mr. Buck for an update on travel.

[The Clerk of the Committee, Mr. Keelan Buck]

As a very quick update, it is on the public record that the subcommittee on committee budgets met yesterday and adopted the motion that it is granting us the travel budget needed for the travel in the spring. That does not mean the trip is approved. There is the final step for the House to actually adopt a motion to authorize the committee to travel, but the budget that we adopted is granted to us if that approval from the House comes through.

[The Vice-Chair, Conservative, Corey Tochor]

Mr. Cannings.

[Richard Cannings, NDP, South Okanagan—West Kootenay, BC]

I just want to ask Keelan what the timeline is on that. Do we have any idea when?

[The Clerk]

Now that SBLI has decided which budgets are granted, the whips are in a position to propose those motions or have them proposed in the House, but I have no info on when or if that might be.

[Richard Cannings, NDP, South Okanagan—West Kootenay, BC]

Will there be some discussion around this table as to when that travel would take place?

[The Clerk]

That was brought up when the budget was adopted. The budget adopted by this committee was for travel during the break week in May, so that's May 21 to May 27.