Evidence of meeting #21 for Transport, Infrastructure and Communities in the 39th Parliament, 1st Session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was noise.
A recording is available from Parliament.
5:30 p.m.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Merv Tweed
The only thing I'm saying is that if we vote on this, then we have an amendment to vote on and we have.... If the committee has all the information provided for them....
I'm at the will of the committee.
Mr. Jean.
October 26th, 2006 / 5:35 p.m.
Conservative
Brian Jean Conservative Fort McMurray—Athabasca, AB
My colleagues and I discussed this, and I actually proposed to Mr. McGuinty that we would support this unanimously. That would have a real effect for those outside of the committee to see what we want to challenge and certainly infrastructure in the motion itself is of good content.
My concerns, like those of Mr. Lamframboise, are the security of Montreal airport and Bill C-11, to make sure that these people who have come before us and are watching us so closely and are listening to us today realize that we're not trying to hesitate. We're a committee that gets action done, and we're going to get Bill C-11 done.
Mr. McGuinty, these are projects that are happening five to twenty years from now. I'm very interested in them as well, but as for the $30 million that was removed by the province, you should probably talk to your brother about that, because it was his decision to remove that. Our federal money was contingent—
5:35 p.m.
Conservative
5:35 p.m.
Conservative
Brian Jean Conservative Fort McMurray—Athabasca, AB
But other meetings would certainly be appropriate.
5:35 p.m.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Merv Tweed
The other option that we have is for the subcommittee to meet additionally to fulfill Mr. McGuinty's request.
We also have Mr. Bell's request that we have to consider and move in a motion.
I'm asking the committee if we're prepared to defer this until the next meeting, at which time we'll make the decision. You'll have the information in front of you. I hope to have Mr. Duchesneau confirmed, but I will defer.
We'll hear one last comment to Mr. Scott, and then we'll make a decision.
5:35 p.m.
Liberal
Andy Scott Liberal Fredericton, NB
My comment is simple. We all agree on the half of this that we can deal with right now, and that is that we want to do it. I don't think there's any dispute that we would like to have the officials from infrastructure come before the committee. No one disagrees with that.
5:35 p.m.
Liberal
Andy Scott Liberal Fredericton, NB
I would suggest that we can pass that, and we'll defer the question of timing until Tuesday, when we have more information. But we want to get it on the record that we want this to be done so that we can give notice to the minister.
5:35 p.m.
Conservative
5:35 p.m.
Conservative
Brian Jean Conservative Fort McMurray—Athabasca, AB
This is for clarification only, Mr. Chair. I apologize.
Was the “forthwith” part of the amendment?
5:35 p.m.
Conservative
5:35 p.m.
Conservative
5:35 p.m.
NDP
Olivia Chow NDP Trinity—Spadina, ON
I have just a quick one on adding “application and approval process”. Just to clarify, it's after the word “inventory”, and then we'll add “application and approval process”.
5:35 p.m.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Merv Tweed
I'm only speaking from my past experience, but I don't think this committee can review applications if they haven't been approved.
5:35 p.m.
NDP
Olivia Chow NDP Trinity—Spadina, ON
No, no. It's the process, not the application. I don't want to look at any applications; it's the process of how it gets approved. That's all.
I think that's a very friendly amendment. I believe I spoke to the mover of the motion.
5:35 p.m.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Merv Tweed
I'm sure it will all come out in the conversation.
Monsieur Laframboise.
5:35 p.m.
Bloc
Mario Laframboise Bloc Argenteuil—Papineau—Mirabel, QC
I did say that I had an amendment to suggest. I'd like us to delete the reference to “major projects”. While we're on the subject, let's talk about projects. I don't think we should limit ourselves to three or four considerations such as who will have the final say on major projects, and which projects will go ahead. Let's discuss projects in general. We must be able to ask any questions we want.
5:35 p.m.
Some hon. members
Agreed.
5:35 p.m.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Merv Tweed
Satisfactory?
We'll credit Ms. Chow for two and Mr. Laframboise with the seconding of that amendment.
I would ask that the question be put then, and I will ask the clerk to read it, please.
5:35 p.m.
The Clerk of the Committee Mr. Mark D'Amore
The motion reads:
That the Standing Committee on Transport, Infrastructure and Communities request the presence of senior infrastructure officials including the Deputy Minister and Assistant Deputy Minister with responsibility for the Canadian Strategic Infrastructure Fund, the Municipal Rural Infrastructure Fund and the Highways and Borders Infrastructure Program to brief the committee on the inventory, application and approval process, and progress of all infrastructure projects now underway.
