Evidence of meeting #22 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.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Merv Tweed
I have that actually on my agenda for tomorrow for the subcommittee, so it will be there.
Mr. Laframboise.
Bloc
Mario Laframboise Bloc Argenteuil—Papineau—Mirabel, QC
I would like to make a clarification, Mr. Chair. I would like to specify that we would “summon” Mr. Duchesneau and Mr. Cherry to appear on Thursday November 9, not merely “invite”.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Merv Tweed
Yes, and when I said “invite”, I said a stronger word. I'll use “summon” to clarify it.
So the motion is on the floor from Mr. Laframboise that we summon Mr. Ducheneau....
Mr. Hubbard.
Liberal
Charles Hubbard Liberal Miramichi, NB
The minister is probably a very busy person. I know in committee work in the past it's always been difficult for a minister to fit his time in with the committee's time. By voting this way, we certainly are limiting the possibility of the minister coming.
So I would say you should be cautious in all due respects in passing this, because then we have the minister literally boxed in by what we're doing, and I don't think it's fair to the minister or fair to this committee that we're....
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Merv Tweed
Unfortunately, we're talking about a motion that isn't on the floor. We're talking about something that is out there, and I think we have to deal with Mr. Laframboise's motion.
Liberal
Charles Hubbard Liberal Miramichi, NB
But the motion, Mr. Chair, is that the 9th of November will be taken up by...which means that the minister will not have that date available to him if he wants to come. That causes me--
Peter Julian NDP Burnaby—New Westminster, BC
Mr. Chair, I think what we're doing is making a summons de comparaître, but we are not excluding having other sessions on Thursday. So we are still allowing some flexibility for the reason that Mr. McGuinty mentioned, and potentially for Tuesday as well.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Merv Tweed
Can I call the question now? All those in favour of Mr. Laframboise's motion that we summon Mr. Ducheneau and Mr. Cherry to appear before the committee on Thursday the 9th of November at 3:30?
Conservative
Conservative
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Merv Tweed
Now I would like to ask if Wednesday, tomorrow, from 1 p.m. to 2 p.m., the subcommittee would be available to plan the next part of the schedule beyond the clause-by-clause and the motions that have been put on the floor that we've approved that we have to schedule.
Mr. Laframboise.
Bloc
Mario Laframboise Bloc Argenteuil—Papineau—Mirabel, QC
I agree that we should meet tomorrow. Will the parliamentary secretary be present?
Conservative
Liberal
Andy Scott Liberal Fredericton, NB
I appreciate the interest the members opposite have in making sure we honour and support Mr. Laframboise; however, it shouldn't be at the expense of having the minister appear before the estimates are deemed.
Whatever flexibility will be required of this committee to entertain the minister on the estimates.... I don't care when you have the meeting, but we have to meet the minister before we deem the estimates. Ultimately it takes the power away from the committee to speak to the estimates if they are deemed reported as they stand.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Merv Tweed
The subcommittee will meet tomorrow at 1 o'clock for one hour. The clerk will find a room for us. Please book your schedules for that one hour.
If Mr. Jean can't be available--
Bloc
Mario Laframboise Bloc Argenteuil—Papineau—Mirabel, QC
Perhaps Mr. Jean could confirm by tomorrow afternoon whether the minister is available at that time. It would be easier that way.
Conservative
Conservative
Brian Jean Conservative Fort McMurray—Athabasca, AB
Since there's only one Conservative, we could entertain all kinds of motions and all kinds of things.