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.
5:20 p.m.
An hon. member
The global one.
5:20 p.m.
Voices
Oh, oh!
5:20 p.m.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Merv Tweed
--if that's agreeable.
Okay.
So now we will vote on the entire motion, as amended by Mr. Jean and by Mr. Bell.
(Motion as amended agreed to)
5:20 p.m.
NDP
Peter Julian NDP Burnaby—New Westminster, BC
I want to give a notice of motion for the Thursday meeting, if I may. This is regarding an issue we talked about two weeks ago.
The notice of motion reads as follows:
That the Standing Committee on Transport, Infrastructure and Communities study the Roger Tassé review of the Toronto Port Authority following its release at an upcoming meeting of the Committee.
This will be presented on Thursday.
5:25 p.m.
Conservative
5:25 p.m.
Conservative
Brian Jean Conservative Fort McMurray—Athabasca, AB
Very briefly. I'm always brief, sir.
The Tassé report is going to be released on November 2. Indeed, Monsieur Tassé is going to provide a technical briefing that day to any members of Parliament who would wish it and to answer any questions you or any other member would have. I'm not certain what time it will be held, although probably it will be in the morning at around ten. But the date is November 2.
We will make sure that you and Ms. Chow--and all members of Parliament, even reporters--have that information.
5:25 p.m.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Merv Tweed
All we have at this point is a notice of motion. If Mr. Julian feels the need at that time, he still has the ability to bring forward the motion.
Mr. Laframboise.
5:25 p.m.
Bloc
Mario Laframboise Bloc Argenteuil—Papineau—Mirabel, QC
I would like to ask the same question regarding procedure.
Mr. Duchesneau had the pleasure of appearing before a Senate committee yesterday. Why did he appear before the Senate committee when he has not yet appeared here?
5:25 p.m.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Merv Tweed
The clerk has sent out the information that we talked about at the last meeting with regard to how we can force or request Mr. Duschesneau to attend. I believe the committee has that information.
I can tell you that the original motion called for both Mr. Cherry and Mr. Duschesneau. As of today, we have confirmation of their both being available on November 30 but not before. I would just put that to the committee. If there is another direction we want to take....
Mr. Cherry, to his credit, gave us a series of dates. We were trying to match up the dates and his calendar filled in. He has now confirmed with us that, if still required or asked for, he would be available on November 30 with Mr. Duchesneau.
I know that doesn't satisfy--
5:25 p.m.
Bloc
Mario Laframboise Bloc Argenteuil—Papineau—Mirabel, QC
But the 30th did not suit the Liberals.
Mr. McGuinty, you mentioned to us last time that you would be absent on the 30th. Is that correct?
5:25 p.m.
Liberal
David McGuinty Liberal Ottawa South, ON
Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
That's a good point. Everyone recognizes that the Liberal Party of Canada is going to have its leadership convention in Montreal on those dates. It is possible, but we'll have to see how it goes on November 29 and 30, if we're all here or whether there will be substitutes. I think the committee was made aware of that--and you were made aware of that, Chair--but still it's showing up in the schedule of meetings here. That was not approved, in my recollection, at the last meeting.
But we can come back to the schedule. I want to go back to Monsieur Laframboise's concern about Monsieur Duchesneau.
I had my staff call the clerk of the Senate standing committee on national defence today. We were informed by the clerk that Monsieur Duchesneau's request to attend that committee, and his date given, was a maximum of thirty days, and that the reason he was not available sooner than thirty days was because he was travelling internationally.
I read his transcript yesterday, word for word. I'm now of the belief that, with regard to the former president and CEO of a crown corporation, there's a deliberate delay here. I cannot understand why the man cannot appear here, in front of this committee, in a two-hour drive from Montreal, when he's available to come to the Senate within thirty days. Clearly the message is not getting through to Monsieur Duchesneau that this is of such import and of such urgency that he should show.
Now, I don't know why there's a continuing delay, why we would wait sixty days or....
When did we ask him to come, Monsieur Laframboise? Was it October 3?
5:25 p.m.
Liberal
David McGuinty Liberal Ottawa South, ON
We're now at November 30. We're talking sixty to seventy days.
I can't understand it.
5:25 p.m.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Merv Tweed
I'm not going to defend Mr. Duchesneau's position. I do know that the original request asked for the availability of both of them on that particular day. I think that may or may not be part of it, but again, we do have the information presented to us as to how we proceed if we want to invite Mr. Duchesneau in a more forcible way. I believe that each committee member received that information.
Mr. Jean.
5:25 p.m.
Conservative
Brian Jean Conservative Fort McMurray—Athabasca, AB
Mr. Chair, just very quickly, this side of the House is wondering as well, because of course, Mr. Duchesneau was appointed by the previous Liberal government, of which Mr. McGuinty was a member. Certainly, if the committee wishes to take other steps, I would suggest that Monsieur Laframboise would receive support from this side.
5:30 p.m.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Merv Tweed
I don't think we want to get into who did what. I think the idea is we want Mr. Duchesneau here as soon as possible.
Mr. Laframboise.
5:30 p.m.
Bloc
Mario Laframboise Bloc Argenteuil—Papineau—Mirabel, QC
Nevertheless, we could decide today to summon Mr. Duchesneau and Mr. Cherry to appear on Thursday November 9. Pursuant to the instructions you sent us regarding the calling of witnesses, it is within our powers. As such, it would be resolved.
5:30 p.m.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Merv Tweed
I do think that one of the original comments, when we talked about our ability to bring Mr. Cherry in through a summons, was that because he doesn't report directly to government, we can only make a request of him. Was I correct? I would put it out there to the committee.
Is it the will of the committee to summon Mr. Duchesneau and Mr. Cherry for November 9?
Mr. McGuinty.
5:30 p.m.
Liberal
David McGuinty Liberal Ottawa South, ON
I have a question, Mr. Chair.
As you know, Mr. Chairman, I have distributed a motion with respect to the estimates, which would, hopefully, convene the Minister of Transport and Infrastructure to attend this committee next week on Tuesday and Thursday. That motion, obviously, has a 48-hour time requirement to follow, and obviously I'm asking now. I think most members of the committee have received a copy of the motion, and it would conflict, potentially, with that motion if we were to book it for November 9.
We had agreed at the last meeting to find an extraordinary hour, outside of sitting times next week, to get Monsieur Duchesneau here, and to consider having the deputy minister and ADM from Infrastructure Canada attend in front of this committee.
None of this is showing up in the work plan for November. I would respectfully submit that we need to hold November 9 in abeyance until we discuss the question of the attendance of the Minister of Transport. I think it's of such importance that I'm sure the government would be very pleased to see, from an accountability perspective, that the minister show the estimates and address questions around them.
5:30 p.m.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Merv Tweed
I do think we have to deal with Mr. Laframboise, appreciating--and I guess as you had stated--that we would have to have unanimous consent for this motion to come forward today. But I do think the first order of business would be Mr. Laframboise's suggestion of November 9, so I look to the committee for some direction.
Mr. Julian.