Transport Committee on May 11th, 2006

[Mario Laframboise, Bloc, Argenteuil—Papineau—Mirabel, QC]

May we ask other questions?

[The Chair, Conservative, Merv Tweed]

Short questions. We've done the rounds according to the original agreement. I'll give each group one more, maybe a couple of minutes just to finalize for today.

[Mario Laframboise, Bloc, Argenteuil—Papineau—Mirabel, QC]

I want to go back to Mr. Blaney's question. If I understand correctly, you aren't aware of the condition of the bridges. You've signed agreements, but... This bill will enable you to determine the condition of the bridges. That was previously independent, even though you were partners and there were bills.

[Evelyn Marcoux]

That isn't automatic. Each bridge was created by an act of Parliament or other provision. In each case, there are specific clauses on certain bridges, but not all the statutes provide that this kind of information should be shared with the federal government. Some administrations share this information willingly; others do so because they are required to do so by law. So information isn't shared in a standard manner.

[Mario Laframboise, Bloc, Argenteuil—Papineau—Mirabel, QC]

So you're going to determine the condition of the bridges. A complaints mechanism is being added which, as you mentioned earlier, will be managed by an independent organization responsible for receiving complaints.

[Éric Harvey]

In fact, the complaints only concern tolls.

[Mario Laframboise, Bloc, Argenteuil—Papineau—Mirabel, QC]

That appears in the paragraph concerning the safety and security of persons.

[Éric Harvey]

The complaints mechanism? Where?

[Mario Laframboise, Bloc, Argenteuil—Papineau—Mirabel, QC]

Pardon me, that was the “Operation and Use” section of the bill.

[Éric Harvey]

The complaints mechanism referred to in paragraph 15(c) concerns only tolls.

[Mario Laframboise, Bloc, Argenteuil—Papineau—Mirabel, QC]

All right.

[The Chair, Conservative, Merv Tweed]

I'd like to thank our witnesses today. I appreciate their comments and answers.

After our guests have left we'll have a brief discussion on some of the rules and regulations.

We'll continue with the report that was tabled earlier. I don't know if there will be any discussions on it, but I'm certainly prepared to entertain any discussions. Then we can move forward.

Mr. Laframboise.

[Mario Laframboise, Bloc, Argenteuil—Papineau—Mirabel, QC]

I agree on the content of the report. However, the last paragraph states:

It was agreed, - That an amendment to the routine motions be presented to the main committee to include a member of the government party, other than the Chair, on the Subcommittee on Agenda and Procedure

I would agree, provided the member in question is the parliamentary secretary.

[The Chair, Conservative, Merv Tweed]

I'm sorry, would you repeat your last sentence?

[Mario Laframboise, Bloc, Argenteuil—Papineau—Mirabel, QC]

It states:

It was agreed, - That an amendment to the routine motions be presented to the main committee to include a member of the government party, other than the Chair, on the Subcommittee on Agenda and Procedure

I had understood that this other member of the government party was the parliamentary secretary. If it's the parliamentary secretary, that's fine with me. Otherwise, we're going to start adding members from all the parties. Instead it should state: “than the parliamentary secretary”, because he can provide us with good information.

[The Chair, Conservative, Merv Tweed]

Mr. Julian.

[Peter Julian, NDP, Burnaby—New Westminster, BC]

I agree with Mr. Laframboise. That's what we agreed in our discussions. If there are permanent members of the subcommittee: the Chair, the two Vice-Chairs, the representative of the other party, that is myself, there will have to be a permanent group, and members won't change at every meeting. I believe Mr. Laframboise is entirely correct. It should be the parliamentary secretary, not a representative of the government caucus.

[The Chair, Conservative, Merv Tweed]

Thank you.

I think what's happened is in checking out previous other committees it said “Conservative member”, but I agree with you the discussion was with the parliamentary secretary.

Do we have to amend it to state “parliamentary secretary”?

I would ask Mr. Laframboise to put forward the motion.

[Mario Laframboise, Bloc, Argenteuil—Papineau—Mirabel, QC]

I agree, if everyone agrees. We should be unanimous.

[The Chair, Conservative, Merv Tweed]

Mr. Julian is seconding it.

Mr. Fast.

[Ed Fast, Conservative, Abbotsford, BC]

Mr. Chair, one question. I agree it should be the parliamentary secretary if he is available. There may be meetings at which he can't appear, and I'm wondering, should there not be some flexibility? This allows for the flexibility to have someone else in that position. Right now, we are all agreeing that it will be Mr. Jean who will be nominated. We'll make a motion to that effect that he would be the member. However, it does take away some flexibility.

[Mario Laframboise, Bloc, Argenteuil—Papineau—Mirabel, QC]

Mr. Chairman, as far as I know, you're a member of the Conservative Party. So you represent your party on the committee. Each party is usually represented on a committee, and the Chairman, who is often a member from the party in power, represents his or her party.

As parliamentary secretary, Mr. Jean can provide us with a great deal, since he has a direct link to the minister's office. That's fine with me. As for adding other members, Mr. Chairman, I believe you're a worthy representative of your party and that, if Mr. Jean isn't here, you can raise whatever subjects you wish. That's what I understand.

[The Chair, Conservative, Merv Tweed]

Thank you. I'm prepared to...Mr. Julian.

[Peter Julian, NDP, Burnaby—New Westminster, BC]

In the same line of thinking, the Vice-Chairs are represented. There's Mr. Bell, Mr. Laframboise, you, as Chair, and I, as representative of the other party. However, we don't replace each other. If Mr. Bell isn't available, he isn't available.

The same is true for the parliamentary secretary. We don't have a coordinating group where people could replace each other. Each of us has accepted responsibility to be present. You also have a responsibility to schedule meetings so that we can be present.

[The Chair, Conservative, Merv Tweed]

I agree with you, and I would like the amendment to read “the parliamentary secretary”.

(Amendment agreed to)

Mr. Bell.