Evidence of meeting #30 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 amendment.

A recording is available from Parliament.

On the agenda

MPs speaking

Also speaking

Helena Borges  Director General, Surface Transportation Policy, Department of Transport
Alain Langlois  Legal Counsel, Legal Services, Department of Transport

5:30 p.m.

Liberal

Charles Hubbard Liberal Miramichi, NB

Mr. Chair, I suggest that we extend the meeting on Tuesday until we have completed this.

5:30 p.m.

Some hon. members

Agreed.

5:30 p.m.

Conservative

The Chair Conservative Merv Tweed

Mr. Julian.

5:30 p.m.

NDP

Peter Julian NDP Burnaby—New Westminster, BC

Let's take a moment to see if that's actually practical, Mr. Chair.

5:30 p.m.

Conservative

The Chair Conservative Merv Tweed

We're talking next Tuesday. We would start at 3:30 and go until....

5:30 p.m.

Liberal

David McGuinty Liberal Ottawa South, ON

We have a meeting from 5:30 until 7:30 or 8:30 that night.

5:30 p.m.

Conservative

The Chair Conservative Merv Tweed

Any other suggestions?

Maybe I could make the suggestion that we say that we will complete it within that two-hour timeframe. But that might be presumptuous of me.

5:30 p.m.

NDP

Peter Julian NDP Burnaby—New Westminster, BC

I have a critics meeting that goes on for two hours.

5:30 p.m.

Conservative

Brian Jean Conservative Fort McMurray—Athabasca, AB

We could limit the comments on amendments.

5:30 p.m.

Conservative

The Chair Conservative Merv Tweed

We could do that.

5:30 p.m.

An hon. member

To four or five seconds.

5:30 p.m.

Conservative

Brian Jean Conservative Fort McMurray—Athabasca, AB

One minute's more reasonable. I'm not draconian, and I'm not a Machiavellian, either.

5:30 p.m.

NDP

Peter Julian NDP Burnaby—New Westminster, BC

Mr. Chair, I heard the House leader for the Conservatives stand in the House just after three o'clock and say very clearly that we were going all next week. That would mean that we would have meetings on Tuesday and Thursday. He said that we would have pre-budget debate on Thursday.

That being said, that gives us two sessions for three clauses. I don't see this as being difficult.

If the Liberals have a meeting scheduled at 5:30, I don't think we should try to extend that time. I think we have ample time within the two sessions to handle the three clauses that are left.

5:30 p.m.

Conservative

The Chair Conservative Merv Tweed

I'm at the will of the committee.

Mr. Jean.

5:30 p.m.

Conservative

Brian Jean Conservative Fort McMurray—Athabasca, AB

I'm asking, Mr. Chair, if we can indeed revisit this issue at 5:30 on Tuesday, before we adjourn, to see whether or not we need another meeting on Wednesday or even after the Liberal meeting.

I'm prepared, all three of us are prepared, to meet at any time next week to get this finished before the Christmas break.

5:30 p.m.

Conservative

The Chair Conservative Merv Tweed

Okay, I will see that it's put on the Tuesday agenda that if closure is not completed by 5:30, we will at least have a discussion on when our next meeting will be.

Mr. McGuinty.

5:30 p.m.

Liberal

David McGuinty Liberal Ottawa South, ON

Can I put another question to the committee, Mr. Chair?

When we convened the minister on the estimates, I put a question to him with respect to his attending on the supplementaries. I assumed, having had his agreement, that he would come back and attend, that this would be handled by either the clerk or by you, since no subcommittee meeting had been convened to deal with it. I think the supplementaries have been deemed approved by the committee; the time has elapsed.

I'm in your hands. I'm a little surprised that we didn't actually have that booked in by the operative date. I just assumed this was going to occur. So I'm in the hands of the committee and you and the clerk as to why that wasn't scheduled.

5:35 p.m.

Conservative

The Chair Conservative Merv Tweed

Mr. Jean.

5:35 p.m.

Conservative

Brian Jean Conservative Fort McMurray—Athabasca, AB

Actually, the minister did say he would come on the 29th, but we didn't have a meeting and I understand that the supplementaries have already been done as a result of the Liberal convention. At the same time, I think they were done.

5:35 p.m.

Conservative

The Chair Conservative Merv Tweed

My understanding was there was an agreement that the date was changed to December 4. Am I correct in assuming that? They moved it up procedurally in front of the House.

5:35 p.m.

Conservative

Brian Jean Conservative Fort McMurray—Athabasca, AB

The 29th was agreed to. The minister was prepared to come.

5:35 p.m.

Liberal

David McGuinty Liberal Ottawa South, ON

Sorry, this is the first time I have ever heard that the minister had agreed to come on a specific date, Mr. Chair.

5:35 p.m.

Conservative

The Chair Conservative Merv Tweed

Yes, I wasn't aware of it.

5:35 p.m.

Liberal

David McGuinty Liberal Ottawa South, ON

I don't think our chair was even aware.

November 29...?

5:35 p.m.

Conservative

Brian Jean Conservative Fort McMurray—Athabasca, AB

I thought it was, yes.