Evidence of meeting #39 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 transport.
A recording is available from Parliament.
5:20 p.m.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Merv Tweed
Can I ask the committee...? I know we've already made this motion...maybe we'll deal with this motion first.
Mr. Julian.
5:20 p.m.
NDP
Peter Julian NDP Burnaby—New Westminster, BC
Mr. Chairman, for the very same reasons Mr. Laframboise has given, to put this in place hastily, when we only have nine minutes left before the end of the meeting, is not serious.
We have just carried a serious motion. We need some time to sort things out. I find this motion to be inappropriate.
5:20 p.m.
Liberal
Mauril Bélanger Liberal Ottawa—Vanier, ON
For the very reason that Mr. Jean brings up, this senior civil servant has a right to have his side of the story heard by us. I will remind the committee that I made a point of getting on the record at the last meeting that I thought it behooved us to do so. I don't believe that 10 minutes will do this matter justice. I think it's important to have precision when we do that. I don't have with me the exact comments and the allegations that were made. I think this motion is premature and it should not be carried by this committee.
5:20 p.m.
Liberal
Joe Volpe Liberal Eglinton—Lawrence, ON
I can only reiterate my colleague's perception of this. Last week I was most anxious to have Mr. Preuss here. I didn't take anything that was said as an attack on his character, and I would encourage all members to take a similar disposition until we have an opportunity to hear him. But certainly there was an allegation of a statement attributed to him by a third party.
As Mr. Bélanger suggests--very strongly, I might add--the last couple of minutes left in this committee hearing wouldn't be enough to give Mr. Preuss an opportunity to address the allegations properly.
Had we known at the very beginning that he was going to be here we might have made a different type of an arrangement. But in order for us to deal with this right now would be the height of irresponsibility. It would be an injustice to him or in fact to anybody else who finds themselves in that position.
5:20 p.m.
Conservative
Brian Jean Conservative Fort McMurray—Athabasca, AB
After 15 minutes of talking...we would have been done by now, Mr. Chair. We can promise on this side that we'll have no questions from the government for Mr. Preuss.
But certainly there's a motion on the floor and we'd like to vote on it.
5:20 p.m.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Merv Tweed
There's a motion on the floor that we allow Mr. Preuss to present now.
5:20 p.m.
An hon. member
Can we have a recorded vote? I'd like to record the time the vote was taken as well.
5:20 p.m.
The Clerk of the Committee
It's 5:25, Wednesday, February 28.
5:20 p.m.
Conservative
5:25 p.m.
Conservative
Brian Jean Conservative Fort McMurray—Athabasca, AB
I have one more comment, Mr. Chair. I'm not trying to waste the committee's time, but certainly on this side of the table we're prepared to meet after the votes, which are 15 minutes from now, and I would amend the motion accordingly, if that's the will of the committee.
5:25 p.m.
An hon. member
Perhaps tomorrow morning, Mr. Chair. Tomorrow morning would be fine.
5:25 p.m.
An hon. member
I have commitments.
5:25 p.m.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Merv Tweed
I appreciate the comments.
I do want to ask the committee before we leave whether we need a full two-hour meeting with Mr. Preuss.
One hour is fine, Mr. Laframboise?
Okay. With that, have a nice break.
The committee is adjourned.