Evidence of meeting #4 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 commission.
President, Bridge & Tunnel Operators Association
Thank you, Mr. Chairman and all the members. I'm most appreciative of the time you've given us this morning.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Merv Tweed
Thank you.
To the committee, we have a couple of things we have to deal with for the next meeting. I want to make sure we're all on the same page.
I know we have the motion. It's actually completely filled out the way Mr. Jean presented it, with the extension of the comment where it suggests that the opposition parties, at the end, have the first right of refusal on the questions. I'll pass that around to you for the next meeting. Fair enough?
When will we meet again? As you know, the House has been asked to sit from 9 a.m. until noon on Thursday, with question period from 11:15 to noon, due to the arrival of the Prime Minister of Australia.
Mr. Jean.
Conservative
Brian Jean Conservative Fort McMurray—Athabasca, AB
My suggestion is that this is an important issue, and I don't see any reason why not. We work for the taxpayers here, and it would be nice to be able to meet sometime on Thursday to deal with this issue, because it is one that is obviously of some concern to some of the members.
NDP
Peter Julian NDP Burnaby—New Westminster, BC
That would mean in the afternoon, obviously, to satisfy the 48-hour notice-of-motion requirement. Do we have witnesses who have accepted to come on Thursday?
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Merv Tweed
That's my second point. I thought we should try to deal with the date first, because to date we've had some interest shown but no one actually ready to appear. I do know we are coming into a break week. We're having the minister on June 1, and the question I want to ask the committee is how long we're prepared to wait for witnesses to come forward before we proceed clause by clause.
Mr. Julian.
NDP
Peter Julian NDP Burnaby—New Westminster, BC
If we don't have witnesses, I do not believe we should go to all the expense of translation for this one motion. It can be treated at our next standing committee meeting. I don't believe we should be meeting just for this notice of motion.
Liberal
Don Bell Liberal North Vancouver, BC
The clerk received a letter--I have a copy of it--from Dan Stamper of the Canadian Transit Company. My understanding, having called his office, is that he would be available this Thursday, if we have the break week. So that's one witness we could get on this Bill C-3 and deal with that.
If we're able, I don't think we should wait until the afternoon to meet. If we agree, if we're going to have a meeting, we could deal with the other issue as well at the same time.
Conservative
Brian Jean Conservative Fort McMurray—Athabasca, AB
But 48 hours is necessary, as Mr. Julian pointed out. It would have to be at 1:15, at the very earliest, going by the letter of the law.
Liberal
Don Bell Liberal North Vancouver, BC
Unless, I guess, we agreed to waive that or have a meeting in the afternoon.
NDP
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Merv Tweed
May I suggest, then, that we look at holding a meeting on Thursday afternoon at 1:30, for one hour with the witness and whatever time is required to deal with this motion? Agreed?
So it will be at 1:30, and we'll advise the witness to come forward.
I think that's all I have. I thank everybody for their attendance and participation.
Conservative
Brian Jean Conservative Fort McMurray—Athabasca, AB
Is there any difficulty for any of the members concerning the form in which this particular motion is presented? I would like to get it on the record if there's any difficulty at this stage.
Conservative
Brian Jean Conservative Fort McMurray—Athabasca, AB
Is there any difficulty with the form of the motion presented today?
I just want to make sure that there are no other problems on Thursday, as Mr. Julian....
Conservative