Transport Committee on March 28th, 2007

[Ed Fast, Conservative, Abbotsford, BC]

I have a point of order, Mr. Chair.

[The Chair, Conservative, Merv Tweed]

Mr. Fast, on a point of order.

[Ed Fast, Conservative, Abbotsford, BC]

Mr. Julian is badgering the witness.

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

I'm not.

[Ed Fast, Conservative, Abbotsford, BC]

You've already ruled on the issue, Mr. Chair. Could we move on?

[The Chair, Conservative, Merv Tweed]

Mr. Julian, you will have the opportunity to ask Mr. Preuss that question when he attends on behalf of Transport Canada. He is here today to answer questions in regard to an allegation that was made at this table. He is answering the questions, and we have to stay on that topic.

I'm sorry, but that's my position.

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

Then through you, Mr. Chair, I will ask Mr. Preuss to table the risk assessment as a formal request of this committee.

You don't need to answer that question, but you have been requested to table that risk assessment. It is this committee's right to know what is in that risk assessment.

It is also this committee's right to convene witnesses, and as a member of this committee, I actually requested that the Canadian Union of Public Employees appear before this committee. On June 20 they did so. On June 20 they came forward and offered very professional testimony, as a result of which the government backed away from what I thought was a very wrong-headed plan to cut the ratio of flight attendants on Canadian airlines. Obviously the government agreed with the testimony provided by CUPE.

What I disagree with is your characterization that your letter to Pamela Sachs was an offer to provide services. It reads, in part, as follows: “I have also directed my officials that future communication between Transport Canada and your organization on this and any other civil aviation issue is to be conducted through my office until such a time as the relationship with your organization is re-established on a professional footing.” Now, they were professional on June 20; there's no doubt about that.

There are some accusations made in your letter, and there is a very clear punishment. CUPE responded, as you well know, on October 18, and stated--

[Ed Fast, Conservative, Abbotsford, BC]

On a point of order, Mr. Chair, has the document that Mr. Julian has just quoted from been circulated?

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

This is a letter from Mr. Preuss. A number of members of the opposition have made reference to it, Mr. Fast.

[Ed Fast, Conservative, Abbotsford, BC]

Yes. Could we get a copy of it?

[The Chair, Conservative, Merv Tweed]

Could I ask perhaps to have that tabled for all members of the committee?

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

Certainly.

[The Chair, Conservative, Merv Tweed]

We are referring to it. And I would presume it's in French and English.

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

She responds on that date--

[The Chair, Conservative, Merv Tweed]

Mr. Julian, hold it.

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

--that they should not--

[The Chair, Conservative, Merv Tweed]

Mr. Julian, please. I would ask if you're prepared to table that letter for all members of the committee. You can't quote from something in this committee without all members having access.

I'm sorry, but we've had that requested at this committee before, and we've responded in the same way.

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

Mr. Chair, I certainly will table it. But this is correspondence by Mr. Preuss.

So your comments--

[The Chair, Conservative, Merv Tweed]

Mr. Julian, I'm asking you to please arrange for copies to be delivered to the membership before we proceed--please.

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

Mr. Chair, we've already had questions on this letter. I am actually responding to--

[The Chair, Conservative, Merv Tweed]

And a point of order was raised requesting the document. I'm asking, on behalf of the committee members--

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

This is stonewalling, Mr. Chair.

[The Chair, Conservative, Merv Tweed]

I would ask that you do that before we continue.

If you want to continue to ask questions in relation to why Mr. Preuss is here, I will allow that to continue, but until every member has that document, I would ask that you stay on topic--namely, the motion, brought forward by Monsieur Laframboise, to answer allegations made by the Canadian Federal Pilots Association at the committee meeting of February 21. That's the topic we're dealing with, and I've asked Mr. Preuss to answer those questions.

So I would ask committee members to have their questions pertain to that motion--please.

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

Mr. Preuss, following the meeting on June 20, was CUPE punished in any way?

[Merlin Preuss]

Not to my knowledge.