Transport Committee on May 16th, 2007

[The Chair, Conservative, Merv Tweed]

I see no one stepping forward to make the amendment.

Again, I advise the committee that I am prepared, as the chair, to write a letter of invitation to Air Canada.

The vote is on the motion put forward by Mr. Julian.

(Motion negatived)

[The Chair, Conservative, Merv Tweed]

Mr. Fast.

[Ed Fast, Conservative, Abbotsford, BC]

Before you write a letter inviting Air Canada here, I don't believe that it's our role as a committee to investigate the private business affairs of Air Canada. If it's a safety or a transportation-related issue, that's great. But if you're talking about grilling them about their decisions about—

[The Chair, Conservative, Merv Tweed]

Mr. Fast, we've already debated the motion and it was defeated.

[Ed Fast, Conservative, Abbotsford, BC]

I understand.

[The Chair, Conservative, Merv Tweed]

But if you want to raise it, I think it—

[Ed Fast, Conservative, Abbotsford, BC]

Mr. Chair, on a point of order, am I not correct that you volunteered to send a letter inviting Air Canada?

[The Chair, Conservative, Merv Tweed]

I said that I would be prepared to do so at the will of the committee.

[Ed Fast, Conservative, Abbotsford, BC]

I just wanted to make sure that you're not proceeding with that.

[Paul Zed, Liberal, Saint John, NB]

No.

[Ed Fast, Conservative, Abbotsford, BC]

All right. Thank you.

[Mauril Bélanger, Liberal, Ottawa—Vanier, ON]

Mr. Chairman, I don't want to--

[The Chair, Conservative, Merv Tweed]

Mr. Bélanger.

[Mauril Bélanger, Liberal, Ottawa—Vanier, ON]

Perhaps we'll have due notice so that we don't monopolize the debate.

But in fairness, just before the vote, you were repeating your willingness to do that, and it might have influenced the vote.

[Paul Zed, Liberal, Saint John, NB]

It did mine.

[Mauril Bélanger, Liberal, Ottawa—Vanier, ON]

So therefore, in fairness, I voted the way I did with that in mind. If now you're saying that you're not prepared to send that letter.... Unless you have a resolution from the committee that says, thou shalt not, Mr. Chairman, I believe that thou should.

[The Chair, Conservative, Merv Tweed]

I will bring the draft to the next meeting for people to look at before we send it.

[Mauril Bélanger, Liberal, Ottawa—Vanier, ON]

Thank you.

[The Chair, Conservative, Merv Tweed]

I won't send it arbitrarily.

[Mauril Bélanger, Liberal, Ottawa—Vanier, ON]

Thank you, Mr. Chairman.

[The Chair, Conservative, Merv Tweed]

Mr. Julian.

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

Mr. Chair, include the machinists.

[Mauril Bélanger, Liberal, Ottawa—Vanier, ON]

We'll see the letter.

[The Chair, Conservative, Merv Tweed]

I'll bring the letter.

Mr. Bell.

[Don Bell, Liberal, North Vancouver, BC]

For clarification, I agree with Mr. Bélanger. My agreement to go against this motion was on the understanding that they were going to be invited.