Transport Committee on March 6th, 2008

[The Chair (Mr. Mervin Tweed (Brandon—Souris, CPC)), Conservative, Merv Tweed]

Good morning, everyone. Welcome to the Standing Committee on Transport, Infrastructure and Communities, meeting number 15.

I'll call orders of the day. Last meeting we had a subcommittee meeting, and I believe everyone has a copy of the report. In order to approve the report and then continue with the rest of the business, I would need approval of the report.

Are there any questions on the report?

Seeing none, I'll ask all those in favour of the report to so signify.

[Some hon. members]

Agreed.

[The Chair, Conservative, Merv Tweed]

The report is accepted.

This will allow us to move into new business.

I want to advise the committee and I guess apologize to some degree for not having witnesses here today. It has been a bit of a challenge to get everybody on the same page and here at the same time.

I am informed that next Tuesday the Environmental Assessment Agency will be here, and Infrastructure will be here. We are waiting to confirm Fisheries. Natural Resources have had, I think, timing problems more than anything. I am waiting to hear from them.

If there are any questions around that, whenever you feel you have a question, raise....

Mr. Masse.

[Brian Masse, NDP, Windsor West, ON]

Is it just because of scheduling, and not a lack of interest to appear?

[The Chair, Conservative, Merv Tweed]

I don't think it's a lack of interest. I think it was sprung on them fairly quickly. What I'm hearing more and more is that right after the break they would be more briefed and better prepared to present to the committee, but they are going—

[Brian Masse, NDP, Windsor West, ON]

It's important that we get them, and that's the reason I was curious.

Thank you.

[The Chair, Conservative, Merv Tweed]

Absolutely.

Mr. Jean.

[Brian Jean, Conservative, Fort McMurray—Athabasca, AB]

I'm just going to make a comment about Infrastructure. I was personally involved in that file. I know the reason they can't come either Tuesday or today is that they're out of the city negotiating another framework agreement with one of the provinces. It's a small, tight-knit group, and they just couldn't make it as a result of that.

[The Chair, Conservative, Merv Tweed]

They will be here Tuesday, and we will have the environmental people here too, so I would advise everyone to be ready for that.

Also, the clerk sent out by e-mail a copy of the letters we are sending to the people it was agreed at the subcommittee meeting to invite, and you have a copy of these in front of you. I wanted you to have a look at them. I am anxious to get them out, so If you have any concerns or you think there's anything that should be corrected.... They're pretty straightforward. We've changed the last paragraph in them just to impact on the different groups we're inviting: one for FCM and the other for provincial and other jurisdictions.

Those are there just for your information.

At the subcommittee, a lot of names were presented as potential witnesses who might appear before the committee. We would be prepared to get them on the list and get them to start preparing for the appearance or at least prepare a written briefing that would be sent to the committee prior to their appearing before the committee at another time.

Mr. Jean.

[Brian Jean, Conservative, Fort McMurray—Athabasca, AB]

Is the clerk asking us to submit specific names, or can we just tell them now? I can't remember who brought it up—I think Mr. Bell—but I thought the recreational boaters would be a really good thing.

[The Chair, Conservative, Merv Tweed]

Because of the time, I would ask that we submit it in writing. That will give Maxime the chance to get the addresses and get the right people to contact.

Mr. Masse.

[Brian Masse, NDP, Windsor West, ON]

I want to make sure it's clear that we were going to hear from the government people first. Then we would still have time to get witnesses in as we hear that testimony and establish the relevancy of whoever we might have for later.

[The Chair, Conservative, Merv Tweed]

Absolutely. I'm asking so as to try to get people ahead of time—

[Brian Masse, NDP, Windsor West, ON]

To help out.

[The Chair, Conservative, Merv Tweed]

I think because this is going to be a very challenging task, the more people we can prep in advance the better.

Mr. Bell.

[Don Bell, Liberal, North Vancouver, BC]

Mr. Chair, do I understand that the recreational boaters are being invited?

[The Chair, Conservative, Merv Tweed]

If you know the name or the contact.... I would ask committee members to submit the organizations and the name of the contact if you know them. If not, give us the name and we will track them down.

[Don Bell, Liberal, North Vancouver, BC]

Okay. I thought we had provided you with our list.

[The Chair, Conservative, Merv Tweed]

We didn't actually keep track of it, as I thought it was more a discussion as to who might or might not appear. If you wouldn't mind—

[Don Bell, Liberal, North Vancouver, BC]

Okay. We'll get you a copy of it later today.

[The Chair, Conservative, Merv Tweed]

Yes, if you wouldn't mind, and we do have that two-week timeframe to do this.

[Don Bell, Liberal, North Vancouver, BC]

In terms of the scheduling you're planning, as I recall--I don't have my little calendar with me--we were going to use next Tuesday for navigable waters as well, were we not?

[The Chair, Conservative, Merv Tweed]

Absolutely.

[Don Bell, Liberal, North Vancouver, BC]

So the intention now is to have the department in on Tuesday?

[The Chair, Conservative, Merv Tweed]

Yes. The environmental people and the infrastructure people have confirmed; one more perhaps, but those two for sure.