Evidence of meeting #33 for Transport, Infrastructure and Communities in the 39th Parliament, 2nd Session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was rights.
A recording is available from Parliament.
11:35 a.m.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Merv Tweed
I would ask if it's the committee's will to allow Mr. Jean to introduce this notice of motion today.
Monsieur Laframboise.
11:35 a.m.
Bloc
Mario Laframboise Bloc Argenteuil—Papineau—Mirabel, QC
No, because it is a 48-hour notice. At first blush, I have no problem with it, except that I need to obtain an analysis by my leader's office.
11:35 a.m.
Conservative
Brian Jean Conservative Fort McMurray—Athabasca, AB
I have no problem with that, Mr. Chair. It deals with the impact of a carbon tax upon commercial transportation in Canada, so it's quite important, especially with the motion by the Liberal leader.
Will 48 hours' notice be enough time to deal with it on Thursday?
11:35 a.m.
Conservative
11:35 a.m.
NDP
Brian Masse NDP Windsor West, ON
I've just become aware that a similar motion has been tabled by the Conservatives in Finance and Natural Resources, so I'd ask to find out whether or not there's similar legislation or notices being filed from other departments, so that we know what duplication may be presented in front of our committee.
11:35 a.m.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Merv Tweed
I think that will be the 48-hour timeframe we'll need to rectify that.
11:35 a.m.
Liberal
Don Bell Liberal North Vancouver, BC
On the motion that Mr. Volpe put forward with respect to the advertising for airlines, Mr. Volpe is unable to be here today, but we received a copy of a letter that was sent from the minister to you, Mr. Chairman, in response to your June 3 letter on the status and extent of consultations.
Where this committee has gone pretty well in the past--up until perhaps the last motion--with non-partisanship and a fairly low partisan way of dealing with things, unfortunately this letter from the minister, in my opinion, takes several partisan jabs that I think are unnecessary. I say so, again, in the context of the way this committee has worked.
We know the industry is on board, and we'd like to know the status of the consultation with those provinces. There has been about a year's time spent on this, and I would like to request, again, that we find out what the minister is going to be doing on this issue. Unfortunately, I don't think that is addressed in this letter.
Whether this is an item that should be added to Thursday's agenda, when Mr. Volpe can be here to have this discussion....
11:40 a.m.
Conservative
Brian Jean Conservative Fort McMurray—Athabasca, AB
The committee asked for a response; it's a four-page response. I think it was done in seven days, over a weekend. That's the response. I don't understand what else Mr. Bell is seeking, or Mr. Volpe. Maybe we should leave this for Mr. Volpe, because he's been dealing with it.
A response was asked for as to the present condition of the situation. It's very clear that there's a conflict of laws; there are two different jurisdictions that regulate it. If the federal government regulated it at this stage without the provinces on board, it would create an uneven playing field. That's the difficulty.
11:40 a.m.
Conservative
11:40 a.m.
Bloc
Mario Laframboise Bloc Argenteuil—Papineau—Mirabel, QC
We are satisfied with the answer to the letter. I had agreed to have the officials appear because we had not had an answer. But this letter is quite detailed and covers all the matter. In Quebec, given that there is a law, we are satisfied, but there is a problem concerning the rest of Canada.
11:40 a.m.
NDP
Brian Masse NDP Windsor West, ON
It's clear that the six-page letter was as much a political response as it was a factual response related to the process. It's clear that the government doesn't intend to move on this and that other means will be necessary to move them on it. That's where we see it standing, and we have suspected that from day one. It's very clear from that letter that it's just as much political as it is process.
11:40 a.m.
Liberal
Don Bell Liberal North Vancouver, BC
Can I ask that you add it to Thursday's agenda so that Mr. Volpe will be in a position to respond to this?
11:40 a.m.
Conservative
11:40 a.m.
Conservative
Brian Jean Conservative Fort McMurray—Athabasca, AB
I have a copy of the European parliament and the council regulations, dealing with Mr. Byrne's motion. I would be prepared to table that for ease of reference by the committee members.