Transport Committee on Oct. 21st, 2009

[The Chair, Conservative, Merv Tweed]

Mr. Jean.

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

I have no difficulty. I think the suggestion by Mr. Proulx is an excellent one, and I'd be happy to volunteer on behalf of the government to meet with them and arrange, through our officials, a meeting that could take place with all parties.

I had one question related to the operational budget request, but I will defer it for now.

[Marcel Proulx, Liberal, Hull—Aylmer, QC]

Is Wednesday, October 28, absolutely poured in concrete for the clause-by-clause?

[The Chair, Conservative, Merv Tweed]

I'm sorry, but I have a speaking order to maintain.

Monsieur Laframboise.

[Mario Laframboise, Bloc, Argenteuil—Papineau—Mirabel, QC]

I understand what Mr. Proulx is suggesting. It is important to get feedback from the National Capital Commission.

Mr. Chairman, the purpose of your comment is for us to table our draft amendments on Friday. That would be early, but Monday evening, once we will have heard from the witnesses, we would already have begun preparing our amendments. We could table them Monday evening, after hearing from the National Capital Commission. There could also be a meeting.

The problem is that we had set quite a short timeline to address this issue. We could always postpone the meeting to Monday of the following week and do something else next Wednesday, but give us at least until Monday evening to table our amendments.

[The Chair, Conservative, Merv Tweed]

I have a suggestion, but I'll listen to Mr. Volpe first.

[Joe Volpe, Liberal, Eglinton—Lawrence, ON]

It's probably the same one that I had in mind, so go ahead.

[The Chair, Conservative, Merv Tweed]

What I might suggest, if I may, is that next Wednesday, October 28, we have the NCC. We have Bill C-310 and we've booked it for Monday, November 2. But we don't have anything other than a subcommittee booked for November 4. We could ask that you submit your amendments by Monday, November 2, and that will give you the weekend after the NCC. We could deal with Bill C-310 on the Monday for one meeting and then go back on November 4.

I'm just throwing that out, looking for direction. We have some future business to discuss under the subcommittee. We can either defer it or deal with it in say the last half hour of that day. I'm not sure how much time we're going to need to do clause-by-clause. If there's a meeting arranged with the minister and party members, I'm hoping we can come forward with a proposal that's qualified and accepted by all.

Mr. Volpe.

[Joe Volpe, Liberal, Eglinton—Lawrence, ON]

I think it's an excellent suggestion, and it's consistent with the understanding that we arrived at when we did the last steering committee. We said we were going to schedule the beginning of the next round immediately. But we were giving ourselves a day or half a day of the meeting in case we had to make an adjustment.

I'm sure the parliamentary secretary is in agreement with that understanding and with the intent of your suggestion. So that's great.

[The Chair, Conservative, Merv Tweed]

So I will ask Mr. Jean to try to arrange a meeting with the minister and officials, or whoever we need to resolve the amendments issue with.

Is that reasonable?

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

I apologize, Mr. Chair, but you say “amendments issue”?

[The Chair, Conservative, Merv Tweed]

Well, I think what they wanted to do—

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

Oh, the round table the minister suggested. Yes, absolutely.

[Marcel Proulx, Liberal, Hull—Aylmer, QC]

That's very reasonable. Thank you.

[The Chair, Conservative, Merv Tweed]

You're welcome.

What you also have in front of you is a budget, which wasn't approved because we started the process ahead of time. It's actually to cover the costs of witnesses. It's a standard request for a total of $3,800. I would ask for a motion to do that.

First, Mr. Jean, you have something to say?

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

I just have a question.

I was hoping Mr. Kennedy would show up today, because he could clarify the $300 to go to Montreal versus the $1,500 to go to Toronto. Is the latter a normal fee? It seems like a lot more. I just wasn't sure.

I know Mr. Kennedy is from Toronto, so—

[The Chair, Conservative, Merv Tweed]

It's the standard amount, and thank you for your input.

I need a motion for the budget.

[Dennis Bevington, NDP, Western Arctic, NT]

I so move.

[The Chair, Conservative, Merv Tweed]

Thank you.

(Motion agreed to)

[The Chair, Conservative, Merv Tweed]

We'll see everyone on Monday.

The meeting is adjourned.