Transport Committee on Feb. 5th, 2013

[The Chair, Conservative, Larry Miller]

But we can still do that in person. That's a good point.

[Jeff Watson, Conservative, Essex, ON]

Mr. Chair, I think it's obvious that's the sentiment of the entire committee, and it should be on the record.

[The Chair, Conservative, Larry Miller]

Thanks, Jeff.

This has been good for me. I wasn't around for the whole study. I missed a lot of it, but reading through the report I learned a lot of stuff that I didn't know. Anyway, we're still on that learning curve going forward from here, and in order to....

Mr. Coderre, go ahead.

[Denis Coderre, Liberal, Bourassa, QC]

Thank you.

I don't want to filibuster for the sake of love, but I will still say a few words.

[Jeff Watson, Conservative, Essex, ON]

Love, inclusion, and no corruption.

[Denis Coderre, Liberal, Bourassa, QC]

Isn't that great?

I would not call this a dissenting report, but rather a complementary one. I think we have done a pretty great job. We did not always agree, but enlightenment comes when ideas collide. Some valuable work has been done. That is why the Liberal Party of Canada supports all the recommendations of this report. That is why I voted to adopt it.

Moreover, there are two things I need to point out. We discussed them briefly. First, I think the government has a bigger role to play in the development of new technologies. Second, I think we must discuss public transit in urban areas, and electrification in particular. So I would have a page or a page and a half to submit when you like, in both official languages. It is actually already finished.

I also want to add my voice to the chorus in thanking you for your work. The analyst has done a great job. Jean-François, you will be thanked in the next report, but I must say that the previous clerk, Alexandre, did some good work. Mr. Chair, you have transitioned nicely. It is rare for a Liberal to congratulate a Conservative, but you are seeing the new 2013 Denis Coderre. Thank you for your work.

[The Chair, Conservative, Larry Miller]

Well, it's no offence. I mean, all improvements are welcome.

[Some hon. members]

Oh, oh!

[Denis Coderre, Liberal, Bourassa, QC]

And it can be mutual.

[The Chair, Conservative, Larry Miller]

That's right. Thank you, Mr. Coderre.

For the committee going forward, I think it's probably fair to say that to get witnesses here for Thursday would be impossible. It was my thought that we could possibly have a steering committee meeting that day. I'm not 100% sure that's necessary, but if you want to, we can.

Further to that, in order to get witnesses here for next Tuesday, I think to be fair to the clerk we do have some names of witnesses who I think we could get here for Tuesday. I would urge all of you as members to get your witness lists in, and then of course we'll go from there, but I think I can at least get started on that, if the committee will allow me.

Olivia, is that okay?

[Olivia Chow, NDP, Trinity—Spadina, ON]

Yes, that's fine.

I would just remind people that it's on infrastructure.

[The Chair, Conservative, Larry Miller]

Yes.

[Olivia Chow, NDP, Trinity—Spadina, ON]

We'll get some names in for you.

I don't think we need a steering committee meeting, because we know that we're going to be studying infrastructure. We said so a few months ago. I think the rail freight bill will be coming here soon, hopefully, and that will keep us fairly busy, right?

[The Chair, Conservative, Larry Miller]

Yes.

[Olivia Chow, NDP, Trinity—Spadina, ON]

I just want to make sure that you have the authority to....

I suspect we're going to start with the infrastructure study for one or two meetings, and then we may end up stopping that because the rail freight bill might come to us, so—

[The Chair, Conservative, Larry Miller]

I'm not sure of the timing, and I don't know whether Pierre has anything to add, but you're probably right. We're probably going to have a few meetings, and then when the bill comes, that will take priority, as everyone knows, and we'll come back to this.

[Olivia Chow, NDP, Trinity—Spadina, ON]

Yes. I just want to make sure that becomes a priority, because it's been something that the industry.... I know that the shippers have been desperately looking for action, so let's get it done.

I think it will be in the House on Friday. It should be done by Friday, so I assume there'll be votes next Tuesday.

[The Chair, Conservative, Larry Miller]

Tuesday or Wednesday of next week.

[Olivia Chow, NDP, Trinity—Spadina, ON]

Yes. Probably it will end up here the week after, so we will have—

[The Chair, Conservative, Larry Miller]

Well, there's the break week.

[Olivia Chow, NDP, Trinity—Spadina, ON]

Then I suspect it will be in front of us after the break week.

[The Chair, Conservative, Larry Miller]

Yes. The very earliest would be the last week of February.

Okay?

[Olivia Chow, NDP, Trinity—Spadina, ON]

Okay. I don't think we need to have a steering committee meeting to discuss that.

[The Chair, Conservative, Larry Miller]

Okay, so everyone should get their witness list in, but I'll speak with the clerk and we can at least get started for Tuesday and go from there.

If there's nothing else, the meeting is adjourned.