Evidence of meeting #112 for Transport, Infrastructure and Communities in the 42nd Parliament, 1st Session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was pilotage.
A recording is available from Parliament.
President, Shipping Federation of Canada
There are 15 icebreakers: two heavy icebreakers—one of them, Louis S. St-Laurent, is 49 years old—four medium icebreakers, and nine light icebreakers, which are multi-task and don't work well in heavy ice.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Judy Sgro
Thank you very much.
Thank you to our witnesses. It was nice to see you again, Mr. Orb.
I'm going to excuse the witnesses from the table at this time. Let's give our witnesses a second to exit the table.
We'll go on to Mr. Jeneroux directly to deal with his motion. Mr. Jeneroux, would you like to move the motion or speak to it?
Edmonton Riverbend, CPC
Yes. I believe I've already moved it.
Thank you, Madam Chair, for allowing the time. I want to make sure, in full transparency, that we have the chance to talk about these things in public. Thank you for arranging that we get some time to do that.
Again, I'll quickly read the motion so everyone is aware of what we're looking at. I move that the committee invite the Parliamentary Budget Officer to provide an update on his report on phase 1 of the investing in Canada plan.
Being new on this committee, I have been spending a lot of time going through previous meetings and doing my best to catch up. I'm certainly enjoying this current study we're looking at.
However, it was a surprise that we haven't had the Parliamentary Budget Officer before us in this capacity, in terms of looking at the investing in Canada plan, phase 1, which is $180 billion. Probably to the disappointment of the government members, he was quite critical on phase 1 in his report. Knowing that obviously phase 2 is coming, I think it's probably prudent to bring him in front of us before any of that happens again. I think it would be an opportunity for us to question him. Perhaps a study will come out of that, or perhaps it won't, but I think providing the opportunity to have him in front of us would be good, before we head into that second phase of the plan.
Liberal
Ken Hardie Liberal Fleetwood—Port Kells, BC
I think the Parliamentary Budget Officer will have some useful things to say. The government itself, certainly the Prime Minister in his most recent updates to mandate letters, indicated that there was a large interest in seeing the system streamlined because the dollars don't do any good sitting here in Ottawa. They have to be on the street doing what they're meant to do.
Mr. Jeneroux, with respect to your motion, I suggest an amendment that hopefully will be friendly, so that we can add it to your motion: that the chair be empowered to coordinate the necessary witnesses, resources and scheduling to complete this task.
That is pretty much a boilerplate thing, just to make sure that all the details are looked after.
Edmonton Riverbend, CPC
I would just put on the record that I absolutely accept the friendly amendment put forth by Mr. Hardie.
Edmonton Riverbend, CPC
(Amendment agreed to)
(Motion as amended agreed to [See Minutes of Proceedings])
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Judy Sgro
Thank you. That's done.
We will now go in camera for a short session.
[Proceedings continue in camera]