Evidence of meeting #147 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 letter.

A recording is available from Parliament.

On the agenda

MPs speaking

Also speaking

Clerk of the Committee  Ms. Marie-France Lafleur

11:45 a.m.

Liberal

The Chair Liberal Judy Sgro

Let's just go with “the majority of witnesses”. Let's just do it that way.

Mr. Aubin, is there anything else?

11:45 a.m.

NDP

Robert Aubin NDP Trois-Rivières, QC

No.

11:45 a.m.

Liberal

The Chair Liberal Judy Sgro

Does anybody else have any other comments on this particular letter?

We have a change in the second paragraph and a change in the fifth paragraph for Mr. Liepert.

Let's just make sure that everybody is happy with this now.

We will fix it and I will send it out. We will send a copy to the environment minister and infrastructure minister as well on it, and a copy to all of the members.

Is everyone in favour of it as amended?

Okay, it's carried.

11:50 a.m.

Liberal

The Chair Liberal Judy Sgro

Mr. Liepert.

11:50 a.m.

Conservative

Ron Liepert Conservative Calgary Signal Hill, AB

I just want to raise one issue. It follows up on the testimony we had from the department of—and I'm probably going to get this wrong—Indigenous Services, with Ms. Ferland. I'm not going to read the whole thing, but in part of the exchange, Ms. Ferland referred to the interactive map. Our member, Mr. Doherty, asked if this was information she might be able to provide to the committee in a more concise document, and her response was, “Absolutely.”

Unfortunately, what we got from the department was a map. I think the department needs to provide something more, based on Ms. Ferland's commitment to this committee.

There was a second item I was going to raise.

11:50 a.m.

Liberal

The Chair Liberal Judy Sgro

There were several requests for information.

11:50 a.m.

Conservative

Ron Liepert Conservative Calgary Signal Hill, AB

Yes, there was a second request.

Mr. Doherty asked Ms. Ferland if she could table a national ranking framework with the committee. Her response was, “I don't know if I can provide it by Thursday.” Mr. Doherty then asked if it would be possible at a later date, and she replied, “I will look into it, yes.”

This is the one I meant. It's on the gas tax fund. This is Mr. Doherty again:

Between fiscal years 2014-15 and 2018-19, Indigenous Services Canada allocated $138.7 million of the gas tax fund towards 255 on-reserve infrastructure improvement projects. Are you able to table that information as well as to where those dollars were spent?

The response was, “Yes, we can.”

Again, we got a response that basically referred us to the website and another map.

I would like to request that the committee ask Ms. Ferland to be more comprehensive in fulfilling her commitments before this committee.

11:50 a.m.

Liberal

The Chair Liberal Judy Sgro

There were five different requests for information from the Indigenous Services folks who were before us. The only one they have submitted so far is the map. Yes, we will follow up with the folks from Indigenous Services and ask that this be done, like, yesterday, because that was two weeks ago already. We'd like to have it before the House rises so that the members have that information.

11:50 a.m.

Conservative

Ron Liepert Conservative Calgary Signal Hill, AB

Considering we likely have only one remaining meeting, we do need it well before the House rises.

11:50 a.m.

Liberal

The Chair Liberal Judy Sgro

Exactly. Is everyone okay with that? All right.

Is there anything else?

June 6th, 2019 / 11:50 a.m.

The Clerk of the Committee Ms. Marie-France Lafleur

Just to clarify, would the committee be okay with my sending an email, or would you like an official letter from the chair? How are we responding?

11:50 a.m.

Liberal

The Chair Liberal Judy Sgro

Can I suggest we do both?

11:50 a.m.

The Clerk

Sure.

For the map, they did provide only the link to the website. Is there a specific format you'd like, for example, a PDF copy of the map, and then...?

11:50 a.m.

Conservative

Ron Liepert Conservative Calgary Signal Hill, AB

As I recall the discussion, Ms. Ferland suggested we go to the website. That wasn't her exact wording.

11:50 a.m.

Liberal

The Chair Liberal Judy Sgro

Yes.

11:50 a.m.

Conservative

Ron Liepert Conservative Calgary Signal Hill, AB

Our member asked for a concise document. A link to a website, to me, is not a concise document. I think that happened on two or three different occasions.

11:50 a.m.

Liberal

The Chair Liberal Judy Sgro

We'll be quite specific in the letter.

11:50 a.m.

Conservative

Ron Liepert Conservative Calgary Signal Hill, AB

Thank you.

11:50 a.m.

Liberal

The Chair Liberal Judy Sgro

Is there any further discussion?

Our next meeting is scheduled for June 20, with both of our ministers who have been invited, Minister Champagne and Ms. Jordan.

That's it. It's been a long time, but we've had a good time. If I don't get a chance to say it, thank you all for your great co-operation. It's been fun.

The meeting is adjourned.