Evidence of meeting #60 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

Michael Ferguson  Auditor General of Canada, Office of the Auditor General of Canada
Lucie Talbot  Director, Office of the Auditor General of Canada
James McKenzie  Principal, Office of the Auditor General of Canada

12:45 p.m.

NDP

Robert Aubin NDP Trois-Rivières, QC

No, it's about Mr. Badawey's proposition.

Actually, I want clarification so that I may take a position on the proposition.

In the thirty minutes during which we must give instructions on the drafting of the report to the analysts, will the draft be postponed to the next meeting, or indefinitely? Will the Committee request an extension?

12:45 p.m.

Conservative

Luc Berthold Conservative Mégantic—L'Érable, QC

That is a good question.

Mr. Badawey, you have the floor.

12:45 p.m.

Liberal

Vance Badawey Liberal Niagara Centre, ON

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Unfortunately you are correct that now that we're going to see an extra witness for an extra hour, the intent would be that, following that witness and following that hour of, I'm sure, testimony as well as questioning, we can then proceed to giving drafting instructions to the clerk and to the analyst.

12:45 p.m.

Conservative

Luc Berthold Conservative Mégantic—L'Érable, QC

So, to clarify...

12:45 p.m.

Liberal

Vance Badawey Liberal Niagara Centre, ON

It's somewhat of a moot point now, because we have added an extra hour onto the process.

12:45 p.m.

Conservative

Luc Berthold Conservative Mégantic—L'Érable, QC

Mr. Aubin, you have the floor.

12:45 p.m.

NDP

Robert Aubin NDP Trois-Rivières, QC

This is part of the operating rules of a committee. Thirty minutes were set aside, but we did not add time. As for me, I cannot add half an hour to my schedule today to participate in the discussion regarding the instructions to be given to the analysts. The session will have to end at the usual time.

12:45 p.m.

Conservative

Luc Berthold Conservative Mégantic—L'Érable, QC

That would indeed be the case if there were no unanimous consent from the Committee members.

12:45 p.m.

NDP

Robert Aubin NDP Trois-Rivières, QC

There will be no unanimous consent. It's impossible, I have another appointment.

12:45 p.m.

Liberal

Vance Badawey Liberal Niagara Centre, ON

Really? Come on.

12:45 p.m.

Conservative

Luc Berthold Conservative Mégantic—L'Érable, QC

Is there a point of order?

No?

12:45 p.m.

Liberal

Vance Badawey Liberal Niagara Centre, ON

I'm just providing clarification, because it's obviously needed.

12:45 p.m.

Conservative

Luc Berthold Conservative Mégantic—L'Érable, QC

There are two issues on the exact same level on the agenda. This is a peculiar situation. So I will ask now if you wish to continue listening to the witnesses.

I ask that all those who wish to continue listening to the witness raise their hand.

Who is against?

I conclude that we will continue with the questions.

Mr. Rayes, you have the floor for six minutes.

12:45 p.m.

Conservative

Alain Rayes Conservative Richmond—Arthabaska, QC

Thank you Mr. Chair.

Can you tell us where we stand? I admit I am still reeling at the idea that the report must be done and sent to the Standing Committee on Finance on Friday without having had the chance to express our views. Yesterday, someone decided on our behalf that we would not have any recommendations to submit.

Are we going ahead with the closed proceedings?

12:45 p.m.

Conservative

Luc Berthold Conservative Mégantic—L'Érable, QC

We just voted to continue listening to the witnesses until the end of the meeting.

12:45 p.m.

Conservative

Alain Rayes Conservative Richmond—Arthabaska, QC

So we will have absolutely no chance to share our recommendations before the end of the meeting. Is that correct?

12:45 p.m.

Conservative

Luc Berthold Conservative Mégantic—L'Érable, QC

Mr. Aubin, you have the floor.

12:45 p.m.

NDP

Robert Aubin NDP Trois-Rivières, QC

I don't want to question your authority: I just want to understand why you gave priority, by way of vote, to the questioning of the witnesses instead of preparing the case. By voting for one, we are forced to vote against the other. That was likely not my intention, but I was faced with a dilemma.

Are we following the procedural rules?

12:45 p.m.

Conservative

Luc Berthold Conservative Mégantic—L'Érable, QC

It's quite simply that the first person to raise a point to ask to hear the witnesses was Mr. Badawey.

12:45 p.m.

NDP

Robert Aubin NDP Trois-Rivières, QC

Thank you, Mr. Chair.

12:45 p.m.

Conservative

Luc Berthold Conservative Mégantic—L'Érable, QC

So, I did exactly what had to be done to decide on the next issue on the agenda.

For the moment, Mr. Rayes has the floor.

Mr. Rayes, you have five minutes remaining.

12:50 p.m.

Conservative

Alain Rayes Conservative Richmond—Arthabaska, QC

I don't know if the clerk could help us with this, but I truly have the feeling that we are in a dead-end.

From what I understand, the analysts must draft a report on the Infrastructure Bank by tomorrow and submit it to the Standing Committee on Finance.

Do we have until tomorrow to make recommendations?

12:50 p.m.

Conservative

Luc Berthold Conservative Mégantic—L'Érable, QC

The president decided to share the Committee's position with the president of the Standing Committee of Finance. It is therefore the decision of the president. There are no other reports on the agenda regarding the Infrastructure Bank.

12:50 p.m.

Conservative

Alain Rayes Conservative Richmond—Arthabaska, QC

Please excuse my questions, but I want to know if a document wrongly dated sent on our behalf without our consent has any legal standing.

12:50 p.m.

Liberal

Vance Badawey Liberal Niagara Centre, ON

What are you doing?