Evidence of meeting #1 for Transport, Infrastructure and Communities in the 43rd Parliament, 1st Session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was subcommittee.
A recording is available from Parliament.
4:45 p.m.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Vance Badawey
Okay. Thank you, Mr. Doherty.
You have a point of order, Mr. Bittle.
4:45 p.m.
Liberal
Chris Bittle Liberal St. Catharines, ON
You can cut me off because it's not really a point of order, but in terms of clarification, our issue is in terms of the Wednesday meeting. If it's acceptable to everyone to have a full committee meeting on Thursday and then all the points can be addressed, all of the issues can be discussed with some version of either a full committee for two hours—subcommittee/full committee—I'm just putting that out there.
4:45 p.m.
Conservative
Todd Doherty Conservative Cariboo—Prince George, BC
Mr. Chair, there was no suggestion that the full committee meet on Wednesday, only a subcommittee, which as it stands today would be the chair and vice-chair, as made up in the routine motions that we all agreed on. That would allow us to move forward from there. Then as a whole, our committee would meet on Thursday. That's only what's being suggested.
4:45 p.m.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Vance Badawey
There are two more speakers, but I also wanted to make this comment. If in fact the committee is looking at moving forward on Thursday with a committee meeting, we could take some time on Thursday as well before that committee meeting to have a subcommittee meeting. Essentially, what we could do is to have a subcommittee meeting between 3:30 and 4:30 and have a committee meeting between 4:30 and 5:30.
Would that be fine?
Luc, I've still got you on my list, and you're next.
Mr. Berthold, go ahead.
4:45 p.m.
Conservative
Luc Berthold Conservative Mégantic—L'Érable, QC
I just want to say that, if I agree, it's because we're starting our work. This will be the last time I will agree to take time from the committee to hold a meeting of the subcommittee. The vice-chairs of the committee receive compensation for holding subcommittee meetings outside of regular committee meetings. Committee time should not be taken away from committee meetings to hold subcommittee meetings, I will always oppose this.
I know that we have a deadline this week, so I will say it clearly: this week, exceptionally, I am prepared to support this motion. However, from now on, I will oppose the holding of subcommittee meetings using the committee's regular time. This is totally unacceptable.
I would be curious to hear what my colleagues from the other opposition parties have to say about this. If they agree with me, I will propose something.
I'm going to give the floor to Mr. Davidson, but I wanted to make this comment.
February 18th, 2020 / 4:45 p.m.
Conservative
Scot Davidson Conservative York—Simcoe, ON
Thank you, Mr. Chair.
I want to echo my colleague's comments.
I'm a newly elected MP. I was only here for 40 days after the by-election, so this is one of my first committees. I echo the sentiment that I was elected to get things done and to push any time in this committee. York—Simcoe is faced with infrastructure problems and there are lots of things we want to discuss, so I think, no matter what time it is on Wednesday night, a subcommittee could meet for 15, 20 minutes. We could break for 10 minutes now, check the minister's schedule and tell him to pre-slot stuff. It's that simple. Canadians expect us to get stuff done. We put stuff off and then you're making a big deal about this, and it's not. Just get it done.
4:45 p.m.
Liberal
Chris Bittle Liberal St. Catharines, ON
Thank you so much, Mr. Chair.
Let's just have a full committee meeting on Thursday, if that's everyone's desire, and ensure that the schedule is done. But this—I apologize if I call it an emergency meeting—is a surprise unscheduled meeting. I don't think that's necessary, especially since we're all in agreement. Let's have a full committee meeting Thursday, given that we are in agreement. We will have the ministers' schedules. I don't know if Andy will be here, but I will have the schedule for the minister of...I believe the request is for Transport and Infrastructure. We can come to an agreement on that and in terms of studies moving forward. If there is a concern that it would delay, the full committee can be there, accept the agenda at that point and move it on to the next week, as opposed to the subcommittee having to report that back to the full committee.
Again, we don't need to meet on Wednesday. Let's use the time we have. Let's move forward. It provides us ample time to discuss the issues, put other items on the table and go forward from there.
4:50 p.m.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Vance Badawey
Thank you, Mr. Bittle.
Are there any further questions or comments? Mr. Bachrach.
4:50 p.m.
NDP
Taylor Bachrach NDP Skeena—Bulkley Valley, BC
I'm wondering if I can ask Mr. Bittle to clarify his proposal, Mr. Chair, because I'm not sure I quite grab it.
Mr. Bittle is suggesting that we have a subcommittee meeting on Thursday, followed by a full committee meeting? I lost the plot somewhere through your proposal.
4:50 p.m.
NDP
Taylor Bachrach NDP Skeena—Bulkley Valley, BC
The issue I see with having a full committee meeting is that we have just referred several things to the subcommittee and we want to be able to deal with them at the next full committee meeting. Are you suggesting that those items be dealt with in the full committee meeting on Thursday?
4:50 p.m.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Vance Badawey
Are there any further questions or comments on that?
So the direction we're being given right now—and I'm going to take it as a motion—is to have a committee meeting on Thursday, no subcommittee meeting, and simply deal with the items referred to the subcommittee at the committee meeting on Thursday. That's what I'm hearing.
Mr. Doherty.
4:50 p.m.
Conservative
4:50 p.m.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Vance Badawey
No, I'm not hearing that a subcommittee meeting be scheduled. I would prefer to have a subcommittee meeting, because it would be a good opportunity for you and me to bring something forward on Thursday.
4:50 p.m.
Conservative
Todd Doherty Conservative Cariboo—Prince George, BC
Mr. Chair, with all due respect to our colleagues here, the subcommittee can meet at its discretion. It's not voted on. So if you and I, or whoever the members of the subcommittee are, choose to meet tomorrow, we meet tomorrow.
4:50 p.m.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Vance Badawey
The intent is that Thursday we will deal with the items, period. Whether we have a subcommittee or not, whether it goes directly to the subcommittee or to the committee, the issue here is to deal with those issues on Thursday. Is that what I'm hearing? Okay.
Could I get a motion to that effect?
Mr. Bittle, do you want to put that as a motion?
4:50 p.m.
Liberal