Evidence of meeting #25 for Transport, Infrastructure and Communities in the 45th Parliament, 1st session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was gaspésie.
A video is available from Parliament.
Liberal
Conservative
Dan Albas Conservative Okanagan Lake West—South Kelowna, BC
Thank you, Mr. Chair.
If we were travelling in an automobile together and you were driving, you would find out quickly that I'm a bit of a backseat driver. We actually have two different visions here. Both talked about a motion, but I do believe Mr. Barsalou-Duval has mentioned it twice.
For the simplification of this committee's thought process, having a debate about two different propositions at the same time is not healthy because then we don't know what we're speaking to. Perhaps we could just say that the friendly amendment was received, and that is what we are debating. If the Liberals are unhappy with Mr. Barsalou-Duval's changes, then they should simply oppose that and shoot down the completed motion altogether.
I just think it would be helpful for us right now if you were just to say that we're talking about Mr. Albas's motion with a friendly amendment. Then we can debate that, and we can have a clean vote. We can all go home, and I will stop telling you how to drive.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Peter Schiefke
I appreciate the help, Mr. Albas. After six years as the chair, I'm sure I really need it.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Peter Schiefke
I will say that I appreciate healthy debate and healthy discussion. If there is a way for this committee to come to a conclusion and find solutions that are in the best interests of Canadians, that's always my approach as chair.
We threw around the date of April 15. Is that something that is amenable to colleagues to start this? It's five meetings away.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Peter Schiefke
I'm just throwing it out there. If this is something we feel we should start earlier, that's also something that can be looked at by the members.
Do you think April 15 is too late?
You have the floor, Mr. Barsalou‑Duval.
Bloc
Xavier Barsalou-Duval Bloc Pierre-Boucher—Les Patriotes—Verchères, QC
It’s too late, but I can suggest a compromise.
I know that I moved an amendment to add: “with the exception of meetings for which witnesses have already confirmed their presence” but my Conservative friends may be amenable to a different wording indicating that these two meetings should take place before a certain date, which would be fairly soon.
That might be a way forward if we can all agree on that. I am opening this debate to everyone. I am looking for constructive solutions.
Liberal
Conservative
Dan Albas Conservative Okanagan Lake West—South Kelowna, BC
Could we not just look at tacking this work onto existing meetings? In that way, the Liberals will know that they're still going to get their port study done. If we add an extra hour or two onto several meetings, we all work a little bit longer—I get that—but then this thing happens quicker. Perhaps you can even start booking on Tuesday or Thursday.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Peter Schiefke
I was just asking the clerk whether or not it's possible for us to say that instead of having the meeting on April 15, we set the deadline of having the meetings before a certain date. Obviously, that's with the availability of the witnesses, but if we give them dates and ask them if they can appear on any of these dates, like we've done in the past, I can bring it back to the committee and say what the dates are that they can appear, if it's close enough to the deadline we've given them.
We did that after we had to cancel for Canada Post and Via Rail, and then we found the next available date. Does that work for committee members?
The issue right now is that—
Conservative
Dan Albas Conservative Okanagan Lake West—South Kelowna, BC
Can you tell us what the viability of that would be?
The Clerk of the Committee Philip den Ouden
We should clearly define what this is looking to do, and maybe we could discuss that. At this point, it's not clear exactly what is being asked.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Peter Schiefke
Correct me if I'm wrong, colleagues. We're basically throwing out the random date of April 15 as the deadline to host these two meetings. That gives leeway to the witnesses to appear.
You're proposing two meetings. Is that correct, Mr. Albas?
It's the 11th today, so it's a month, even though we're not sitting for two weeks of that. Technically, it's only two weeks. I'm throwing that out there. I don't know if it's even possible.
Monday is the only day, I believe, that we have booked with witnesses confirmed. We lose a day there—the Monday we get back from the break, which is the 23rd. That would leave us with the 25th and then we're on break again. Then we're gone for two weeks, so it really doesn't leave much time.
Go ahead, Mr. Albas.
Conservative
Dan Albas Conservative Okanagan Lake West—South Kelowna, BC
I think that we need to think a little bit outside the box here. Perhaps there's an alternative day that we can sit or, as I said, amend the existing dates we have. For example, on the 23rd, we could add an extra meeting for an extra two hours there.
Conservatives are fine to be flexible. We just think this needs to come forward sooner rather than later.
Liberal
Bloc
Xavier Barsalou-Duval Bloc Pierre-Boucher—Les Patriotes—Verchères, QC
I think we’ll talk about April 15. We could simply say that the two meetings must be held before or no later than April 15. That gives us the necessary flexibility to move up or reschedule witnesses for the current study and to decide how we will schedule both meetings.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Peter Schiefke
Is everybody on board with this?
Just so you know and just to protect the clerk here, he will do his darndest to get them here. If it's not possible, he will communicate that. He'll publicly communicate if we're having an issue—perhaps one witness can only appear on another date after the deadline—which can then be discussed by the members.
Conservative
Dan Albas Conservative Okanagan Lake West—South Kelowna, BC
Mr. Chair, I would just strongly encourage that when you and the clerk endeavour to bring people in, append it to an existing meeting on a Thursday, a Tuesday or even a Friday, until we get this done.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Peter Schiefke
We will do our darndest as we always have and as we've been able to do with Via Rail and Canada Post—expeditiously.
Conservative
Dan Albas Conservative Okanagan Lake West—South Kelowna, BC
Again, this is the thing. We've had where it took 160 days before the Minister of Public Safety came to answer questions on BC Ferries. That's just not acceptable.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Peter Schiefke
We'll work diligently to get this done.
Do I have agreement from all parties on this?
(Amendment agreed to [See Minutes of Proceedings])
(Motion as amended agreed to [See Minutes of Proceedings])
I think that's it, colleagues. I want to thank the witnesses for appearing before us today.
Thank you for your testimony. We appreciate your time in contributing to this very important study.
With that, colleagues, the meeting is adjourned. However, I want to wish everybody safe travels wherever you're going, whether it's local or far away, as the roads are quite horrific at the time being.
Have a good evening, everyone.
Thank you very much. The meeting is adjourned.