Transport Committee on July 7th, 2025

[The Chair, Liberal, Peter Schiefke]

I call this meeting to order.

Welcome to meeting number four of the Standing Committee on Transport, Infrastructure and Communities.

Today's meeting is taking place in a hybrid format, and members are attending—

[Mike Kelloway, Liberal, Sydney—Glace Bay, NS]

Excuse me, Mr. Chair.

I'm sorry to interrupt. I just wanted to make sure my hand was up to be on the speaking order, if that's possible.

[The Chair, Liberal, Peter Schiefke]

I have your hand up, Mr. Kelloway, and I have Mr. Albas's hand up as well.

[Mike Kelloway, Liberal, Sydney—Glace Bay, NS]

Thank you.

[Philip Lawrence, Conservative, Northumberland—Clarke, ON]

I have a point of order.

[The Chair, Liberal, Peter Schiefke]

Let me just get through this, guys.

Members are attending in person in the room and remotely using the Zoom application.

Pursuant to Standing Order 106(4), the committee is meeting to consider the request by members of the committee to undertake a study of the BC Ferries procurement. The request was distributed by the duty clerk on Wednesday, July 2, 2025.

Before we continue, I'd like to ask all in-person participants to consult the guidelines written on the cards on the table. These measures are in place to help prevent audio and feedback incidents and to protect the health and safety of all participants, including, of course, our interpreters. You will also notice a QR code on the card, which links to a short awareness video.

I'd like to take a moment to remind all members of the following points. Please wait until I recognize you by name before speaking. For those on Zoom, at the bottom of your screen, you can select the appropriate channel for interpretation, whether floor, English or French. For those in the room, you can use the earpiece and select the desired channel. As a reminder, all comments should be addressed through the chair.

For members in the room, if you wish to speak, please raise your hand. For members on Zoom, please use the “raise hand” function, which we've already done, apparently. The clerk and I will manage the speaking order as best we can, and we appreciate your patience and understanding in this regard.

I have a point of order from Mr. Lawrence before I go to those with their hands up.

Mr. Lawrence has the floor.

[Philip Lawrence, Conservative, Northumberland—Clarke, ON]

I'll make a quick clarification. Zoom does recognize left to right, and Mr. Albas is the first there.

[Dan Albas, Conservative, Okanagan Lake West—South Kelowna, BC]

Yes, I was going to put my hand up.

[The Chair, Liberal, Peter Schiefke]

I had Mr. Kelloway first with his hand up.

[Dan Albas, Conservative, Okanagan Lake West—South Kelowna, BC]

He put his hand down.

[Philip Lawrence, Conservative, Northumberland—Clarke, ON]

Zoom recognizes left to right. Mr. Albas was first, so by rule, you have to recognize him first.

[The Chair, Liberal, Peter Schiefke]

Okay, but it was the other way first.

[Philip Lawrence, Conservative, Northumberland—Clarke, ON]

He put his hand down.

[The Chair, Liberal, Peter Schiefke]

How did that switch over?

[Mike Kelloway, Liberal, Sydney—Glace Bay, NS]

I didn't put my hand down.

[An hon. member]

Yes, you did.

[Mike Kelloway, Liberal, Sydney—Glace Bay, NS]

I didn't touch a thing. To be frank, I didn't touch a bloody thing on my computer.

[Dan Albas, Conservative, Okanagan Lake West—South Kelowna, BC]

I'm in first here, so I would ask for the floor, please.

[Mike Kelloway, Liberal, Sydney—Glace Bay, NS]

I just want to note though, in all honesty, that I didn't touch anything on this computer.

[Philip Lawrence, Conservative, Northumberland—Clarke, ON]

It's left to right.

[Dan Albas, Conservative, Okanagan Lake West—South Kelowna, BC]

The motion for the consideration of the committee today is that pursuant to Standing Order 108—

[The Chair, Liberal, Peter Schiefke]

Hold on for a second, Mr. Albas. I'm conferring with the clerk. I'm trying to figure out why Mike Kelloway was in the top left and you were in the top right, both with your hands up, and then it switched over. That's all I'm asking.

[Dan Albas, Conservative, Okanagan Lake West—South Kelowna, BC]

Now someone has switched off mine here. I would like to be able to continue, sir, because we did request.... Conservatives and the Bloc did request today's meeting, so I think it's incumbent upon the chair to allow us to go first.

[The Chair, Liberal, Peter Schiefke]

I can. I also want to do right by Mr. Kelloway.

[Dan Albas, Conservative, Okanagan Lake West—South Kelowna, BC]

Okay, great. Thank you.

That pursuant to—