Evidence of meeting #18 for Veterans Affairs in the 39th Parliament, 1st Session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was going.
A recording is available from Parliament.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Rob Anders
My answer, Mr. Mayes, is that we don't get bogged down in translation issues, in terms of drafting.
Conservative
Bev Shipley Conservative Lambton—Kent—Middlesex, ON
Mr. Chairman, why not say that on the study of the veterans ombudsman, the Standing Committee on Veterans Affairs will hear the confirmed witnesses--which is only one--and that the staff then begin to work on a draft report on the subject? If we all agree we have one confirmed witness, there you go.
Conservative
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Rob Anders
I'm not sure if we have to go into great detail on this.
Monsieur Perron, how do you feel about that?
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Rob Anders
Folks, we're starting to make this more complicated than I think it needs to be, in my humble opinion. I don't know why we need to do all this, but anyhow—
I recognized Mr. Mayes. Mr. Valley indicated he wanted to speak as well.
Liberal
Roger Valley Liberal Kenora, ON
Yes, I only want to clear up something Mr. Perron said. I heard him ask, through the interpreter, that we want the legislation from all the ombudsmen from across Canada. I don't know if that would do us any good or that we'll pay a lot of attention to it. I wouldn't mind having a recommendation from ombudsmen from all across Canada on what they think we should set up, simply a letter of recommendation from them. We know roughly what the legislation's going to say.
I would sooner have their thoughts on how we proceed, rather than send us a piece of legislation that very few of us would put a lot of weight on.
I don't know if I lost something in the translation or not, but I wanted to throw that out there.
Conservative
David Sweet Conservative Ancaster—Dundas—Flamborough—Westdale, ON
Or lessons learned, like don't do this.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Rob Anders
Okay.
Because I don't have an actual written amendment, I'll ask the committee if we can proceed with the motion as it is, with a general understanding based on the discussion we've had here.
Monsieur Perron, as the mover of the motion, seems fine with that.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Rob Anders
All right. So the motion, as it stands, unamended.
(Motion agreed to) [See Minutes of Proceedings]
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Rob Anders
Great. Thank you very much.
At this stage, I'd like to add that the understanding here is that we ask for written reports from the people who haven't confirmed--i.e., not the Australians, the domestic stuff.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Rob Anders
Yes, absolutely.
As well, I'll maybe look at doing a letter to provincial ombudsmen. Like Mr. Valley, I'm not sure what that's going to really.... Anyhow, I can look at doing something like that.
The third aspect we haven't really decided upon here--and I'm going to suggest something to the committee--is with regard to the Dutch. If they do get back to us and say they are interested in making a submission, it doesn't mean it delays the report. The report would go ahead. If they would like to make a presentation to us, I don't think we should turn them down. I think it would be interesting to hear from them at a later date.
All right. I think that's—
Oh, sorry.
Liberal
Brent St. Denis Liberal Algoma—Manitoulin—Kapuskasing, ON
I have a business question.
My private member's bill, Bill C-287, on peacekeepers' day, has been referred to the committee. I didn't support Gilles' motion simply to make room for my bill on the schedule. However, it might appear that there would be some time before Christmas, while we're waiting for the report, to have a shot at Bill C-287. I'm simply putting a plug in there for my private member's bill. I maybe have a conflict of interest, being on the committee and having a bill, but anyway—
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Rob Anders
Well, we're going to hear from.... The decision of the committee, for the benefit of our Liberal members, was not to have a committee meeting this Wednesday because of their convention. Fair enough. Then December 4 we have Mr. Winzenberg. Do we have some days after that?
Conservative
David Sweet Conservative Ancaster—Dundas—Flamborough—Westdale, ON
Mr. Chairman, for clarification for me--because Mr. Valley had a good idea--if we're not able to get the ombudsman from the Netherlands prior to the Christmas break, if we have a draft report in our hands and we're able to get him afterwards, then I think it's still very important to make sure we get him on the record before we go to final draft.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Rob Anders
There you go, Mr. St. Denis. We might have some fun in the last bit of our meetings in December.
Conservative
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Rob Anders
That's correct. The Liberals are determining who their new Grand Pooh-bah will be.
