Veterans Affairs Committee on Feb. 27th, 2007

[Bev Shipley, Conservative, Lambton—Kent—Middlesex, ON]

David has relayed...not necessarily my concern, but certainly we all have visions of some of the comments and concerns that have come up before about it.

This is about veterans. If we're there to support and the minister sees that is to be, instead of just other members of Parliament, certainly this committee should be representing the veterans.

I think we just need to talk to our people. We need to obviously reflect through this. The veterans are obviously the people who need to go, each and every one. Those who desire to be there should have that opportunity. So that's the first go.

I think it's all about optics at this point in time, and within optics, it's about our serving the veterans in some way by being there. Then that's party to our discussion with the minister about this committee.

[The Chair, Conservative, Rob Anders]

Understood.

Mr. Stoffer.

[Peter Stoffer, NDP, Sackville—Eastern Shore, NS]

Concerning Mr. Sweet's case, this will be the fourth time I've done this, representing not just the government but also the committee. At the Boston Seafood Show, when there was an all-party committee there, the fishing producers and the fishermen loved it.

When we were over in Holland a year back, being an all-party committee, the veterans and the families absolutely loved the fact that all parties were represented.

When Brent St. Denis, Monte Solberg, and I were in Bosnia together, we weren't politicians. We were people representing the government and the country, and it worked out extremely well.

You're always going to get somebody who will say that you're on a jaunt and you're not really caring. We can't avoid those arguments. But I can assure you that the lasting impression of watching veterans and their families and these kids who will be there, seeing parliamentarians of all parties unanimous in their support of the event, goes a long, long way.

[The Chair, Conservative, Rob Anders]

All right.

[Bev Shipley, Conservative, Lambton—Kent—Middlesex, ON]

Mr. Chair, I have another commitment at 11.

[The Chair, Conservative, Rob Anders]

I understand. We want you here for this. Unless there are any other comments--

Mr. St. Denis, very quickly.

[Brent St. Denis, Liberal, Algoma—Manitoulin—Kapuskasing, ON]

I like the way Peter put that.

David, with great respect, I don't think we should get permission. We either believe in what we're doing, as a committee, as parliamentarians, and we do it because it's in our hearts to do it.... I don't want to get into a position where we're asking permission, because they have their own politics. There will be people who might gripe about this or that. That's part of our job, sadly. But we want to either express support for them or not.

And whether some of us go with the minister's delegation or we go as a committee, it doesn't matter to me. That's more of a budget thing, and I don't even agree with the minister's worrying about the optics. I mean, we're not chopped liver. We're elected by the people, we're here to do the job, and we should go.

[David Sweet, Conservative, Ancaster—Dundas—Flamborough—Westdale, ON]

If I did use the term “optics”, my concern is the institution of Parliament and also reducing the value of the trip for the veterans. I mean, if we're going to vote for it unanimously between parties, I have no problem with answering to that fact. But to diminish the event for the veterans--that would be my concern.

[The Chair, Conservative, Rob Anders]

Out of sensitivity for Mr. Shipley, please, so he's included in this vote, the motion has been put by Mr. Stoffer.

(Motion agreed to) [See Minutes of Proceedings]

[The Chair, Conservative, Rob Anders]

Now, before we break—Mr. Shipley, you're free to go—we have Monsieur Perron on another matter.

[Gilles-A. Perron, Bloc, Rivière-des-Mille-Îles, QC]

I have another motion to table which does not require 48 hours' notice. Following Dr. Brillon's appearance, perhaps we could ask Mr. Guay and Ms. Routhier to appear before the committee.

[The Chair, Conservative, Rob Anders]

We will do that, yes.

[Gilles-A. Perron, Bloc, Rivière-des-Mille-Îles, QC]

And the speeches we heard... I will leave it to the clerk to draw up a list of future witnesses in keeping with what we have heard today from Dr. Pascale Brillon.

[The Clerk]

Yes.

[The Chair, Conservative, Rob Anders]

I feel this is agreed by the committee. I see nods around the table. Yes.

This meeting is adjourned.