Veterans Affairs Committee on April 26th, 2007

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

I would like to add my two cents' worth. The report tabled in the House is suspended in mid-air somewhere and no one can take it into account. That is what I find the most unfortunate this morning. I believe we undertook this work conscientiously. It has no legal authority, and there is no pressure on the government. Did we do all this for nothing? I believe and hope that we did not.

[The Chair, Conservative, Rob Anders]

It sounds like you're starting with something, Mrs. Hinton, so I'll let you carry on with that.

[Betty Hinton, Conservative, Kamloops—Thompson—Cariboo, BC]

Well, of course it would be taken into consideration. I know that the minister is also awaiting our recommendations on the bill of rights, because that's not completed yet either. We've made it very clear that's the direction we're going in as a government, but this committee has a great deal to say about that, and I'd love to see this committee finish its work.

[The Chair, Conservative, Rob Anders]

All right, then. I don't know where that leaves us.

[Roger Valley, Liberal, Kenora, ON]

Well, it pretty well leaves us with “Fool us once, shame on you. Fool us twice, and we're going to have more to say.”

[The Chair, Conservative, Rob Anders]

That's one way of wording it, Mr. Valley.

Monsieur Perron, I hear where you're coming from. If you want to, move a motion and give us a written motion to that effect. I know that you've talked with the clerk with regard to having me move the motion. Since this is essentially coming from you, while I understand and appreciate where you're coming from, I would leave it to you that if you want to move the motion, you can move the motion, and then have the committee consider it and vote on it, if you will.

We'll have Mr. Shipley and then Mr. Sweet.

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

I think it might be a helpful beginning to find out if, as a committee, we could get the status of where the process is. I think we all want to know where it's actually at in terms of the ombudsman coming into effect. Looking at our recommendation, we can maybe take from some of the comments how it has been modelled. If that would be helpful, I wouldn't have any issue with trying to get an update on the status on that.

I don't know if that meets your requirements, but it may be the first step. At least we'll get the opinion, then, either of the department or the ministry.

[The Chair, Conservative, Rob Anders]

Just following up on what Mr. Shipley is saying, I'm going to ask a question. Is your suggestion to bring forward a witness from the department to talk about it?

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

No, it isn't. It's to get the status. That may come as a letter from the chairman to the minister's office on where we're at in the selection of the ombudsman. I don't know—The discussion about how that individual has likely been hired, the mandate, will be in terms of the recommendations we laid out. It might be helpful.

[The Chair, Conservative, Rob Anders]

Mr. Sweet and then Mr. Valley.

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

Mr. Chair, through you to the clerk, since we did not do that when we submitted the recommendations, can we do it after the fact and request a response from the government on the recommendations?

[The Chair, Conservative, Rob Anders]

He has to check.

[The Clerk]

I'll find out right now.

[The Chair, Conservative, Rob Anders]

Fair enough.

Mr. Valley.

[Roger Valley, Liberal, Kenora, ON]

Do we have anything scheduled for Thursday at this point?

[A voice]

Not that I'm aware of.

[The Chair, Conservative, Rob Anders]

The poor clerk has to be a multi-tasker.

[Roger Valley, Liberal, Kenora, ON]

I'm wondering if we have anything scheduled. If we don't have anything scheduled, let's ask the minister to come on Thursday, instead of writing us a letter.

[The Chair, Conservative, Rob Anders]

Right now it appears we have witnesses for Tuesday. If we can get all our ducks in a row for Tuesday, then we would have Thursday free.

[Betty Hinton, Conservative, Kamloops—Thompson—Cariboo, BC]

What about Mr. St. Denis' bill?

[A voice]

I thought we were dealing with Tuesday witnesses.

[The Chair, Conservative, Rob Anders]

One would hope the whole issue could be dealt with in one day.

I'm not opposed to asking the minister, but I don't know what his schedule is and whether his time will permit it.

[Roger Valley, Liberal, Kenora, ON]

We can ask him and we can decide.

[The Chair, Conservative, Rob Anders]

Mr. Shipley.

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

When do we wrap up Mr. St. Denis' bill? If we're going to have witnesses on Tuesday, we're not likely going to have the discussion on Tuesday. Would Thursday not be the day to be doing that?