Evidence of meeting #48 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 legion.
A recording is available from Parliament.
Liberal
Brent St. Denis Liberal Algoma—Manitoulin—Kapuskasing, ON
I was just going to ask, Roger, simply to reflect what Gilles has said, that we adjourn the ongoing business of the committee, unless the chair feels the need for a business meeting on Tuesday, whatever the date is. It's sort of like semi-adjourning, allowing only a business meeting Tuesday, on either Betty's stuff or something else.
I also wanted to ask whether the intent of your motion is to suggest that the committee, in any way, has held up the VIP study.
Conservative
Betty Hinton Conservative Kamloops—Thompson—Cariboo, BC
I think that seven weeks of discussion on PTSD, which I feel is a very important subject, has in fact, perhaps, held up listening to witnesses directly on the VIP program, which we need to move forward with quickly, as evidenced yesterday when we had an 80-year-old widow paraded in front of the media to make a point, which is that this committee is supposed to give input to the government. If the committee doesn't want to give the input, I need to know.
Liberal
Brent St. Denis Liberal Algoma—Manitoulin—Kapuskasing, ON
A point of order, Mr. Chair, or maybe it's a point of debate.
When it came to the bill of rights, the committee's input was not required for the government to make an announcement. The government department is doing its own review. Nothing stops the government from announcing today what it's doing with health and veterans' health and VIP.
I don't think it would be correct for Betty to in any way suggest that the committee is to blame for any delays by the government on VIP. That's the only thing I want to be careful of.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Rob Anders
That's not a point of order. I'll take it as a point of debate.
What it comes down to right now is that we have Mr. Gaudet's motion, and the question is whether or not Mr. Gaudet wants to see Mr. St. Denis' intervention as a friendly amendment or not, or just proceed, if he wants, and carry on with the motion as it is.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Rob Anders
Bear with me, so we understand the amendment before people vote. We have to make sure these things are clear. The understanding, then, is that if the House is still sitting, there will be a meeting; if the House is not sitting, let's consider....
Whether or not we have a business meeting is at the discretion of the chair.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Rob Anders
Is there any discussion on the amendment?
The vote, therefore, is on the amendment that we have a business meeting, if I so determine and the House is still in session.
(Amendment agreed to)
Back to the main motion as amended.
Are there any speakers?
The motion as amended, I think we all understand. I don't need to repeat this.
(Motion as amended agreed to)
Ladies and gentlemen, happy summer.
We will see you in the fall.
The meeting is adjourned.
