Veterans Affairs Committee on Jan. 29th, 2008

[The Chair, Conservative, Rob Anders]

All the other parties were in agreement on this negotiation, and the NDP--

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

Ours said no?

[The Chair, Conservative, Rob Anders]

It is true, sir.

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

Your whip said no, Peter. We had it all set.

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

I will talk to him.

[The Chair, Conservative, Rob Anders]

All right. In the full light of time, I'm sure all will be made available.

Mr. Valley, did you have something you wanted to say?

[Roger Valley, Liberal, Kenora, ON]

We need to know as soon as possible. I know it's difficult, but I can't just snap my fingers and leave my riding. The odds of my getting a flight out anywhere.... I can drive somewhere. It's very difficult if I don't work six to eight weeks ahead.

[The Chair, Conservative, Rob Anders]

Believe you me, I tried both through negotiations through the party whips and through the liaison committee, and I will try again through the liaison committee. I ask all of you to flex your muscles with your respective people and we'll do the best we can.

Monsieur Perron.

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

Just before the Christmas break, I asked about the working conditions for civilians in Afghanistan and for their suggestions. I did not ask for a report or a study, but Michel took the initiative of preparing one. He came up with a terrific report, which I had the time to read while the rest of you were arguing with one another.

Thank you very much, Michel, you did a great job. Take a look at it. It's very well done.

[The Chair, Conservative, Rob Anders]

Yes, understood. Well, congratulations to Michel for his work.

Mr. Russell.

[Todd Russell, Liberal, Labrador, NL]

Thank you, Mr. Chair.

I appreciate the work you and the clerk are doing on this matter. When can we have some firm dates and places?

[The Chair, Conservative, Rob Anders]

These are firm dates. The only thing that's going to wiggle at this point is how many people go, and that will depend on the decision of the liaison committee.

So once again, I do stress to members, please talk to your people on the liaison committee for the respective parties.

[Todd Russell, Liberal, Labrador, NL]

What are the dates?

[The Chair, Conservative, Rob Anders]

Once again, Comox, Cold Lake, Shearwater, and Goose Bay would be the week of February 11, before the break week, so it would be a week of travelling. Call it the first full working week in February.

And then we visit Valcartier on February 28, later that month. That's a day trip. That's pretty easy.

And a visit to Petawawa will be on March 6, just into the beginning of the next month. That's a day trip as well.

Mr. Stoffer.

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

Just to bootleg, when we're in Petawawa, do you remember the story last year of the children who were having difficulties? There was an agreement between the federal government and the provincial government to provide psychological assistance to those children. While we are there, is it possible to get just a quick update of how that program is going? Would that be possible?

[The Chair, Conservative, Rob Anders]

Well, Mr. Stoffer, you can talk to the clerk about it. I don't know what arrangements have been made with regard to the base. Certainly you can ask with regard to that when we're there. Maybe you would want to talk with the clerk about that.

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

Fair enough.

[The Chair, Conservative, Rob Anders]

Mr. St. Denis.

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

I'm sorry, I had missed.... Goose Bay was with Comox, Shearwater, Cold Lake?

[The Chair, Conservative, Rob Anders]

Yes, sir. That's right. It's part of our big package.

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

The longer trip is all the further--

[The Chair, Conservative, Rob Anders]

That is correct.

Everybody understands the marching orders, then, are to please talk to your whips, talk to the people from your various parties on the liaison committee, and then hopefully we can all travel together.

The meeting is adjourned.