Veterans Affairs Committee on April 28th, 2015

[Some hon. members]

Agreed.

[The Vice-Chair, NDP, Peter Stoffer]

Mr. Harris, please continue.

[Dan Harris, NDP, Scarborough Southwest, ON]

Thank you very much.

Mr. Lemieux brought up unintended consequences, and there is always that potential with the bills and laws that we pass. If this bill, after being fully supported by all but two members of Parliament at second reading, ends up dying before Parliament ends, whereas it was fast-tracked through second reading, that could have unintended consequences with respect to what people think about what happened and why, so that's another thing to think about.

Actually during the little break I lost part of my train of thought so if it comes back to me I'll ask to speak again.

[The Vice-Chair, NDP, Peter Stoffer]

Thank you, Mr. Harris.

To wrap this up, Mr. Chicoine, please.

[Sylvain Chicoine, NDP, Châteauguay—Saint-Constant, QC]

Thank you, Mr. Chair.

I would simply like to say a few words about Dan's bill.

I do not know where the confusion that followed came from. It was about the legal status of this holiday. It was probably in the context of the committee's work. According to what I read in the newspapers, when the bill was passed at second reading, the government said it was open to the idea of creating a holiday for Remembrance Day. At that time, I did not notice any confusion.

I went through the Quebec school system and I never heard anything about Remembrance Day, either in primary school or in high school. Things have not changed very much. I am sorry and this may offend you, but in the francophone school network, very little is said about Remembrance Day. I think that the bill could start to change things, especially if the province decides to make Remembrance Day a holiday. I think that there would then be no other choice but to explain to children why November 11 has become a holiday.

I think there is a lot of awareness-raising to be done with the French-speaking community of Quebec as to the nature of Remembrance Day. In my opinion, it would really be a good thing to pass this bill if only for that reason. It would probably be reported in the media. People would talk about it more. If the government decides to make this a statutory holiday, it would be a good thing since for the moment this is not discussed in French-language schools in Quebec. I find this deplorable, but that is the reality. The bill has at least led to discussions on this topic in Quebec. This could give rise to a movement in that regard. That would be a good thing and would contribute to raising the awareness of the francophone population of Quebec regarding Remembrance Day.

[The Vice-Chair, NDP, Peter Stoffer]

Thank you, Mr. Chicoine.

What we have before us now is that if the committee will agree, we will write a letter from the chair of the committee, Mr. Galipeau, to the heritage committee indicating that we have discussed the bill and brought witnesses before us. That letter will have the testimony of the witnesses attached, including Mr. Paré's analysis of holiday status, legal status, and so forth. It will be submitted to the heritage committee for their final analysis and decision.

Is there any discussion on that?

Mr. Lemieux.

[Pierre Lemieux, Conservative, Glengarry—Prescott—Russell, ON]

I agree. I think that's a great plan.

For my part, I'm actually glad it came to the veterans committee because I think just in the comments we had, the discussion we had, the analyst's notes, it's helped. It has added to the debate in a constructive way, so I'm actually glad it came here.

[The Vice-Chair, NDP, Peter Stoffer]

Very good, thank you.

Any concerns at all? No. Okay, that's what we'll do, then.

We'll move on to future business now. Of course, one of the concerns addressed is that we know usually when there is a new Minister of Veterans Affairs, or a deputy minister, we have an opportunity to bring him before our committee. I'm just wondering if the parliamentary secretary can give us any update of when we may anticipate a visit.

I know on Saturday the minister and deputy minister are heading overseas for commemorations and won't be back until around probably the 11th or 12th, and then we'll be on our break. Is there any indication of when the minister may be able to be here with the deputy minister?

[Pierre Lemieux, Conservative, Glengarry—Prescott—Russell, ON]

Yes, thank you, Chair.

As we discussed at the end of our last meeting, this is something that I have been working on with his schedule. He's had a rather demanding schedule with a number of announcements and with, of course, the summit that he had organized and a number of other commitments as well. I don't have a final date today, but I will tell you that it's imminent. It will be very soon. I'm hoping to report back to committee, but yes, I'm working on that. Thank you.

[The Vice-Chair, NDP, Peter Stoffer]

Mr. Valeriote, please.

[Frank Valeriote, Liberal, Guelph, ON]

Mr. Lemieux, while I know that the minister's schedule is onerous and that he has other obligations, one of his biggest and most important obligations is that of transparency and reporting to this committee. I would ask that you report on his behalf this coming Thursday on when he will be available and to give us various dates that the committee might chose from so that we can get to this as quickly as possible.

[The Vice-Chair, NDP, Peter Stoffer]

Perhaps I may just clarify, with Mr. Valeriote's comments. The estimates that are before us have to be passed by May 29. If the minister does not show by then, they are deemed passed by the committee and off they go. That would be unfortunate for the committee if we didn't have an opportunity with the minister.

I leave that with you, Mr. Lemieux. If he can appear before that, it would be most helpful.

Would you like to respond to Mr. Valeriote?

[Pierre Lemieux, Conservative, Glengarry—Prescott—Russell, ON]

I'll just say that I take his comments under consideration. The minister wants to come to committee. It's just a question of coordination. Thank you.

[The Vice-Chair, NDP, Peter Stoffer]

Mr. Hawn, please.

[Laurie Hawn, Conservative, Edmonton Centre, AB]

Mr. Chair, I would like to request that the rest of the meeting go in camera since we're talking about committee business, with the minister's attendance, and so on.

[The Vice-Chair, NDP, Peter Stoffer]

If the committee elects to go in camera we can do that.

[Some hon. members]

Agreed.

[The Vice-Chair, NDP, Peter Stoffer]

We'll just wait a minute or two while the powers that be do that, and we'll go in camera.

[Proceedings continue in camera]