[Recorded by Electronic Apparatus]

Thursday, October 26, 1995

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[English]

The Chairman: Welcome.

Let me begin by suggesting we have two items of business on our agenda.

The first is to talk to our friends about credit cards for about an hour and a half. For the second item of business, I would propose that for the last half hour we go in camera to discuss how we will deal with benchmarking issues when we come to talk to the banks.

They are really just some procedural issues, but I think it's the only chance we're going to get to give them advance warning about what they might expect.

Mr. Bélanger (Ottawa - Vanier): I know this is going to be rather unusual, but we are living through some unusual times right now.

I can't help noticing that our colleagues from the Bloc Québécois have not been attending the last meetings. They're not here again today. They're out doing something else, which I believe all of us should be doing.

Currently, there's a groundswell happening across this province, and I presume across the country. I think as members of Parliament we should be out there encouraging and coordinating as best we can this rally on Friday in Montreal, as we have been invited to do by our Prime Minister. I could not find a replacement this morning; otherwise I would not be here.

So I'm going to move adjournment at this stage, on the basis of the higher priority, hoping that our witnesses, if we do adjourn, will understand and will be willing to come back.

The Chairman: Thank you.

I don't know whether a motion to adjourn normally has a debate with it.

The Clerk of the Committee: We can discuss it. I think it's optional.

The Chairman: All right. I think everyone is sympathetic with what you've just said, but it may be....

Goodness, he's self-adjourning.

I don't know how other members of the committee feel, or whether they wish to simply vote on this proposal. Individual members may wish to act according to their own likes and consciences on this.

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Mr. Murray (Lanark - Carleton): I just came back from my office, and maybe it's because I represent a riding that's close to Ottawa, but we're being inundated with calls. My staff members are going out of their minds.

I feel badly that we have witnesses here ready to brief us, but personally I feel my time could be better spent trying to organize this. I tend to support Mr. Bélanger's motion.

The other factor, of course, is that I don't know whether our minds are sufficiently on the business at hand to do it justice.

The Chairman: Of course, we don't have enough quorum to vote on anything. We do have enough people to hear witnesses.

Mr. DeVillers (Simcoe North): This credit card issue we're here to discuss today is one I've been waiting for a year to come to committee. As anxious as I am to see it proceed, I would support the motion.

Even though my riding is far removed from the Quebec-Ontario border, over ten buses are going. My time could be spent coordinating them.

I would support the motion, even though this is an issue I've been waiting for a very long time to deal with.

Mr. Mayfield (Cariboo - Chilcotin): I have one or two questions.

Your comments resonate very much with mine. It's a matter I'd like to discuss.

The other question in my mind is that Tuesday is coming and we're having the ombudsman. Is there going to be any rescheduling of that as well?

The Chairman: Not at this moment. I'm assuming it will be business as usual on Tuesday. That would be my take on it. We're leaving everything in place.

Does anyone else have anything to say on this point?

Mr. Mayfield: I'd like to know from the witnesses if there's any problem with them coming back in the near future.

Ms Vinita Watson (Director General, Office of Consumer Affairs, Industry Canada): There is no problem at all. We'd be happy to come whenever you wish.

The Chairman: I think I detect a body of opinion that says we're going to adjourn. Therefore, I shall rule we are adjourned.