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FOPO Committee Meeting

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MINUTES OF PROCEEDINGS

Meeting No. 5

Thursday, March 29, 2001

The Standing Committee on Fisheries and Oceans met in a televised session at 9:10 a.m. this day, in Room 253-D, Centre Block, the Chair, Wayne Easter, presiding.

Members of the Committee present: John Cummins, John Duncan, Wayne Easter, Georges Farrah, Gerald Keddy, Dominic LeBlanc, James Lunney, Bill Matthews, Jean-Yves Roy, Guy St-Julien, Peter Stoffer, Tom Wappel.

Acting Member present: Shawn Murphy for Sarkis Assadourian.

In attendance: From the Library of Parliament: Alan Nixon, Research Officer.

Witnesses: From the Office of the Auditor General of Canada: Ron Thompson, Assistant Auditor General, International Affairs; Gerry Chu, Director, Audit Operations Branch; John Sokoloski.

Pursuant to Standing Order 108(2), the Committee began the review of Chapter 30 of the Auditor General's Report.

The Chair made opening remarks.

Ron Thompson made an opening statement and, with the other witnesses, answered questions.

On the motion of Peter Stoffer, it was agreed, - That the Chair table the First Report of the Committee to the effect that the Committee recommends, pursuant to section 52(2) of the Oceans Act, the Standing Committee on Fisheries and Oceans be granted an extension for its report on the review of the provisions and operation of this Act from January 31, 2001 to October 1, 2001.

Bill Matthews moved, - That the travel budget for the Committee's East Coast trip in the amount of $107,000.00 be approved.

On the motion of Peter Stoffer, it was agreed, - That the amounts in the budget for coffee tea and juice be reduced to nil and the amount by which coffee, tea and juice was reduced added to the amounts for meeting rooms.

Gerald Keddy moved, - That the budget be amended by provision for an aquaculture site visit in Nova Scotia.

After debate the motion was agreed to on the following show of hands:

YEAS: 3 NAYS: 2

After debate, the motion as amended was agreed to.

On the motion of Gerald Keddy, it was agreed, - That the travel budget for the Committee's trip to Norway and Scotland in the amount of $200,000.00 be approved.

On the motion of Peter Stoffer, it was agreed, - That the Clerk seek information from the Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade on the advisability of travel to Europe, given the problems there with foot and mouth disease. 

On the motion of John Cummins it was agreed, - That the Committee consider at a later date a motion to seek an order of reference to travel to Norway and Scotland.

On the motion of Dominic Leblanc, it was agreed, - That the Committee seek an Order of Reference from the House of Commons to travel to the East Coast in May 2001 to continue their review of the Oceans Act, and their comprehensive studies on Aquaculture, Canadian Coast Guard fleet management and departmental structure in the Gulf Region, and that the said Committee be composed of 2 Alliance members, 1 Bloc Québécois member, 1 NDP member, 1 Conservative member and 5 Liberals and that the necessary staff do accompany the Committee.

On the motion of Tom Wappel, it was agreed, - That the Chair be authorized to approve and finalize the travel budget and itinerary for the trip to the East Coast, and to submit the said budget to the Budget Sub-Committee of the Liaison Committee.

On the motion of Dominic Leblanc, it  was agreed, - That the Chair request the Minister make available appropriate officials of the Department by May 1st, 2001, to Dominic LeBlanc, M.P., the Chair and any other interested Committee Member to assist in preparing a report on the re-creation of the Gulf region to the Committee.

At 11:02 a.m., the Committee adjourned to the call of the Chair.

Andrew Bartholomew Chaplin

Clerk of the Committee