LIAI Committee Meeting
Notices of Meeting include information about the subject matter to be examined by the committee and date, time and place of the meeting, as well as a list of any witnesses scheduled to appear. The Evidence is the edited and revised transcript of what is said before a committee. The Minutes of Proceedings are the official record of the business conducted by the committee at a sitting.
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37th PARLIAMENT, 2nd SESSION
Liaison Committee
EVIDENCE
CONTENTS
Tuesday, November 26, 2002
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Mr. André Gagnon (Procedural Clerk) |
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Mrs. Judi Longfield (Whitby—Ajax, Lib.) |
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Mr. Joe Comuzzi (Thunder Bay—Superior North, Lib.) |
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Mr. John Williams (St. Albert, Canadian Alliance) |
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Mr. André Gagnon |
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Mr. André Gagnon |
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The Chair (Mr. Walt Lastewka (St. Catharines, Lib.)) |
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Mr. Bernard Patry (Pierrefonds—Dollard, Lib.) |
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The Chair |
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Mr. John Williams |
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The Chair |
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Mr. Peter Adams (Peterborough, Lib.) |
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The Chair |
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Mr. Joe Comuzzi |
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The Chair |
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Mr. Andy Scott (Fredericton, Lib.) |
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The Chair |
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The Chair |
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Mr. John Williams |
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The Chair |
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Mrs. Judi Longfield |
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The Chair |
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Mr. Joe Comuzzi |
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The Chair |
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Mr. Raymond Bonin (Nickel Belt, Lib.) |
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Mr. John Williams |
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The Chair |
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Mr. Joe Comuzzi |
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The Chair |
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Mr. Reg Alcock (Winnipeg South, Lib.) |
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The Chair |
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Mr. Tom Wappel (Scarborough Southwest, Lib.) |
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Mr. Joe Comuzzi |
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Mr. Tom Wappel |
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Mr. John Williams |
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The Chair |
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Mrs. Sue Barnes (London West, Lib.) |
| · | 1310 |
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The Chair |
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Mr. Tom Wappel |
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Mrs. Sue Barnes |
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The Chair |
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Mr. Clifford Lincoln (Lac-Saint-Louis, Lib.) |
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Mr. Joe Fontana (London North Centre, Lib.) |
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The Chair |
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The Chair |
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Mr. John Williams |
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The Chair |
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Mr. John Williams |
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The Chair |
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Ms. Bonnie Brown (Oakville, Lib.) |
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The Chair |
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Mr. John Williams |
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The Chair |
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Mr. John Williams |
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The Chair |
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Mr. John Williams |
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The Chair |
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Mrs. Judi Longfield |
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The Chair |
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Mr. Mauril Bélanger (Ottawa—Vanier, Lib.) |
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Ms. Bonnie Brown |
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The Chair |
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Mr. Mauril Bélanger |
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The Chair |
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Mr. Gurmant Grewal (Surrey Central, Canadian Alliance) |
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The Chair |
| · | 1315 |
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Ms. Bonnie Brown |
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Mr. Reg Alcock |
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Ms. Bonnie Brown |
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The Chair |
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Ms. Bonnie Brown |
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The Chair |
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Ms. Bonnie Brown |
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The Clerk of the Committee |
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Ms. Bonnie Brown |
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The Chair |
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The Chair |
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Mr. Reg Alcock |
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The Chair |
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Mr. Reg Alcock |
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The Chair |
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Mr. Reg Alcock |
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The Chair |
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Mr. Reg Alcock |
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The Chair |
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Mr. Reg Alcock |
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The Chair |
CANADA
Liaison Committee |
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l |
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EVIDENCE
Tuesday, November 26, 2002
[Recorded by Electronic Apparatus]
· 
(1305)
[Translation]
Mr. André Gagnon (Procedural Clerk): Honourable members, we have quorum.
[English]
We can now proceed to the election of the chair. I am ready to receive nominations.
Mrs. Judi Longfield (Whitby—Ajax, Lib.): I would like to nominate Walt Lastewka. Walt served as our vice-chair the last time and managed to get us through a pretty rocky session, so I'll place Walt's name in nomination.
Mr. Joe Comuzzi (Thunder Bay—Superior North, Lib.): I'll second it.
Mr. John Williams (St. Albert, Canadian Alliance): I was thinking, Mr. Chairman, that it's time we had a little change in flavour around here. If someone would like to nominate me, we could have an opposition chair for a change.
Mr. Joe Comuzzi: No chance.
Some hon. members: Oh, oh!
Mr. André Gagnon: Are there more nominations? No?
The motion before the committee, proposed by Mrs. Longfield, is that Mr. Lastewka be elected chair of the committee.
(Motion agreed to)
Mr. André Gagnon: I now invite Mr. Lastewka to take the chair and preside over the election of the vice-chair.
The Chair (Mr. Walt Lastewka (St. Catharines, Lib.)): Thank you very much. Thank you for your confidence--and your torture--as we go forward into trying to take care of our budgets.
I now open it up for the election of vice-chair.
Mr. Patry.
Mr. Bernard Patry (Pierrefonds—Dollard, Lib.): I'd like to nominate Judi Longfield, please.
The Chair: Are there further nominations?
Mr. Williams.
Mr. John Williams: I'd like to raise the same issue, Mr. Chairman, of providing balance to the committee. I believe the standing orders on the standing committees do require that one of the vice-chairs come from the opposition, so perhaps, since I'm here by myself, someone would be kind enough to nominate me as a vice-chair.
An hon. member: Good try.
The Chair: Are there any further nominations?
Is there a motion that nominations be closed?
Mr. Peter Adams (Peterborough, Lib.): I so move.
(Motion agreed to)
The Chair: Then we congratulate Ms. Judi Longfield, vice-chair with unanimous consent.
Number 3 is the budget subcommittee. We can see the names that were there before.
Mr. Joe Comuzzi: May I nominate Mr. Fontana for that position, Mr. Chairman. I'd like to be able to give you some background, but I'm not familiar with any of his background.
The Chair: Mr. Scott.
Mr. Andy Scott (Fredericton, Lib.): I nominate Mr. Alcock.
The Chair: That's two, and we need six.
An hon. member: Mr. Scott and Mr. Williams.
The Chair: Mr. Williams, would you like to serve on that committee?
Mr. John Williams: Of course.
An hon. member: And Mr. Comuzzi.
The Chair: I also hear the names Mr. Bélanger and Mr. Fontana. Do we have any more?
Mrs. Judi Longfield: Ms. Brown.
The Chair: Oh, we have lots now. Let's go through the names: Mr. Fontana, Mr. Alcock, Mr. Scott, Mr. Williams--from the opposition--Mr. Bélanger, and Ms. Brown.
An hon. member: And Mr. Comuzzi.
Mr. Joe Comuzzi: If that makes seven, I would withdraw.
The Chair: Mr. Comuzzi is an alternate.
Mr. Raymond Bonin (Nickel Belt, Lib.): I move Mr. Lincoln.
Mr. John Williams: I move that Fontana, Alcock, Scott, Williams, Bélanger, and Brown be the committee, Mr. Chair.
The Chair: But we have Mr. Lincoln also nominated, and Mr. Comuzzi nominated.
Mr. Joe Comuzzi: No, I withdraw.
The Chair: Mr. Comuzzi withdraws. Okay.
Mr. Alcock.
Mr. Reg Alcock (Winnipeg South, Lib.): Are we limited to six? There's no rule that it has to be six.
The Chair: No, it could be seven. Do you want to leave it at seven?
Mr. Tom Wappel (Scarborough Southwest, Lib.): If it could be eight, I'd be interested, and I would suggest that perhaps somebody put my name forward.
Mr. Joe Comuzzi: I put Mr. Wappel's name forward.
Mr. Tom Wappel: If you're going to eight, that is; if you're not going to eight, that's fine. I don't want an election.
Mr. John Williams: Well, if we're going for everybody, we might as well get Mr. Grewal on there, too.
The Chair: The reminder is that the more members we have, the more difficult it is to get a quorum.
Mrs. Sue Barnes (London West, Lib.): Could I move that six be members and two be alternates, from the list of eight that we have now.
· (1310)
The Chair: So Mr. Lincoln and Mr. Wappel....
Mr. Tom Wappel: That's fine with me. I don't know about Mr. Lincoln.
Mrs. Sue Barnes: If we could have two people on that list offer to be alternates, then you'd get down to six , which wouldn't affect your quorum. It is difficult to get quorum, and if you need to get money in a rush, for travelling, I think that's an important consideration.
The Chair: Okay.
Do you want to do that, or is it your wish to have an election? I think it's only fair to Mr. Lincoln and to Mr. Bonin, who nominated Mr. Lincoln.
Mr. Clifford Lincoln (Lac-Saint-Louis, Lib.): I've been on this committee for three or four years, but anyway, that's fine.
Mr. Joe Fontana (London North Centre, Lib.): Mr. Chair, can I make what I think is a better suggestion? Since we're allowed to go for seven, let's go for seven and include Mr. Lincoln. The alternate could be Mr. Wappel, number eight.
The Chair: Is that a deal?
Some hon. members: Agreed.
The Chair: Unanimous. So it's taken care of. There's always a better suggestion.
Mr. John Williams: On a point of order, I thought you also had Mr. Grewal's name on that list of alternates for the budget subcommittee. Am I right?
Some hon. members: No.
Mr. John Williams: Why not? I proposed that.
The Chair: I didn't hear it.
Mr. John Williams: Well, I said it.
The Chair: I'm sorry, I didn't recognize it, so....
Ms. Bonnie Brown (Oakville, Lib.): Why don't we make Mr. Grewal the alternate for Mr. Williams?
The Chair: Is that okay? So he'll be the alternate when Mr. Williams is not here.
All right. Do you see how easy it is to get along?
Okay, the committee rooms subcommittee. Normally we've had five. Who would like to serve on that?
Mr. John Williams: I've been on that committee before, Mr. Chair. Did my name fall off or something?
The Chair: Were you on that committee?
Mr. John Williams: I was originally, yes.
The Chair: You were?
Mr. John Williams: I was at one time. I think we should have opposition representation on all committees, Mr. Chairman.
Ah hon. member: I nominate Mr. Williams.
The Chair: Okay, Mr. Williams is one.
Who's not on a previous committee...?
Mrs. Judi Longfield: I could...[Editor’s Note: Inaudible].
The Chair: Ms. Longfield, as the vice-chair, correct. So that's two.
Are there three more who would like to serve on that committee--before we nominate you?
Mauril.
Mr. Mauril Bélanger (Ottawa—Vanier, Lib.): Mr. Chairman, if someone else wants to, I'd be quite prepared to step aside.
Ms. Bonnie Brown: How about Mr. Adams?
The Chair: Mr. Adams, who brings valuable experience to the table, is nominated.
That's three. We need two more.
Mr. Bélanger is the fourth.
Mr. Mauril Bélanger: If there's no one else.
The Chair: And the chair is on the subcommittee, so that makes five.
Would anybody else like to serve on that committee?
Mr. Gurmant Grewal (Surrey Central, Canadian Alliance): I can be a member of that committee as well.
The Chair: Okay.
That's it? We've decided? Done. The members are Williams, Longfield, Adams, Bélanger, Lastewka, and Grewal.
On the next item, meetings of the committee, the clerk advises me that is where we pass a motion that the liaison committee meet on the first Thursday of each month, or at call. Normally we meet at 1 o'clock, if that's still good, and have a meal provided so that people can juggle their schedules and come here and have a working lunch.
I need a motion.
Ms. Brown.
· (1315)
Ms. Bonnie Brown: I'm willing to move the motion, but I'm worried about the Thursday. Isn't that when the House leaders meet to approve what we do on Tuesday?
Mr. Reg Alcock: How do we get to approval?
Ms. Bonnie Brown: Well, they can change it, and they can deny things we've recommended. That's how it works. That's the big problem with it. It may be wrong, but the fact is, they control the purse strings.
Mr. Reg Alcock: Okay, but let's not dignify that by accommodating it.
Ms. Bonnie Brown: No, but you could end up waiting an extra week, instead of waiting two days, to hear. And if--
The Chair: The concern was travel, right? Now, we've put in place that we try to schedule, when we approve budgets, travel. We had just started on it before we got to the end of June.
My suggestion would be, very strongly, that the clerk prepare the calendar such that when we receive a budget from a committee, and they say they're going to travel in November—and we already have people travelling—why wait until the House leaders say there are too many people travelling if we already know there's too many people travelling? We would keep the scoresheet here to try to spread out the travel.
Ms. Bonnie Brown: I understand that. I was at all of those meetings, Mr. Chair. But I still think that the House leaders have to approve the release of the funds.
The Chair: That's correct.
Ms. Bonnie Brown: So I just don't want to wait for a week, from a Thursday to the following Thursday. I just need clarification: do the House leaders have that meeting on Thursdays? I'm not sure.
Maybe the clerk could help us.
The Clerk of the Committee: The House leaders typically meet on Tuesday afternoons. So the Thursday allows us to prepare materials for them in time.
The other thing is that the budget subcommittee often is the starting point for these budget requests and travel requests, and we have a policy of getting these to the House leaders as soon as we have them approved. So there really is no waiting; the House leaders get it immediately.
Ms. Bonnie Brown: Then I move that we meet on Thursdays, as suggested by Mr. Alcock.
The Chair: So you move that the meetings of the liaison committee be held on the first Thursday of each month at 1 p.m., and that a working meal be paid out of the committee's budget at the discretion of the chair.
So when I'm on a diet, everybody else is, too. That's a deal.
(Motion agreed to)
The Chair: Yes, Mr. Alcock.
Mr. Reg Alcock: Mr. Chair, I notice that we're now going to move, if we follow this agenda, into a whole bunch of requests. Is that right?
The Chair: Correct.
Mr. Reg Alcock: I have an item for “Other Business” that I would like to discuss. It's been awhile since I've been on this committee, so I'm not certain whether we're going to get crowded out with all of this budget discussion.
The Chair: You have other business that you would like to get at, so that you can leave? Is that...?
Mr. Reg Alcock: No, I want to raise another item—
The Chair: Under other business?
Mr. Reg Alcock: Yes.
The Chair: So you'll do that when we get there.
Mr. Reg Alcock: Okay.
The Chair: Then we'll proceed.
At this time we'll move in camera.
[Editor's Note: Proceedings continue in camera]