Hansard - Parliament

229
2012.05.08
position, it is either you take it or leave it. That could be one of the positions
that you could take. I am only saying that in the interest of time. I am quite
content and I have all the energy to talk about this all night, the question is
whether other Senators agree.
Sen. Baptiste-McKnight: Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Mr. Minister, what
guarantees do you have that the same personalities who declare themselves
totally incapable of interpreting the current legislation to allow them to
achieve the goals that you want will find it easier to comply with this
formula?
Dr. Khan: When you say the same people—
Sen. Baptiste-McKnight: Well, it is a people problem that you have. The
people are not budging. The people are not accepting the normal obvious
interpretation of the existing legislation. What guarantees do you have that
these persons are going to understand this new formulation?
Dr. Khan: The new formulation Senator, will give an overall—in fact, it
would break the geographical barriers of the procurement into one.
Sen. Baptiste-McKnight: No, it does not do that, not as far as I see it. If
any of the personalities involved happens to have thought processes that
mirror mine, you have a problem.
Sen. Prescott SC: Mr. Chairman, may I? This does not necessarily require
a response from the Minister, but let us all consider whether the provision in
section 18 of the Act, that is to say:
“For the purposes of carrying out its functions and powers an
Authority may, with the approval of the Minister—
(a) charge fees for services provided by it;”
This seems to be given in the application in the regulations themselves. You
UNREVISED