Committees of the House – National Defence

Hon. Gordon O’Connor: Mr. Speaker, I move:

That, in relation to its study of the maintaining of the readiness of the Canadian Forces, 12 members of the Standing Committee on National Defence be authorized to travel to Wainwright, Alberta, from October 16 to 18, 2011, and that the necessary staff accompany the committee.

The Speaker: Is it the pleasure of the House to adopt the motion?

Some hon. members: Agreed.

Elizabeth May: Mr. Speaker, I was made aware of the general nature of the motion for unanimous consent for the committee to travel, but I wonder if the Minister of State and Chief Government Whip could assure us that all means will be taken to ensure that travel is in the most economical fashion possible, that commercial airways will be used and that it will be very economically accounted for so the government does not have to again explain extraordinary use of airplanes and so on?

Hon. Gordon O’Connor: Mr. Speaker, I would remind the member that this is committee travel, not government travel. All committee travel is vetted for the most economical means of travel.