Evidence of meeting #1 for Bill C-11 (41st Parliament, 1st Session) in the 41st Parliament, 1st Session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was going.
A recording is available from Parliament.
3:35 p.m.
NDP
The Chair NDP Glenn Thibeault
Okay. We will now vote on the amendment.
(Amendment negatived)
The amendment is defeated.
3:35 p.m.
NDP
Charlie Angus NDP Timmins—James Bay, ON
Sorry, Geoff; I never thought Dean would have such a reasonable position--
3:35 p.m.
Some hon. members
Oh, oh!
3:35 p.m.
NDP
The Chair NDP Glenn Thibeault
Okay. Now we are going back to the original motion that was brought forward. Is there any further discussion?
(Motion agreed to)
3:35 p.m.
Conservative
Mike Lake Conservative Edmonton—Mill Woods—Beaumont, AB
We might as well continue with some basic motions.
I move that only the clerk of the committee be authorized to distribute to the members of the committee any documents, including motions, and that they be distributed to the committee members in both official languages. The clerk shall advise all witnesses appearing before committee of this requirement.
3:35 p.m.
NDP
3:35 p.m.
Conservative
Mike Lake Conservative Edmonton—Mill Woods—Beaumont, AB
I'll keep going. I move that the committee authorize the clerk of the committee, in consultation with the chair, to make the necessary arrangements to provide for working meals as may be required, and that the cost of these meals be charged to the committee budget.
3:35 p.m.
Conservative
Mike Lake Conservative Edmonton—Mill Woods—Beaumont, AB
I move that, if requested, reasonable travel accommodation and living expenses be reimbursed to witnesses, not exceeding two representatives per organization, and that in exceptional circumstances, payment for more representatives be made at the discretion of the chair.
3:40 p.m.
Conservative
Mike Lake Conservative Edmonton—Mill Woods—Beaumont, AB
I'll continue. I move that each committee member in attendance shall be permitted to have one staff member attend any in camera meetings. In addition, each party shall be permitted to have one staff member from a House officer attend in camera meetings.
3:40 p.m.
Liberal
Geoff Regan Liberal Halifax West, NS
Mr. Chairman, I certainly hope that we wouldn't have any in camera meetings and that our meetings would be in public, so I'm wondering why the government foresees the need for in camera meetings.
3:40 p.m.
Conservative
Dean Del Mastro Conservative Peterborough, ON
Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
Obviously this is occurring in a public context, but from time to time, there is a need for committees.... I've served on a lot of committees, as the member has, Mr. Chairman, and I'm sure he has seen many instances of committees moving in camera.
This is a standard motion. It's not necessarily that we foresee an opportunity in which the committee would go in camera, but it is possible, and it should be a part of the routine proceedings that this capability be established. This motion is simply outlining the boundaries of how the committee will operate. It's not to suggest that the committee will operate one way or the other, but just that the rules are in fact in place.
3:40 p.m.
NDP
Andrew Cash NDP Davenport, ON
It's true that this may be a routine motion, but we've seen throughout the course of the 41st Parliament that this has certainly been used often in a non-routine way by committees. If we're going to entertain a motion like this, I think it's incumbent on the government side to outline the parameters in which they'd want to use the in camera motion.
3:40 p.m.
Conservative
Dean Del Mastro Conservative Peterborough, ON
Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
I think we just follow routine process, which is that when a member brings forward a motion to move a meeting in camera—it could be one of your members, or it could be one of ours—it's not debatable; it goes to a vote.
That's how it works; that's how committees work. I would suggest that the same rules apply here as well as there. There's no reason to reinvent the wheel. That's how committees operate.
3:40 p.m.
NDP
The Chair NDP Glenn Thibeault
Thank you, Mr. Del Mastro.
After speaking with the clerk, rather than having this debate go on and on, let me say that this motion represents something that is done in most committees. I think we can move forward on it and we'll go from there.
Go ahead, Mr. Angus.
3:40 p.m.
NDP
Charlie Angus NDP Timmins—James Bay, ON
Our concern is that we've seen the well somewhat poisoned by the misuse of in camera proceedings. There is a great deal of concern about the copyright bill. This may have been routine before, but it's certainly not being used in a routine manner in this Parliament, so we're not going to support a blank cheque for in camera meetings.
3:40 p.m.
Conservative
3:40 p.m.
NDP
The Chair NDP Glenn Thibeault
I will call the question.
(Motion agreed to—see Minutes of Proceedings)
3:40 p.m.
Conservative
Mike Lake Conservative Edmonton—Mill Woods—Beaumont, AB
In that vein, I move that in camera meetings be transcribed and that the transcription be kept with the clerk of the committee for later consultation by members of the committee or members of Parliament who attended the specific meeting.
3:40 p.m.
NDP
The Chair NDP Glenn Thibeault
Is there discussion?
We'll suspend for a moment.
Can you just clarify whether you said “members of Parliament” or “members of the committee?”