Canadian Heritage Committee on Feb. 27th, 2007

[Ed Fast, Conservative, Abbotsford, BC]

I would prefer that.

[The Chair, Conservative, Gary Schellenberger]

Mr. Angus first.

[Charlie Angus, NDP, Timmins—James Bay, ON]

I have nothing against doing anything in public. My concern is that this is just another attempt by our colleagues here to spin the tires, walk down the clock, and turn this into a circus.

I feel that we've started on a process. We have 45 minutes left, and we're making no progress. Every time we start, we get attacked. I feel that we should continue this process and be done with it by 11 o'clock.

[Ed Fast, Conservative, Abbotsford, BC]

In camera?

[Charlie Angus, NDP, Timmins—James Bay, ON]

In terms of the recommendation of Mr. Kotto, I had said “acknowledge”. I would make another change, which would be “support”. That way, we're not overly praising and we're not overly neutral. We would support the work of the Canadian Television Fund, which it seemed to me until this morning that all members did, but perhaps that's not the case.

[The Chair, Conservative, Gary Schellenberger]

First of all, I'd like to take the motion put forward by Mr. Abbott. It has been put forward that we move this meeting from in camera to public. I can take a vote around the table.

All those in favour?

[Andy Scott, Liberal, Fredericton, NB]

No, this would have to be unanimous consent.

[Ed Fast, Conservative, Abbotsford, BC]

That's okay. Let's have a vote.

[Andy Scott, Liberal, Fredericton, NB]

I want to ask a question, because this is a larger issue than this committee. I want a commitment from the government that any time the opposition asks for the writing of a report to be done in public, the government would be prepared to accept the same arguments. You cannot have it both ways, my friends. The reality is, has the writing of a draft report ever been done in public, to the knowledge of our clerk?

I've been here for 13 years, chaired justice—

[Chris Warkentin, Conservative, Peace River, AB]

We've done it in other committees.

[Andy Scott, Liberal, Fredericton, NB]

The writing of a report in public?

[Maria Minna, Liberal, Beaches—East York, ON]

We're talking about history here. Have we voted on the point of order?

[The Chair, Conservative, Gary Schellenberger]

I'm asking now on Mr. Abbott's motion.

[Hedy Fry, Liberal, Vancouver Centre, BC]

So let's call the question.

[Maka Kotto, Bloc, Saint-Lambert, QC]

Mr. Chairman, I would just like to get some clarification with respect to future discussions. I gather that even when we initially decide to meet in camera, as soon as the rules no longer suit them, they simply move a motion to change them. So, if the government makes the same request in future, will we, in the Opposition, be able to repay them in kind?

[The Chair, Conservative, Gary Schellenberger]

We already had a meeting not too long ago, and I think it was Mr. Scarpaleggia who asked to move that meeting from in camera to public for his part of the meeting. We were in camera and carrying on, and then he wanted it moved to public.

Right now, the request has been to move this meeting from in camera to public. The clerk has said these things have been done before. It's my understanding that it takes a majority vote.

So all those in favour of moving from in camera--

[Jim Abbott, Conservative, Kootenay—Columbia, BC]

Mr. Chair, I'm not challenging you directly on that, but I am curious.

I understand the points that the opposition have been bringing up. I lived in opposition for 13 years, so I know what the opposition is bringing up. The point is that I thought, along the lines of what Mr. Scott was saying, it would have to be unanimous, and the reason it would have to be unanimous is that all of us, at some point, have taken part in this discussion and all of us should have the option of saying yes or no to our testimony, our comments, moving from in camera to public. I don't think going to a simple majority vote would really be appropriate.

[The Chair, Conservative, Gary Schellenberger]

Mr. Kotto.

[Maka Kotto, Bloc, Saint-Lambert, QC]

Mr. Chairman, if the exercise we are undertaking now doesn't suit our government friends, might they want to consider a supplementary or minority report?

[Ed Fast, Conservative, Abbotsford, BC]

We certainly intend to do so. The question right now is, should these proceedings, today's meeting, be either public or in camera?

[The Chair, Conservative, Gary Schellenberger]

That's what we're on right now.

[Ed Fast, Conservative, Abbotsford, BC]

There's a motion on the table to move the whole thing, from beginning to end, into public.

[The Chair, Conservative, Gary Schellenberger]

I'm taking that vote right now, to move this meeting from in camera to public.

[Andy Scott, Liberal, Fredericton, NB]

Is it retroactive?

[The Chair, Conservative, Gary Schellenberger]

Yes, it would be retroactive to the beginning of the meeting.

(Motion agreed to)