Evidence of meeting #6 for Fisheries and Oceans in the 39th Parliament, 2nd Session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was million.

A recording is available from Parliament.

On the agenda

MPs speaking

Also speaking

Clerk of the Committee  Mr. Stephen Knowles
Michelle d'Auray  Deputy Minister, Department of Fisheries and Oceans
Cal Hegge  Assistant Deputy Minister, Human Resources and Corporate Services, Department of Fisheries and Oceans
Michaela Huard  Assistant Deputy Minister, Policy Sector, Department of Fisheries and Oceans
George Da Pont  Commissioner, Canadian Coast Guard, Department of Fisheries and Oceans
David Bevan  Assistant Deputy Minister, Fisheries and Aquaculture Management, Department of Fisheries and Oceans
Julia Lockhart  Procedural Clerk
François Côté  Researcher, As an Individual

5:20 p.m.

NDP

The Acting Chair NDP Peter Stoffer

If I may answer that, Mr. MacAulay, I have looked at the government orders and projected orders of business. It's not showing at all this week. But I will ask the parliamentary secretary whether there is any intention within the next 48 hours to bring that bill forward.

5:20 p.m.

Conservative

Randy Kamp Conservative Pitt Meadows—Maple Ridge—Mission, BC

Not to my knowledge.

5:20 p.m.

NDP

The Acting Chair NDP Peter Stoffer

If Mr. Simms agrees to the 48-hour delay, can you at least advise the minister not to do it? I know you can't, but....

5:20 p.m.

Conservative

Randy Kamp Conservative Pitt Meadows—Maple Ridge—Mission, BC

I can certainly advise him of the spirit of the committee.

5:20 p.m.

NDP

The Acting Chair NDP Peter Stoffer

Okay.

Mr. Byrne.

5:20 p.m.

Liberal

Gerry Byrne Liberal Humber—St. Barbe—Baie Verte, NL

We just had a debate on whether or not we should introduce new business to the committee in terms of the study, and one of the issues that I and others raised was that time is a factor. Delaying now would be somewhat contradictory to our previous positions on whether or not time is a factor here at the Standing Committee on Fisheries and Oceans.

The second point I would raise is this. If it's inappropriate to take decisions despite there being quorum and all the standing orders being met to be able to fulfill decisions here at this committee based on substitutions and others who are here, can we also agree that no decision or motion will ever be debated or voted on in the absence of our chair or either of our vice-chairs? If it is inappropriate for us to decide on this issue in the absence of our regular chair or our vice-chairs, then we as a committee should adopt that as a regular practice at this committee and amend our routine procedures, our routine motions, to adopt a policy that whenever the regular chair is not present or whenever either of the vice-chairs is not present, this committee will not consider any motions.

5:20 p.m.

NDP

The Acting Chair NDP Peter Stoffer

I take your point, but I believe what Mr. Kamp was trying to do, as a courtesy to the regular members who are not here, including the chair and the two vice-chairs, was to allow them the possibility to enter into the debate or the discussion.

Again, that was a request by Mr. Kamp, but it is up to Mr. Simms, who is the mover of the motion, to either accept the request by Mr. Kamp or move the motion as presented.

Mr. Simms.

5:20 p.m.

Liberal

Scott Simms Liberal Bonavista—Gander—Grand Falls—Windsor, NL

I would put the question forward, Mr. Chair.

5:20 p.m.

NDP

The Acting Chair NDP Peter Stoffer

Okay.

Mr. Kamp.

5:20 p.m.

Conservative

Randy Kamp Conservative Pitt Meadows—Maple Ridge—Mission, BC

Mr. Chairman, would it be in order to move a superseding motion that this be deferred until our meeting on Wednesday?

5:20 p.m.

NDP

The Acting Chair NDP Peter Stoffer

Mr. Kamp, would you like to repeat that again, please, sir.

5:20 p.m.

Conservative

Randy Kamp Conservative Pitt Meadows—Maple Ridge—Mission, BC

Basically, it's a motion to table this item of business until Wednesday.

5:20 p.m.

NDP

The Acting Chair NDP Peter Stoffer

You're asking to table the motion at the next meeting. It's already tabled, Mr. Kamp.

5:20 p.m.

Conservative

Randy Kamp Conservative Pitt Meadows—Maple Ridge—Mission, BC

Well, “to table” means “to defer until a future date”. That's the definition of the term “table”, and I'm using that.

5:20 p.m.

NDP

The Acting Chair NDP Peter Stoffer

It means that—

5:20 p.m.

Conservative

Randy Kamp Conservative Pitt Meadows—Maple Ridge—Mission, BC

Defer. I don't know which. That's the Robert's rules.

5:20 p.m.

NDP

The Acting Chair NDP Peter Stoffer

We'll postpone it for another 48 hours.

Mr. Kamp has asked that the consideration of this motion be postponed until the next standing committee meeting, which is on Wednesday. So we'll have debate on that, please.

5:20 p.m.

An hon. member

Is that debatable?

5:20 p.m.

NDP

The Acting Chair NDP Peter Stoffer

If he moved that the debate or the meeting be adjourned, then that would not be debatable, but right now he's just put forward a piece of discussion, which is debatable.

5:20 p.m.

An hon. member

Question.

5:20 p.m.

NDP

The Acting Chair NDP Peter Stoffer

You want to put it to the question? Okay.

Mr. Kamp had indicated that he would like the consideration of postponing, I believe, this motion until the next meeting of the Standing Committee on Fisheries and Oceans, which is on Wednesday, December 5.

All in favour, please? The five Conservatives to my right have voted in favour.

All those against Mr. Kamp's request for a postponement? Six against.

5:20 p.m.

An hon. member

That was close.

5:25 p.m.

NDP

The Acting Chair NDP Peter Stoffer

Now we move back to the motion presented by Mr. Simms. I'll read the motion again, if you wish. No?

(Motion agreed to)

5:25 p.m.

NDP

The Acting Chair NDP Peter Stoffer

For the benefit of the committee, I will be advising Mr. Anders what has transpired here today.

Is there any further business?

5:25 p.m.

Some hon. members

Mr. Manning.