Fisheries Committee on Feb. 5th, 2014

[Robert Chisholm, NDP, Dartmouth—Cole Harbour, NS]

I love to sit here and listen to Mr. MacAulay, with his vast experience and so on, but the only point I'm raising here is that in terms of the amount of time, it's way out of proportion, that's all, if we have a short period of time. That gives Mr. MacAulay 15 minutes in those two rounds and gives us 20 minutes.

It would balance out over a two-hour stretch. That's certainly what I've seen in other committees. I've just noticed it over the last few hearings. I think we need to get a little more of a whack at things and then bring him in on the third round. Then he's good to go.

[The Chair, Conservative, Rodney Weston]

Basically, when you look at total time, what Mr. Chisholm is suggesting is that in the first two rounds you would be reduced from 12 minutes to 10.

That's what you're suggesting.

Mr. MacAulay.

[Lawrence MacAulay, Liberal, Cardigan, PE]

Basically, that would be my input. All I can do is beg for the committee's indulgence to leave it as it is.

[The Chair, Conservative, Rodney Weston]

Mr. Kamp.

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

Could I just ask for clarification on the second round being proposed? Were we shortening the second round or having this long list as per the clerk's sheet here?

[The Chair, Conservative, Rodney Weston]

We're shortening the second round. The timeframe will remain the same at five minutes per questioner, but now the second round would consist of NDP, Conservative, NDP, Conservative, and Conservative, as per Mr. Chisholm's suggestion, rather than what we've had in the past, which was NDP, Conservative, NDP, Conservative, Liberal, NDP, Conservative, and Conservative.

We're losing two members, so we're taking out one NDP and one Conservative from the second round. Mr. Chisholm's suggestion was to remove the Liberal as well from the second round.

Mr. Chisholm.

[Robert Chisholm, NDP, Dartmouth—Cole Harbour, NS]

I think it's especially important that we revise that, given that we're shortening it. Right?

[The Chair, Conservative, Rodney Weston]

The second round is going to be considerably shorter.

[Robert Chisholm, NDP, Dartmouth—Cole Harbour, NS]

Then we'll have 15 minutes, and he'll have 12 minutes.

[The Chair, Conservative, Rodney Weston]

No.

[Robert Chisholm, NDP, Dartmouth—Cole Harbour, NS]

No, we'll have 20 minutes, and he'll have 15.

[The Chair, Conservative, Rodney Weston]

Yes, 20 and 15 is what it would be.

[Robert Chisholm, NDP, Dartmouth—Cole Harbour, NS]

That's just a suggestion.

As I said, this is what I've seen in other committees. I think it works a little better and it's fairer in terms of the proportion of members on the committee.

[The Chair, Conservative, Rodney Weston]

It would mean the Conservatives would have 25 minutes in the first two rounds; the NDP would have 20 minutes; and the Liberal would have 10 minutes. Is that correct?

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

I think we would have 30 if it's NDP, Conservative, NDP, Conservative, in the second round. Is that what you said?

[A voice]

No, there are two Conservatives.

[The Chair, Conservative, Rodney Weston]

No, there are three Conservatives in the second round.

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

We have two 10-minute blocks in the first round.

[The Chair, Conservative, Rodney Weston]

Oh, you're right. It's 35. I said 25. It is 35.

Mr. Kamp.

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

Would it help to make the second round quite abbreviated—just four slots again: NDP, Conservative, NDP, Conservative—and then start a third round, perhaps with a Liberal leading that round, or one of us? I'm not sure. There is no Liberal in the second round, but it's a shorter second round.

[The Chair, Conservative, Rodney Weston]

You're suggesting the Conservatives would drop one, so the second round would consist of only five minutes, NDP, Conservative, NDP, Conservative, and then the third round would be—

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

It's just a thought.

[The Chair, Conservative, Rodney Weston]

— a five-minute round, and it would start with the Liberal. Okay.

Mr. MacAulay.

[Lawrence MacAulay, Liberal, Cardigan, PE]

This is just a suggestion, but what if I had five minutes in the second round at the end instead of the seven? Then it would be fair.

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

Well, that's what you have.