Evidence of meeting #2 for Health in the 41st Parliament, 1st Session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was witnesses.
A recording is available from Parliament.
4 p.m.
NDP
Libby Davies NDP Vancouver East, BC
So what you're saying is that in an in camera meeting, each member of the committee would be able to have one staff member and then, in addition, each party would have one officer representative. Okay.
4 p.m.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Joy Smith
Yes, if they so choose, to give them that leverage.
Is that clear to everybody?
Is there any further discussion? All in favour?
(Motion agreed to [See Minutes of Proceedings])
Thank you.
The motion on transcripts of in camera meetings states that one copy of the transcript of each in camera meeting be kept in the committee clerk's office for consultation by members of the committee or by their staff.
As you know, for an in camera meeting, we don't distribute that. Is there discussion?
All in favour?
(Motion agreed to)
Thank you.
On notices of motion, I want a little bit of clarification on the motion, which states that 48 hours' notice be required for any substantive motion to be considered by the committee unless the substantive motion relates directly to business then under consideration; that the notice of motion be filed with the clerk of the committee and distributed to members in both official languages; and that 48 hours' notice be calculated in the same manner as for the House, that is pursuant to Standing Order 54.
At the last session, the committee decided that notices given on Fridays after 3:30 were deemed to have been given the following Monday. There has been a suggestion that they should be submitted no later than 6 o'clock from Monday to Thursday, but on Friday, when we end the session early, it would be 2 o'clock rather than 3:30. I would like to have some discussion on that. We want to have it clarified.
When should the 48 hours be established? When the motion is received by the clerk or when the motion is distributed by the clerk? Those are two issues that we need to talk about.
Dr. Carrie.
4:05 p.m.
Conservative
Colin Carrie Conservative Oshawa, ON
What if we added this, Madam Chair, and said that completed motions that are received by the close of business--in other words, depending on that day, because Friday would be a little different--shall be distributed to the members the same day?
In other words, if somebody presents a motion on a Friday, let's say by noon, if we have to debate it on Monday, we want to make sure that we have it on Friday so we can look at it over the weekend. We've had problems in the past. Sometimes they get the motion in and then, boom, on Monday morning you get it. That might put a little more work onto the clerk, but I think if we get it in by the end of business that day.... We have e-mail and you can get it to us. Because we're meeting on Monday, right?
4:05 p.m.
NDP
Libby Davies NDP Vancouver East, BC
What do you mean by “the end of business on Friday”? Do you mean the end of House business? That would be 2:30. You said noon.
4:05 p.m.
NDP
Libby Davies NDP Vancouver East, BC
My interest is for all of us to have the ability to submit a motion on Friday and that it could be considered on Monday. I agree it has to be a reasonable time to get it around and translated. I don't know what is a reasonable time.
If the clerk wants to--
4:05 p.m.
Conservative
4:05 p.m.
A voice
The deadline is 2 in the House.
4:05 p.m.
NDP
Libby Davies NDP Vancouver East, BC
It is 2 o'clock in the House, so maybe we should make it the same as the House, 2 o'clock.
4:05 p.m.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Joy Smith
So Friday by 2 o'clock.
Ms. Fry, do you want to add anything else to that?
4:05 p.m.
Liberal
Hedy Fry Liberal Vancouver Centre, BC
No. I was responding to the deadline of noon. I thought noon was a bit soon, and 2 o'clock is fine.
4:05 p.m.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Joy Smith
Then 2 o'clock is good for you.
What about Monday to Thursday? When does the House business day end Monday to Thursday?
It is 6 o'clock, so can we be consistent there as well? For Monday to Thursday it is 6 o'clock, and for Friday it is 2 o'clock.
4:05 p.m.
NDP
Libby Davies NDP Vancouver East, BC
Could we just check with the clerk? Are we creating difficulty? What was it for?
4:05 p.m.
A voice
There was no time.
June 15th, 2011 / 4:05 p.m.
The Clerk
On Friday, 3:30 would be deemed received on Monday. It is whatever the committee decides.
4:05 p.m.
NDP
Libby Davies NDP Vancouver East, BC
Do we even need to do anything for Monday to Friday? It's just the Friday, isn't it?
4:05 p.m.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Joy Smith
We found last year that rather than have people debate it after the fact, it was good to be clear on when it should be submitted. That came up this year. That is why we put the time in. It is the will of the committee.
Is it 4 o'clock Monday to Thursday?
4:10 p.m.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Joy Smith
Okay, it is 4 o'clock Monday to Thursday. We'll change that notice to “by 4 o'clock Monday to Thursday, and by 2 o'clock on Friday”.
(Motion agreed to [See Minutes of Proceedings])
We are at motion number 10, time for opening remarks and questioning of witnesses: that witnesses shall be allowed up to ten minutes to make their opening statements, and that during the questioning of witnesses there be allotted seven minutes for the first round of questioning and that thereafter five minutes shall be allotted for each questioner in the second and subsequent rounds of questioning at the discretion of the chair.
That is what we did last year. That is open for discussion.
Dr. Carrie.
4:10 p.m.
Conservative
Colin Carrie Conservative Oshawa, ON
Madam Chair, I showed you an idea of what was done in other committees. I don't know if anybody else has had an opportunity to think about it, to be representative with the new House. We are open to discussion, but would you be able to put forth the recommendations that you and I talked about earlier, if you think that is reasonable?
4:10 p.m.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Joy Smith
Yes, if I could find the paper it would be very reasonable.
I'm sorry, I don't have that paper with me. Dr. Carrie, do you have a copy of it?
On the rounds of questioning, what I have is seven minutes for the first round and five minutes--