Procedure and House Affairs Committee on Nov. 21st, 2006

[Yvon Godin, NDP, Acadie—Bathurst, NB]

I said I was under the impression that we would deal with it next week. But you are right that a bill takes precedence and we'll be dealing with it on Thursday.

For all these reasons, I’d like to see if other witnesses could be added to those you have named, with respect to the study of this legislation. For me, this bill is just as important as any other.

I simply wish to make a comment. Usually, when a committee tables a report in the House of Commons, it gets back a government response to the report rather than a bill. In this case, I consider that the government has acted quickly. The government has been very efficient in presenting a bill. When we prepared the report, it was an internal report, but now that Canadians know that there is a bill, they are interested in saying that the bill is important. We must therefore give everyone a chance to have their say and we must make sure the committee is not barking up the wrong tree.

I don’t want to rehash the report we have prepared, but some people didn’t see where we were going. Although it does not cause problems in my riding, it may in others that I don’t know about, and my party may have every reason in the world to say that it is concerned, because citizens are concerned.

We will therefore submit a list of witnesses to you.

As Mr. Marleau said this morning, we must be prudent. A bill is a bill: when it is adopted, it becomes law.

[The Chair, Conservative, Gary Goodyear]

I have absolutely no problems. In fact, if members have any witnesses, make sure you submit their names by the end of the day on Wednesday so they can be put on the list, contacted, and coordinated to get here. That might be pushing it a little, but obviously we will have time for that.

Can I have comments on the British Columbia Civil Liberties Association? Is that a group members want to have before us? I'm seeing nods everywhere.

The British Columbia folks would be by teleconference. Is there any reason we would not have them? I'm not seeing any reasons, so we'll put them on our witness list for now because we've agreed to that.

What about Mr. Duff Conacher of Democracy Watch? You're in agreement. Mr. Conacher is apparently in Ottawa, so he will appear in person.

I don't have a lot of information about the lawyer from British Columbia. It's an individual and I can't offer any more information. It was just submitted to us at their request.

James, do you have more to offer?

[James Robertson, Committee Researcher]

In her e-mail to the clerk she indicated that she coordinates a group of lawyers who assist people who are homeless; if they do not have sufficient identification, she and her group facilitate their voting in elections. She asked to appear before the committee.

[The Chair, Conservative, Gary Goodyear]

Mr. Reid.

[Scott Reid, Conservative, Lanark—Frontenac—Lennox and Addington, ON]

Although I'm sure she'll have some civil liberties concerns to express, I'm under the impression that her presentation might be technical in nature and she'll want to demonstrate how they go about filling out forms on behalf of people, which suggests there'd be some documentation. Given our requirements that all such items be submitted in both official languages, I wonder if she can be contacted ahead of time, asked if there's anything she wants to submit in writing, and be made aware of the restrictions we have.

[The Chair, Conservative, Gary Goodyear]

Mr. Lukiwski.

[Tom Lukiwski, Conservative, Regina—Lumsden—Lake Centre, SK]

My question might have been partially answered by Scott. I was just wondering what the content of her presentation would be in comparison to the B.C. Civil Liberties Association. It seems that they will both be speaking on the same issue, and I don't know if it's going to be redundant or not.

[The Chair, Conservative, Gary Goodyear]

I regret that I don't have that information. I'm not sure what it is she would be presenting to us. I suppose we could ask for something in writing prior to that, and then the committee could decide whether they want to invite her.

My only thinking on that, Mr. Lukiwski, is that we're trying to set up a teleconference with the British Columbia Civil Liberties Union. It makes efficiency sense to have it all at the same time. That's my comment. I'm not making a decision; it is only a comment.

Madam Picard, and then Ms. Redman, please.

[Pauline Picard, Bloc, Drummond, QC]

I don’t know if I’m off-topic, because I had to leave, but I’d like to get back to the November 28 meeting on electoral reform. You spoke of the bingo cards and the fact that you were interested in asking people from Quebec to appear.

Were you thinking of the Quebec Director-General of Elections?

[The Chair, Conservative, Gary Goodyear]

My apologies, Madam Picard. I've lost translation.

Could you repeat that?

[Pauline Picard, Bloc, Drummond, QC]

O.K. I would like to get back to the November 28 meeting on electoral reform. We also wanted to explain what we mean by “bingo card”. You wanted to call witnesses from Quebec.

Had you thought of the Quebec Director-General of Elections?

[The Chair, Conservative, Gary Goodyear]

Yes, absolutely. That was the next question on the list--representatives from Elections Quebec.

Ms. Redman.

[Karen Redman, Liberal, Kitchener Centre, ON]

My apologies for having to leave for part of this, Mr. Chair. We would like to reserve the right to add people to the list. This isn't a definitive list, because we would like to consult some of our members too.

[The Chair, Conservative, Gary Goodyear]

No problem. I'll simply repeat that if we can get those lists of members as quickly as possible, I would love to have them by the end of Wednesday. I know that's pushing it a little bit, but if we could possibly do that, then we could organize it. My concern is that we only have seven meetings left before Christmas. I don't want to start scheduling extra meetings, but we'll do whatever we have to do to make sure everybody is happy.

Mr. Proulx, and then Mr. Godin.

[Marcel Proulx, Liberal, Hull—Aylmer, QC]

It is in regard to witnesses for November 28. May I also suggest, again, that we invite somebody from the City of Gatineau in regard to the election process? They have been using...call them bingo cards or whatever you want, but they've been using them for some time now.

It's easy. I'm repeating myself, but it's only across the river. There are no expenses. It would be a pleasure for me to invite you to my riding. I would even consider buying lunch.

[The Chair, Conservative, Gary Goodyear]

Done. We'll accept that. Thank you.

Mr. Godin.

[Yvon Godin, NDP, Acadie—Bathurst, NB]

Mr. Chair, as you said, tomorrow is Wednesday. It’s true that time is a bit short, but we will do our best. However, we must keep in mind that as our work progresses, some witnesses may lead us to call others. I want to leave that door open. I’m not talking about exaggerating and calling witnesses until next year, I simply mean that we shouldn’t close the door to that possibility.

[The Chair, Conservative, Gary Goodyear]

Let's be very clear. I have no intention of doing that. I don't even have the authority. However, I have learned, in working with this committee, that this is the most efficient and effective committee on the Hill, and I suspect we can get this done without any problem.

So we do have an agreement on Elections Canada representatives. We have an agreement on teleconferencing with the British Columbia Civil Liberties Union and potentially getting this individual to submit something, and we'll get it in both official languages. Is that okay?

[Marlene Jennings, Liberal, Notre-Dame-de-Grâce—Lachine, QC]

We'll see what it is she's after.

[The Chair, Conservative, Gary Goodyear]

Then if anybody else wants to have witnesses, we can get it to the clerk, if at all possible, by Wednesday evening.

Following the witnesses, does the committee feel that it's the right idea to then have Mr. Kingsley in to sort of wrap up any loose ends? We'll schedule Mr. Kingsley for the end of the witness list, so to speak, and then we will start clause-by-clause and we will be done prior to Christmas break.

[Marlene Jennings, Liberal, Notre-Dame-de-Grâce—Lachine, QC]

I'm assuming you're going to provide us with popcorn and pop when Mr. Kingsley comes, because it's so much fun.

[The Chair, Conservative, Gary Goodyear]

Popcorn and pop? No, we will be going to a very, very good quality Chardonnay.

Now, ladies and gentlemen, I think that's all the business we have for today. It doesn't appear that we have to worry about evening meetings, at least right now. So that's tentative agreement on our scheduling, and that pretty much wraps it up.

Is there any other business the committee wishes to deal with today?

Seeing none, the meeting is adjourned.