Procedure and House Affairs Committee on Nov. 22nd, 2007

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

As the first one around the table, I'll just mention that on Wednesday I have been and some others may have been invited to dinner with the Speaker that evening.

[The Chair, Conservative, Gary Goodyear]

Fair enough.

Is Thursday the better day? I doubt we're going to get everybody there; that's going to be next to impossible. Is Thursday the better day for members?

Can I have a show of hands for Thursday? Then we'll try for Wednesday, and I'll just make it for whichever day the most can make it.

It is Thursday the 29th or Wednesday the 28th.

Monsieur Guimond.

[Michel Guimond, Bloc, Montmorency—Charlevoix—Haute-Côte-Nord, QC]

On Thursday, the call of the return home will be heard loud and clear. I don't know whether that's the case for my colleagues who live a little further away, but it's the case for me. I have a plane at 5:25 p.m., a direct flight to Quebec City. I'd like to go, but Thursday is absolutely not a good day for me.

[The Chair, Conservative, Gary Goodyear]

We're seeing mixed reviews here.

Mr. Angus, did you have a comment?

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

I'm sorry. Just to get up to speed.... Some of this committee work I'm doing for Monsieur Godin, so I'm not really sure. I'll have to convey this information.

What is this meeting?

[The Chair, Conservative, Gary Goodyear]

It's really very informal. Monsieur Mayrand is the new Chief Electoral Officer, and he has extended an invitation for the committee members to simply go to the elections office and have a look around; it's a meet-and-greet kind of affair.

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

Okay.

[The Chair, Conservative, Gary Goodyear]

Madam Redman, please.

[Karen Redman, Liberal, Kitchener Centre, ON]

I don't know whether you want to do a show of hands, Gary, but I could do Thursday; I can't do Wednesday. I don't know whether you want to offer both dates and see what people—

[The Chair, Conservative, Gary Goodyear]

How many people think they could make Wednesday?

I have four.

How many people can make Thursday?

I have two.

So we're going to inform Monsieur Mayrand that it's Wednesday.

Go ahead, Mr. Reid.

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

Further on this point, Mr. Mayrand has been very generous, and I suspect he threw out the two dates intending to be accommodating to us. I expect that if he's faced with the prospect of neither of the dates working he might actually show greater generosity, and in fact I'm certain that would be his intention. He might actually have other dates a bit later on that are available. I have a suspicion that the further out we actually have the discussion from the date, the more people can arrange not to have conflicts. Maybe we could try that, if it's a possibility.

[The Chair, Conservative, Gary Goodyear]

Yes, and I think that's a good idea. Things always seem to pop up. I'm sure we can't get all committee members no matter what date we pick, but I will mention that to him. You are quite right, I'm sure he will extend the offer, and perhaps he'll even agree to do the option for the other members as well at another date. I'll entertain both with Mr. Mayrand, and I'll mention it to the committee by way of a notice.

Finally, the last thing I want to mention to members is the Ethics Commissioner has also requested, if you remember, showing up at the end of a meeting for 15 minutes or 20 minutes, again as a very informal way of meeting. We have a new Ethics Commissioner, and she would like to present herself to the committee at the end of a meeting. If no one disagrees, I'm going to offer next Thursday after the panel of witnesses that we will hear. We are inviting four, and my guess is we could get four, but more likely we'll have three. So if it's okay with the committee, it seems fair that we invite her for the Thursday for the final 15 minutes or 20 minutes of that meeting. Are there any objections to that?

Mr. Preston, no objections?

[Joe Preston, Conservative, Elgin—Middlesex—London, ON]

No objection. I just had a comment.

Next Thursday we will be seeing further witnesses. Is that nearing the end of our witness list, or will there be a never-ending never-ending?

[The Chair, Conservative, Gary Goodyear]

I believe we're at the end at that point. We are expecting a report from Monsieur Blanchet, but other than that this is the end of the witness list. I'm hoping we can wrap up our study of this bill Thursday, and we can consider clause-by-clause following Thursday's meeting, but we'll leave that up to the committee.

[Joe Preston, Conservative, Elgin—Middlesex—London, ON]

It's not that I'm trying to deny--

[The Chair, Conservative, Gary Goodyear]

I understand.

[Joe Preston, Conservative, Elgin—Middlesex—London, ON]

I certainly would have anybody we have. I'm just wondering if there are more coming on a list.

[The Chair, Conservative, Gary Goodyear]

No.

[Joe Preston, Conservative, Elgin—Middlesex—London, ON]

I hear there are more coming.

[The Chair, Conservative, Gary Goodyear]

If there are any other witnesses, we're very lenient, and we want to make sure we do this job well. Just get them to us, hopefully no later than four o'clock today, but I don't suspect we have any other witnesses.

We're good for the Ethics Commissioner on that Thursday. Everybody is okay with that? Thank you, colleagues, very much. That certainly cleans....

Yes, Mr. Reid.

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

At the beginning of the committee meeting I had put forward a motion to change the composition of--

[The Chair, Conservative, Gary Goodyear]

At the beginning of this meeting?

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

Yes.

At the beginning of the committee meeting I had put forward a motion to change the composition of the steering committee. You'll understand why I want to raise it now: there'd be no further meetings of this group until after the steering committee meets. Could we now move to consideration of that?

[The Chair, Conservative, Gary Goodyear]

I'm going to say no. The meeting is about to end, and just like other motions where we have legislation before us, I'm going to wait and have this discussion with the steering committee on whether we're going to stop studying legislation to consider motions. With all due respect, given that we only have four minutes left in this meeting, I am going to take into consideration two things; one is that we all agreed that we would do legislation before motions. I respect the motion, the motion is on the table, but I am going to set it aside until we receive further direction from the steering committee.

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

If I might, Mr. Chairman, perhaps I will not get a chance to speak to the members of the steering committee prior to their consideration of it. I simply want to make the following observation, which I think is germane.