Procedure and House Affairs Committee on June 9th, 2011

[The Chair, Conservative, Joe Preston]

All right, so that defines it better. I'm okay with that.

(Motion agreed to) [See Minutes of Proceedings]

[The Chair, Conservative, Joe Preston]

Next is travel, accommodation, and living expenses of witnesses.

So moved as written, Mr. MacKenzie? Thank you.

(Motion agreed to) [See Minutes of Proceedings]

[The Chair, Conservative, Joe Preston]

Great. Next is document distribution.

So moved as written.

(Motion agreed to) [See Minutes of Proceedings]

[The Chair, Conservative, Joe Preston]

Next is working meals. Is there any discussion on that?

We do have our meetings over lunchtime. We found it quite handy for the rest of the members to be able to eat while we're actually getting the meeting done.

[An hon. member]

So moved.

[The Chair, Conservative, Joe Preston]

(Motion agreed to) [See Minutes of Proceedings]

[The Chair, Conservative, Joe Preston]

Transcripts of in camera meetings: 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.

[An hon. member]

So moved.

[The Chair, Conservative, Joe Preston]

(Motion agreed to) [See Minutes of Proceedings]

[The Chair, Conservative, Joe Preston]

Are there any further routine motions for this committee?

[Harold Albrecht, Conservative, Kitchener—Conestoga, ON]

Mr. Chair, I have a question relating back to the subcommittee on agenda and procedure. We didn't discuss the issue of quorum and the attendance of staff accompanying those members. I'm wondering if that needs to be clarified within the procedures or if that's something we just agree on informally.

[The Chair, Conservative, Joe Preston]

You're looking for a quorum rule on the subcommittee on agenda and procedure?

[Harold Albrecht, Conservative, Kitchener—Conestoga, ON]

I'm asking the question. It seems to me that we should have at least three members present for the subcommittee to proceed, and that each member be allowed to have a staff member with them.

[The Chair, Conservative, Joe Preston]

I'm all right with all of those additions.

Is there discussion on those additions?

Ms. Charlton.

[Chris Charlton, NDP, Hamilton Mountain, ON]

That's including one opposition member.

[The Chair, Conservative, Joe Preston]

You mean that there must be one? Sure.

[Harold Albrecht, Conservative, Kitchener—Conestoga, ON]

The principles are similar to those for the other motion.

[The Chair, Conservative, Joe Preston]

Are we okay with those changes? Do we need a vote on them, or can we just refer back to them?

[Harold Albrecht, Conservative, Kitchener—Conestoga, ON]

For in camera meetings we often allow one House staff person to be there in addition to the staff of the MP. I'm just wondering if that should be included as well for procedure and House affairs for the agenda.

[The Chair, Conservative, Joe Preston]

Is that for the steering committee meetings?

Mr. Lukiwski.

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

I think what Harold is getting at--and I agree with it--is that in addition to each MP having a staff member, each party should be allowed to have a staff member. If there's a representative from either the whip's office or the House leader's office for each of the parties, they should be allowed to be there in addition to the MPs' personal staff.

[The Chair, Conservative, Joe Preston]

If you look at the document called “Principal Routine Motions”, “access to in camera meetings” is at the top of the second page. It says:

That, unless otherwise ordered, each Committee member be allowed to have one staff member present from their office or from their party at in camera meetings.

Are you suggesting some modification to that?

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

I am. Rather than saying “or from their party”, it would say “in addition to”. In other words, every MP can have a staff member of their own plus each party can have a staff member represent their party.

[The Chair, Conservative, Joe Preston]

That's from the whip's office--

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

That's from the whip's office, House leader's office, or whatever.