Human Resources Committee on Nov. 14th, 2007

[The Chair, Conservative, Dean Allison]

Thank you, Mr. Lessard.

I think what we're trying to do is just this. We have 13 members who come to this committee who prepare to ask questions, and what happens is there is at least one Liberal and at least one Conservative every meeting who do not get a chance to do that, while the Bloc and NDP get extra rounds. All I'm suggesting is not that I don't think you should have the questions; it's that every member prepares for this committee equally, and they should have the right to be heard, if they're part of this committee, before we move on to second and third rounds. I'm going to leave it at that.

I'll put you back in the line—

[Yves Lessard, Bloc, Chambly—Borduas, QC]

Point of order, Mr. Chairman.

With all due respect, the fact that you are the chairman does not give you the privilege to speak after each one of our interventions. You must also place yourself on the list that allows each one of us to express ourselves. I've noticed that after each of our interventions, since the beginning of the debate, you intervene to give your opinion. It's fine that you can do so, but you should not be doing so in a privileged manner following each of our interventions.

[The Chair, Conservative, Dean Allison]

Well, we'll see.

[An hon. member]

Agreed.

[The Chair, Conservative, Dean Allison]

Mr. Lake.

[Mike Lake, Conservative, Edmonton—Mill Woods—Beaumont, AB]

I was basing this a little bit on the motions from the foreign affairs committee, as an example, because last time it clearly didn't work. For some of us on this committee, on this side of the table, it was our first committee meeting when we went through the routine motions last time, and we maybe wound up with something that didn't quite work for everybody at the table.

I'm thinking now about what we do in public accounts, which seems to work very well, whereby the first round of questions actually has six questions in it. In that case it goes Liberal, Bloc, Conservative, NDP, Liberal, Conservative, so that the two larger parties get two questions in the first round and the two smaller parties get one each in the first round. Then we move into the second round and alternate between opposition and government, which is maybe a little bit more fair than what I proposed originally.

Who's on the speaking list right now?

[The Chair, Conservative, Dean Allison]

Right now we have Mr. McKay, followed by Mr. Martin, on the speaking list.

[Mike Lake, Conservative, Edmonton—Mill Woods—Beaumont, AB]

Rather than move that as an amendment, I'm just going to throw it out there for discussion right now, and I'll let Mr.—

[Geoff Regan, Liberal, Halifax West, NS]

Could you repeat that?

[Mike Lake, Conservative, Edmonton—Mill Woods—Beaumont, AB]

It would be Liberal, Bloc, Conservative, NDP, Liberal, Conservative.

[John McKay, Liberal, Scarborough—Guildwood, ON]

Is this on your second round or your first round?

[Mike Lake, Conservative, Edmonton—Mill Woods—Beaumont, AB]

This is the first round, for seven minutes. Liberal, Bloc, Conservative, NDP, Liberal, Conservative--that would be the first round, for seven minutes each.

[The Chair, Conservative, Dean Allison]

So, as you said, the major parties get an extra question in round one.

[Mike Lake, Conservative, Edmonton—Mill Woods—Beaumont, AB]

Right.

[The Chair, Conservative, Dean Allison]

Thank you.

[Mike Lake, Conservative, Edmonton—Mill Woods—Beaumont, AB]

Then, in the second round, we typically alternate between opposition and government. It's the opposition in general first, so one from that side of the table and one from this side of the table, for as long as we have left. Obviously our time constraints are sometimes a little bit interesting in this committee, given the number of witnesses we have.

[The Chair, Conservative, Dean Allison]

Next is Mr. McKay, followed by Mr. Martin.

[John McKay, Liberal, Scarborough—Guildwood, ON]

A number of proposals are flowing back and forth.

There are two principles involved here. The first principle is reflecting the size of the parties. The second principle is trying to be respectful of all members on the committee; they all prepare equally and presumably should get at least some opportunity to have a question in before you go to another round.

I'm using finance committee experience. Our finance committee experience looks very similar to yours in the first round, but in the second round we then go Liberal, Conservative, Bloc; then we go Liberal, Conservative; then Liberal, Conservative; then we go NDP. The reason is that you essentially then get through all the members of the committee and treat all members of the committee with some equality and also reflect their status in the House.

[Lynne Yelich, Conservative, Blackstrap, SK]

I move that.

[Mike Lake, Conservative, Edmonton—Mill Woods—Beaumont, AB]

Why don't you move that as an amendment, because I think that--

[Ruby Dhalla, Liberal, Brampton—Springdale, ON]

I sat on finance, and I like it.

[John McKay, Liberal, Scarborough—Guildwood, ON]

Then leave the first round as is. The second round would also be five minutes--Liberal, Conservative, Bloc; then Liberal, Conservative; then Liberal, Conservative; then NDP.

[The Chair, Conservative, Dean Allison]

Hold on a second. I've still got a list here. I've got Mr. Martin and Mr. Lessard on the list.

[Mike Lake, Conservative, Edmonton—Mill Woods—Beaumont, AB]

Can I speak to the amendment?

[The Chair, Conservative, Dean Allison]

We're all going to be speaking to the amendment now.

Go ahead, Mr. Martin.