Industry Committee on June 15th, 2011

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

Yes.

[The Chair, Conservative, David Sweet]

Mr. Hsu, that covers the eventuality you mentioned, and it tightens it up.

I will take it by the nods of the head that all are in favour.

Mr. Hsu.

[Ted Hsu, Liberal, Kingston and the Islands, ON]

I would still like to ask--and I may be voted down--whether the staff and permanent members of the committee could see the in camera transcript.

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

Not staff. That is what we're saying.

[Ted Hsu, Liberal, Kingston and the Islands, ON]

I'd just like to ask for it.

[The Chair, Conservative, David Sweet]

I sense the room wants to limit it, not broaden it, Mr. Hsu.

Is there any appetite for staff to have it?

[Brian Masse, NDP, Windsor West, ON]

That's fine with me.

[The Chair, Conservative, David Sweet]

There is no appetite for that on the government side, so we'll go with the wording the way it is.

Let me read it one more time. The motion is 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 other members who attended the specific meeting.

(Motion agreed to)

Notice of motion: that 48 hours' notice be required for any substantive motion to be considered by the committee, unless the substantive motion relates directly to the business then under consideration; and that the notice of motion be filed with the clerk of the committee by 5 p.m. and distributed to members in both official languages.

I think we had 5 p.m. before.

Mr. Lake.

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

I'll propose this: That 48 hours' notice shall be required for any substantive motion to be considered by the committee, and that the motion shall be filed and distributed to members by the clerk in both official languages. Completed motions that are received by close of business shall be distributed to members the same day.

Are you not sure that you understand “completed”?

[The Chair, Conservative, David Sweet]

No, “close of business”.

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

Well, that is the end of the business day, I guess by 5 p.m. It would be received by 5 p.m. eastern time, if you want to be specific.

[The Chair, Conservative, David Sweet]

Okay, that's 5 p.m. Eastern Standard Time.

Mr. Masse, then Mr. Julian.

[Brian Masse, NDP, Windsor West, ON]

Just for clarification, Mr. Lake, what specific changes would take place from what we previously had, and what are the reasons for them?

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

The first part is standard. The official languages part is standard.

On the distribution, keep in mind that ours was different from what the proposal is on the sheet today. It didn't include the part at the end about the time.

It would require that when motions are received we actually get them that day so that we know. That has not occurred all the time in every committee.

It does not use the wording “unless a substantive motion relates directly to business then under consideration”, but that is common. That's a standing order, isn't it?

[The Chair, Conservative, David Sweet]

It is certainly procedural, that if it's germane to the business at hand it can be moved. Is that correct?

[The Clerk]

Yes, if it is related to the business of a specific meeting, it can be moved at a meeting.

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

That is automatic, and this streamlines it, in a sense.

[Brian Masse, NDP, Windsor West, ON]

The only change is that we get the motion, but is that viable for the clerk? It seems to me you are suggesting that the clerk has to distribute those motions to the rest of the committee. I want to know if technically the clerk has the capability to do that. That would be the only question I have.

I understand the reasons for it. We all get motions the next morning at 10 o'clock and we're already behind a bit, but maybe we could have the clerk figure out how it's going to affect things.

[The Chair, Conservative, David Sweet]

I will need you to comment on that, Mr. Lake, because I'm not certain either, in the way it's worded.

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

What it allows us to do is properly prepare. We'll get the motions at the end of the business day, by 5 p.m., which will allow us to see them and properly prepare.

[Brian Masse, NDP, Windsor West, ON]

What if there is a technical problem--

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

It's completed motions--

[Brian Masse, NDP, Windsor West, ON]

--electronically or distribution-wise in the clerk's department? Would those motions no longer be valid the next day? That's why I'm wondering if there would be problems.

[The Chair, Conservative, David Sweet]

Hang on. The clerk wants to comment.

[The Clerk]

I just want to make sure. At 5 p.m. there is no problem to have a motion translated, if there are no electronic glitches. We are talking about motions. There is no problem in having a motion translated and distributed the same day to the members of the committee.

I want to make sure that the time of 5 p.m. applies also to the 48 hours' notice. If the motion is received by 5 o'clock, it is going to be sent to the members of the committee on the same day in both official languages, and the motion can be taken up by the committee not the following day but the day after.