Industry Committee on Nov. 25th, 2013

[The Chair, Conservative, David Sweet]

Is this on the same point of order, Mr. Thibeault?

[Glenn Thibeault, NDP, Sudbury, ON]

Just for clarification, I believe it was the Conservatives who ended Mr. Bélanger's comments by moving that we move in camera. It was not Mr. Bélanger who said he wanted to move in camera. Once again, it's the Conservatives who always move into camera any time a motion is brought forward.

[The Chair, Conservative, David Sweet]

Thank you, Mr. Thibeault.

I don't think that's a point of order, but neither was anything else, so that's fine.

Madam Charlton.

[Chris Charlton, NDP, Hamilton Mountain, ON]

Thank you, Chair.

This is really about trying to move us forward in a way that we will all understand when we go into camera. Members have had notice of motion. We don't need a long debate about this.

[Phil McColeman, Conservative, Brant, ON]

Chair, on a point of order.

[The Chair, Conservative, David Sweet]

Yes, Mr. McColeman.

[Phil McColeman, Conservative, Brant, ON]

Having the benefit now of chairing a committee, I know there are rules that are in place. I take exception to the comment Ms. Charlton is making that there are no rules or that the rules are not clear. They are clear.

[The Chair, Conservative, David Sweet]

Thank you, Mr. McColeman.

Ms. Charlton, you can continue.

[Chris Charlton, NDP, Hamilton Mountain, ON]

Thank you, Chair.

The reality is that, as government members constantly remind us, committees are masters of their own house. We determine how we want to proceed. I've moved a motion that suggests we do not constantly move in camera, that there be very precise reasons for doing so. I think Canadians have a right to know what happens in committee. Committees are an extension of the House. Why would we be willing to debate things publicly in the House but not be willing to have that kind of public scrutiny available to Canadians in committee?

I think the limitations that our motion proposes are suitable. Of course, we don't want to talk about contracts and contract negotiations in public. But I think for the kinds of things we're deciding here and how we proceed with committee business, Canadians have a right to know about those things. Why would we be afraid to talk to Canadians about whether we approve a motion on whether we want to set up a subcommittee on cooperatives or not? Why can Canadians not be privy to that conversation? I think this is a very straightforward and reasonable motion, which is why we gave notice of it. I think this is the perfect time to see whether we can pass this motion.

[The Chair, Conservative, David Sweet]

Thank you, Ms. Charlton.

Debate?

Mr. Lake.

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

So we're now debating the actual motion, not the points of order, I would imagine.

[The Chair, Conservative, David Sweet]

Mrs. Gallant.

[Cheryl Gallant, Conservative, Renfrew—Nipissing—Pembroke, ON]

I have a point of order. It's five o'clock. I asked whether or not we could extend the committee until 5:30 and was told, no, that at five o'clock we were going to go in camera to do committee business. Are we going to stick to our plan or not?

[The Chair, Conservative, David Sweet]

I will let Mr. Lake go ahead and then we'll deal with the time, Madam Gallant.

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

I'll say this. It is absolutely the history, the tradition, the convention at this committee that when we do committee business we go in camera. There's a reason for that. It's so that we can actually overcome some of the partisanship that we see, and have seen today, and some of the dysfunctional things happening with political gamesmanship and things like that.

When we go in camera to discuss committee business, we have the opportunity to have a discussion, an honest and straightforward discussion with our colleagues on both sides of the table, on whatever we're discussing about moving forward on committee business. It is a time-tested way of conducting ourselves at committee. It's not something that has happened in recent times. It's something that happened, from my understanding, well before I was ever a member of Parliament and seems to be a good way of conducting committee business.

Mr. Chairman, I'll follow that tradition. I will move that we go in camera to discuss this motion.

[The Chair, Conservative, David Sweet]

We have a motion to go in camera. All in favour?

[Chris Charlton, NDP, Hamilton Mountain, ON]

Recorded vote, please.

[The Chair, Conservative, David Sweet]

Recorded vote. Please respond to the clerk when he calls your name.

(Motion agreed to: yeas 6; nays 5)

Madam Nott, thank you very much for your testimony. There might still be some other things that you'd like us to consider in the legislation. If you could get those to the clerk, we'll make sure they're considered when we're taking up the clause-by-clause review of the legislation.

[Joy Nott]

Thank you very much for giving us the opportunity to testify.

[The Chair, Conservative, David Sweet]

We'll pause and go in camera.

[Proceedings continue in camera]