Justice Committee on June 21st, 2011

[The Chair, Conservative, Dave MacKenzie]

When we go through this, we'll add that.

Mr. Woodworth, did you have a question?

[Stephen Woodworth, Conservative, Kitchener Centre, ON]

Thank you.

I just wanted to respond to Mr. Comartin's point about whether the chair should be the conduit from the government. Quite frankly, from a structural point of view, I don't think that would be particularly wise, in that the chair, in every committee I've attended--at least when the chairs have been Conservative members--to some degree has stood a little bit above the fray and has tried to engage in that degree of impartiality required when mediating among a variety of MPs on a committee.

Quite frankly, I'm happy structurally with Mr. Jean's point that the parliamentary secretary should be doing that job on the subcommittee.

[The Chair, Conservative, Dave MacKenzie]

Ms. May is sitting in. She would like to ask a question, but it does take the consent of the committee to allow her to ask a question. I would ask if we have that consent.

[An hon. member]

Yes.

[Brian Jean, Conservative, Fort McMurray—Athabasca, AB]

I have no difficulty with that.

[The Chair, Conservative, Dave MacKenzie]

Okay.

[Elizabeth May, Green, Saanich—Gulf Islands, BC]

That was in fact my question, Mr. Chair. I recognize that I'm here as an observer at the committee. I just wanted to ask for permission and for your guidance. If it's at your discretion whether I speak, and by consent of the committee, if we've gone through a number of rounds with witnesses, I just wanted to ask...if I have a question, I'll indicate and see if you'll be willing to let me ask a question of witnesses at that time.

Thank you.

[The Chair, Conservative, Dave MacKenzie]

The clerk tells me that we have to ask that question each time.

[Elizabeth May, Green, Saanich—Gulf Islands, BC]

Okay. That gives me guidance.

[The Chair, Conservative, Dave MacKenzie]

Can we maybe speed this along now if we go through this paragraph by paragraph? Next is services of analysts from the Library of Parliament.

Can you please work off the clerk's sheet?

All in favour of having the services of the analysts?

(Motion agreed to [See Minutes of Proceedings]

[The Chair, Conservative, Dave MacKenzie]

Would the analysts like to join us?

Next is the subcommittee on agenda and procedure.

Mr. Jean, this is the one where I think you were...?

[Brian Jean, Conservative, Fort McMurray—Athabasca, AB]

Actually, for reduced quorum under the subcommittee on agenda and procedure, I'm just making sure it's that the chair be authorized to hold meetings to receive evidence and to have.... That is not the proper one?

I would move that it also include, as I think Mr. Hsu has suggested, that the quorum of the subcommittee shall consist of at least three members, including one member of the opposition. I think that's reasonable, if that's agreeable to all.

[The Chair, Conservative, Dave MacKenzie]

Did that also include the first part of that paragraph?

[Brian Jean, Conservative, Fort McMurray—Athabasca, AB]

Absolutely. I wasn't trying to eliminate anything; it's just an addition.

Thank you, Mr. Chair.

[The Chair, Conservative, Dave MacKenzie]

All in favour?

Mr. Woodworth.

[Stephen Woodworth, Conservative, Kitchener Centre, ON]

Mr. Chair, we have two proposals regarding the subcommittee. One is that the composition shall be five, including the two parliamentary secretaries. The other is that the quorum will be three. Are we voting on both of these together?

[The Chair, Conservative, Dave MacKenzie]

We're voting on both of them together.

[Stephen Woodworth, Conservative, Kitchener Centre, ON]

Thank you very much.

[Brian Jean, Conservative, Fort McMurray—Athabasca, AB]

Mr. Chair, if I may--and I apologize, but Mr. Woodworth had a very good point there--I just want to make sure that the original amendment that I put in there is...because we're working off this sheet.

[The Chair, Conservative, Dave MacKenzie]

That's right.

All in favour?

(Motion agreed to [See Minutes of Proceedings])

[The Chair, Conservative, Dave MacKenzie]

The reduced quorum deals with this committee as a whole. There may be a need from time to time to hold meetings with a reduced quorum.

All in favour?

[Brian Jean, Conservative, Fort McMurray—Athabasca, AB]

I apologize. I know you've called the question. With regard to the reduced quorum we have “at least three...members are present, including one member of the opposition”. I would suggest that there should be four members present, including one member from the opposition. I think that would be a better reduced quorum myself.

[The Chair, Conservative, Dave MacKenzie]

I think this particular clause has been carried in most other committees. It's a rare occasion when perhaps the committee might be called to attend somewhere or on short notice.

[Brian Jean, Conservative, Fort McMurray—Athabasca, AB]

I understand, Mr. Chair. We have 12 members, so three showing up for a meeting kind of makes me nervous in relation to justice, but it's just to receive evidence, so I'm fine either way.

[The Chair, Conservative, Dave MacKenzie]

Those in favour as it's printed?

(Motion agreed to [See Minutes of Proceedings])