Mr. Chair, I move:
That given Bill C-49, an act to amend the Canada—Newfoundland and Labrador Atlantic Accord Implementation Act and the Canada-Nova Scotia Offshore Petroleum Resources Accord Implementation Act and to make consequential amendments to other acts, has been referred to committee, the committee initiate its consideration of Bill C-49 with the following schedule:
a) That the minister and officials be invited to appear before the committee on Bill C-49 on a date to be determined by the chair;
b) That members submit their lists of suggested witnesses concerning Bill C-49 by 12:00 p.m. on a date to be determined by the chair and that the chair, clerk and analysts create witness panels which reflect the representation of the parties on the committee, and, once complete, that the chair begin scheduling those meetings:
c) That the chair seek additional meeting times and that meetings be scheduled, if resources are available, for up to three hours each;
d) That the chair issue a press release for Bill C-49, inviting written submissions from the public and establishing a deadline for those submissions;
e) That the committee hold four meetings with witnesses on Bill C-49 before clause-by-clause consideration for Bill C-49 is scheduled and that the chair seek to hold one of those meetings in Halifax, Nova Scotia and one of those meetings in St. John’s, Newfoundland and Labrador;
f) That the chair set deadlines for the submission of proposed amendments for Bill C-49 in advance of the beginning of clause-by-clause consideration but no sooner than after the completion of the respective witness meetings, and that the members of the committee, as well as Members who are not part of a caucus represented on the committee, submit to the clerk all of their proposed amendments to Bill C-49 no later than 4:00 p.m. on a date established by the chair, in both official languages, and that these be distributed to members;
g) That up to four meetings be scheduled for clause-by-clause consideration of Bill C-49 and should the committee not complete its clause-by-clause consideration of Bill C-49 by the end of scheduled clause-by-clause considerations, at the next available meeting all remaining amendments submitted to the committee shall be deemed moved; the chair shall put the question, forthwith and successively, without further debate, on all remaining clauses and proposed amendments, as well as each and every question necessary to dispose of clause by-clause consideration of the bill, as well as all questions necessary to report the bill to the House; order that it be reprinted; and order the chair to report the bill to the House as soon as possible.
Thank you, Chair. Now that I've moved the motion, I move that the committee move in camera.