Evidence of meeting #1 for Official Languages in the 40th Parliament, 2nd Session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was amendment.

A recording is available from Parliament.

On the agenda

MPs speaking

Also speaking

Clerk of the Committee  Mrs. Isabelle Dumas

9:15 a.m.

The Clerk of the Committee Mrs. Isabelle Dumas

Pursuant to Standing Order 106(2), the chair must be a member of the government party. I'm ready to receive motions to that effect.

9:15 a.m.

Conservative

Royal Galipeau Conservative Ottawa—Orléans, ON

Madam Clerk, pursuant to Standing Order 106(1), I move that Steven Blaney be elected chair of the committee.

9:15 a.m.

The Clerk

Mr. Galipeau moves that Mr. Blaney be elected chair of the committee.

Are there any further motions?

Is it the pleasure of the committee to adopt the motion?

(Motion agreed to)

9:15 a.m.

The Clerk

I declare Mr. Blaney duly elected chair of the committee.

We can now proceed to the election of the first vice-chair.

Pursuant to Standing Order 106(2), the first vice-chair must be a member of the official opposition.

I'm now prepared to receive motions for the first vice-chair.

9:15 a.m.

Conservative

Royal Galipeau Conservative Ottawa—Orléans, ON

Mr. Chair, I read here that:

The clerk of the committee can only receive motions for the election of the chair. The clerk cannot receive other types of motions, cannot entertain points of order...

It is perhaps the role of the chair to preside over the election.

9:15 a.m.

Liberal

Pablo Rodriguez Liberal Honoré-Mercier, QC

Let us check with the clerk.

9:15 a.m.

The Clerk

It is the clerk who presides over the election of the vice-chairs.

Are there any nominations for first vice-chair?

Mr. Rodriguez.

9:15 a.m.

Liberal

Pablo Rodriguez Liberal Honoré-Mercier, QC

I would like to nominate Ms. Zarac, who is absent today but gave me a letter certifying that she agreed to be nominated to the position of vice-chair. Her letter is in both official languages.

9:15 a.m.

The Clerk

I would like to remind committee members that they can elect a first vice-chair even if the nominee is absent.

Are there other motions?

Is it the pleasure of the committee to adopt the motion?

(Motion agreed to)

I declare Ms. Zarac duly elected first vice-chair of the committee.

We can now proceed to the election of the second vice-chair.

Pursuant to Standing Order 106(2), the second vice-chair must be a member of the opposition from a party other than the official opposition.

I am now ready to receive motions.

9:15 a.m.

Bloc

Richard Nadeau Bloc Gatineau, QC

Madam Clerk, I nominate Yvon Godin, member for Acadie—Bathurst.

9:15 a.m.

The Clerk

It has been moved by Mr. Nadeau that Mr. Godin be elected second vice-chair of the committee.

Are there other motions?

(Motion agreed to)

9:15 a.m.

The Clerk

I declare Mr. Godin duly elected second vice-chair of the committee.

9:15 a.m.

Conservative

The Chair Conservative Steven Blaney

Madam Clerk, thank you for presiding over the election.

Thank you for your trust. What a surprise you have given me this morning, in this -21°C cold.

Congratulations as well to our two vice-chairs.

The goal of this meeting is to adopt the routine motions, some of which were passed during the last Parliament. I am now ready to receive proposals for routine motions, the first of which is for “Services of Analysts from the Library of Parliament”.

We will have the routine motions distributed so that everyone can work from the same document. In the meantime, I would invite the analysts of the Library of Parliament to join us at the table.

Mrs. Glover.

9:15 a.m.

Conservative

Shelly Glover Conservative Saint Boniface, MB

Good morning. I am a new member and was wondering whether there was a speakers' list. Everyone is talking at the same time, and I cannot hear what some people are saying. I was wondering whether we were using a speakers' list or if everyone spoke at the same time.

9:15 a.m.

Conservative

The Chair Conservative Steven Blaney

It is the role of the chair to ensure compliance with the speakers' list. Normally, the chair invites a member to speak to the committee.

I am ready to hear your comments, but let us take a few minutes to make sure that everyone has the document containing the routine motions.

Mr. Petit, do you have the document? There is a table of motions.

The first motion, moved by Ms. Boucher, reads as follows: “That the committee retain the services of one or more analysts from the Library of Parliament, as needed, to assist the committee in its work.”

(Motion agreed to)

9:15 a.m.

Conservative

The Chair Conservative Steven Blaney

Last time, the committee felt it would be useful to have a subcommittee on agenda and procedure. It is up to the committee members to decide if they wish that to remain the case. If not, we can move on to the next motion.

9:15 a.m.

Bloc

Richard Nadeau Bloc Gatineau, QC

Excuse me, Mr. Chairman...

9:20 a.m.

Conservative

The Chair Conservative Steven Blaney

Mr. Nadeau, during the last Parliament, the committee had decided to strike a steering committee.

9:20 a.m.

Bloc

Richard Nadeau Bloc Gatineau, QC

Ah, I see.

9:20 a.m.

NDP

Yvon Godin NDP Acadie—Bathurst, NB

I would like to move that this be done again.

9:20 a.m.

Conservative

The Chair Conservative Steven Blaney

You are moving that we form a steering committee?

9:20 a.m.

NDP

Yvon Godin NDP Acadie—Bathurst, NB

That is right.

9:20 a.m.

Conservative

The Chair Conservative Steven Blaney

I am ready to hear your comments.

9:20 a.m.

NDP

Yvon Godin NDP Acadie—Bathurst, NB

We have always had a steering committee.

9:20 a.m.

Conservative

The Chair Conservative Steven Blaney

Before hearing any comments on the motion, I must see if there is a mover. I would like to remind you that when I was chair, there was no steering committee, but that afterwards, the committee decided to create one. This morning, we are free to strike one or not.

I give the floor to Mr. Rodriguez.