Evidence of meeting #1 for Official Languages in the 41st Parliament, 1st Session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was chair.
A recording is available from Parliament.
9:45 a.m.
Conservative
9:45 a.m.
Conservative
9:45 a.m.
Liberal
Mauril Bélanger Liberal Ottawa—Vanier, ON
Mr. Chair, I have a question. I know it's not on the agenda, but can we also make sure that we get good coffee?
9:45 a.m.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Michael Chong
I will give verbal direction to the clerk to investigate this matter.
9:45 a.m.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Michael Chong
We're going to the consideration of the next routine motion, which is witnesses' expenses.
Do I have a mover of this motion?
It is moved by Mr. Trottier. I'll read the motion.
In terms of travel, accommodation and living expenses of witnesses, it says: “That, if requested, reasonable travel, accommodation and living expenses be reimbursed to witnesses, not exceeding two (2) representatives per organization; and that, in exceptional circumstances, payment for more representatives be made at the discretion of the Chair.”
Is there any debate on this motion?
Seeing none, I'll put the question on this motion moved by Mr. Trottier.
(Motion agreed to)
9:50 a.m.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Michael Chong
Thank you very much, Mr. Trottier.
We'll now go to the consideration of the next motion. Do I have a mover?
It is moved by Monsieur Galipeau. Thank you very much.
I'll read the motion moved by Monsieur Galipeau.
The motion on staff at in camera meetings states the following: “That, unless otherwise ordered, each Committee member be allowed to be accompanied by one of his or her staff person, in addition to one staff person from the office of the Whip of each party, at in camera meetings.”
Is there any debate on this motion?
Seeing none, I'll put the question.
(Motion agreed to)
9:50 a.m.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Michael Chong
We'll go to consideration of the next motion. Do we have a mover?
It is moved by Mr. Trottier. I'll read the motion.
The motion on in camera meetings transcripts says the following: “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.”
Is there any debate on this motion?
Mr. Julian.
9:50 a.m.
NDP
Peter Julian NDP Burnaby—New Westminster, BC
This is more of a question, Mr. Chair, and I am asking it on behalf of my Liberal colleague, because it has already been asked in other committees. This same situation has come up in the last few Parliaments. On occasion, when only one member from a party is on a committee, the member might have to be replaced. In some committees, it could mean that other Liberals might replace an official member. I just want to clarify that, when we say members of the committee, we also mean acting members, people who might have come to replace Mr. Bélanger, for example.
9:50 a.m.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Michael Chong
I'm a little confused. We're talking about the routine motion on in camera meeting transcripts.
9:50 a.m.
NDP
9:50 a.m.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Michael Chong
Is there any further debate on the motion concerning in camera meeting transcripts?
Seeing none, I'll call the question. All those in favour?
(Motion agreed to)
Do I have a mover for the next motion?
It's moved by Monsieur Bélanger.
I will read the notice of motion. Then, Mr. Julian will have the floor.
That 48 hours' notice be required for any substantive motion to be considered by the committee, unless the substantive motion relates directly to business then under consideration; and that the notice of motion be filed with the clerk of the committee and distributed to members in both official languages.
Is there any debate on this motion?
Mr. Julian, would you like to comment on the motion by Monsieur Bélanger?
9:50 a.m.
NDP
Peter Julian NDP Burnaby—New Westminster, BC
No thank you, Mr. Chair.
I had a point to raise about the motion that we just adopted. Mr. Bélanger does not have a problem with the motion as presented.
9:50 a.m.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Michael Chong
Is there any further debate on this motion moved by Mr. Bélanger?
Seeing none, I'll call the question. All those in favour?
(Motion agreed to)
I suggest that we go to the last two routine motions and then go back to the questioning of witnesses so that we can get the last two, which I don't think will have a lot of debate.
Do I have a mover of the motion concerning televising specific meetings?
It is moved by Monsieur Galipeau.
It reads:
Televising Specific Meetings. That the meetings with the Commissioner of Official Languages and any Minister be televised if possible.
Is there debate on the motion moved by Monsieur Galipeau?
Go ahead, Monsieur Bélanger.
9:50 a.m.
Liberal
Mauril Bélanger Liberal Ottawa—Vanier, ON
Mr. Chair, I would like to make sure that we are not interpreting the resolution too narrowly. I wouldn't want us to be in a situation where someone says that only the meetings where testimony is given by the Commissioner of Official Languages or by ministers can be televised. I would like this to be clear.
In the last session, we had a series of meetings with deputy ministers after volume II of the report of the Commissioner of Official Languages was issued. A number of those meetings were televised, and it was very important that they be. I want to make sure that we are all on the same wavelength.
Mr. Chair, I would like to hear you say that this isn't restrictive; in other words, that it can go beyond the commissioner or ministers.
9:50 a.m.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Michael Chong
Previously, when I have been chair and on other committees, if a member or members have asked through the clerk that the meeting be televised, we have made our best efforts to get a room that has television.
9:50 a.m.
Liberal
9:50 a.m.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Michael Chong
Is this our "normal" room?
These rooms are broadcast-ready. But if you request another room, we'll make our best efforts to go there as well if it's in Centre Block, but obviously there are scheduling issues.
9:55 a.m.
Liberal
Mauril Bélanger Liberal Ottawa—Vanier, ON
I'd like the meeting to be in Ottawa Vanier, Mr. Chairman.
9:55 a.m.
Some hon. members
Oh, oh!
9:55 a.m.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Michael Chong
Okay. Is there any other debate on this motion?
Seeing none, I'll call the question. All those in favour?
(Motion agreed to)
We'll now go to the motion concerning dissenting and supplementary opinions to committee reports. Is there a mover of this motion?
It's moved by Monsieur Bélanger.
I'll read it:
Appending Dissenting/Supplementary Opinions to Committee Reports That any member of the committee be entitled to submit a dissenting or supplementary opinion to any committee report in accordance to the Standing Orders of the House, provided that it is no more than five (5) pages in length and submitted electronically, in both official languages, to the clerk in the 48 hours following the adoption of a report.
Is there any debate on this motion?
Mr. Julian.