Evidence of meeting #2 for Official Languages in the 41st Parliament, 2nd Session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was meeting.
A recording is available from Parliament.
4:55 p.m.
NDP
Yvon Godin NDP Acadie—Bathurst, NB
The subamendment would add the following to the end of the motion: “or a member of his or her staff in attendance at the in camera meeting”.
4:55 p.m.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Michael Chong
The subamendment has been presented by Monsieur Dionne Labelle, through Monsieur Godin.
We're going to have a debate on the subamendment now.
Monsieur Dionne Labelle.
4:55 p.m.
NDP
Pierre Dionne Labelle NDP Rivière-du-Nord, QC
I would like to make the implications clear here.
Under the initial proposal, the young man who talks to you regularly would not be entitled to consult the transcript of an in camera meeting. The woman who accompanies our Liberal friend, along with my assistant Benoît, would not be allowed either, even if they had been present at the said meeting.
To make our job easier, it would be appropriate for them to be able to consult the transcript of a meeting they had attended. That makes sense to me.
4:55 p.m.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Michael Chong
So that everyone is clear, the amendment is, “or a member of their personnel, their staff, authorized by the member”.
We're now on the subamendment which is, “who was present at the meeting that was in camera”.
Is there any further debate on the subamendment?
Mr. Williamson.
5 p.m.
Conservative
John Williamson Conservative New Brunswick Southwest, NB
I have a question for you, Chair. Are you even able to police that request? Four weeks from now, how will you know who has been in this room?
5 p.m.
Conservative
John Williamson Conservative New Brunswick Southwest, NB
I'm simply wondering, is that something you typically do? Are you aware of the staff members who are here at every single meeting?
5 p.m.
Conservative
John Williamson Conservative New Brunswick Southwest, NB
All right.
I think I know the answer, but only to be sure, currently it's members themselves who have access to the minutes right now, and only members.
5 p.m.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Michael Chong
That's right.
To clarify, and the clerk can tell me if it's otherwise, I do believe that staff of members are authorized to take a look at the transcript if and only if the clerk receives an e-mail from the member confirming that the staff person can take a look at the transcript. It is already the case that staff can take a look at the transcript, but before the clerk would allow a staff member to look at the transcript, the clerk would need authorization from the member himself or herself.
5 p.m.
Conservative
John Williamson Conservative New Brunswick Southwest, NB
Yes. Well, I'm fine with that, and I am getting a sense of what an NDP government would be like with rewriting regulations, heaven forbid.
I'll be voting against this, because I think the current rules seem—
5 p.m.
Voices
Oh, oh!
5 p.m.
Conservative
John Williamson Conservative New Brunswick Southwest, NB
I have an idea right now. I know, I know. I can just imagine what my tax form would be like.
5 p.m.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Michael Chong
Is there any further debate on the subamendment?
Mr. Nicholls, and then Mr. Godin.
5 p.m.
NDP
Jamie Nicholls NDP Vaudreuil—Soulanges, QC
I wanted to clarify my previous comments.
It was my intention, in line with the subamendment, that people of our staff who have already been authorized to be here in camera be able to consult the minutes.
5 p.m.
NDP
Yvon Godin NDP Acadie—Bathurst, NB
Legislation is not made in two minutes, my dear colleague. I hope that if the NDP get elected, we'll do other legislation, and follow it after, too.
5 p.m.
Conservative
5 p.m.
Conservative
Joyce Bateman Conservative Winnipeg South Centre, MB
I would like a clarification. Unless I'm mistaken, all our assistants—with our permission—have access to transcripts for analytical purposes, whether they attended the meeting or not. Isn't that right?
5 p.m.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Michael Chong
The way it works is that if you want to see the transcript for an in camera meeting, they are kept physically with the clerk. You can at any moment in time visit the clerk and see a transcript of that meeting. If you wish to send a staff person there, the clerk will require your express authorization for that staff person to take a look at the transcript.
5 p.m.
Conservative
Joyce Bateman Conservative Winnipeg South Centre, MB
It doesn't matter if that staff person was there or not at the meeting, they would still have access.
5 p.m.
Conservative
Joyce Bateman Conservative Winnipeg South Centre, MB
Okay, so what we're talking about is actually a
waste of time, it seems to me, as this is already common practice.
5 p.m.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Michael Chong
Thank you.
Is there any further debate on the subamendment?
Monsieur Godin.