Official Languages Committee on Nov. 4th, 2013

[Jamie Nicholls, NDP, Vaudreuil—Soulanges, QC]

It's just the framing of the current practice, so that it's clear and doesn't deviate from what we're already doing. There is no addition of red tape. They're not going to hire another clerk to figure this out. It's the practice that's already used; we're just describing it in a better way.

[The Chair, Conservative, Michael Chong]

Mr. Gourde, you have the floor.

[Jacques Gourde, Conservative, Lotbinière—Chutes-de-la-Chaudière, QC]

I trust our clerk. He does not need any more instructions on how to do his job. I will vote against the motion.

[The Chair, Conservative, Michael Chong]

Are there any further comments?

Okay, I will pass the floor to the clerk for a recorded vote.

I'll read the motion again before the clerk takes a recorded vote:

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, and that; (a) notice be emailed to the Clerk no later than 5:00 p.m. from Monday to Friday; (b) notice be distributed by e-mail to members in both official languages by the Clerk on the same day the said notice was transmitted if it was received no later than the deadline hour; (c) notices received after the deadline hour be deemed to have been received during the next business day; and (d) this rule does not prevent a member to give notice of a motion orally during a meeting of the Committee, in which case notice shall be deemed to have been given before the deadline that day.

Mr. Clerk—

[John Williamson, Conservative, New Brunswick Southwest, NB]

I'd like that in English as well, please.

[A voice]

He has to listen to the translation.

[John Williamson, Conservative, New Brunswick Southwest, NB]

I'm listening to it, and I don't think even the francophones get this, so I'd like to hear it in English.

[The Chair, Conservative, Michael Chong]

Okay.

The motion is:

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, and that; (a) notice be emailed to the Clerk no later than 5:00 p.m. from Monday to Friday; (b) notice be distributed by e-mail to members in both official languages by the Clerk on the same day the said notice was transmitted if it was received no later than the deadline hour; (c) notices received after the deadline hour be deemed to have been received during the next business day; and (d) this rule does not prevent a member to give notice of a motion orally during a meeting of the Committee, in which case notice shall be deemed to have been given before the deadline that day.

The clerk has the floor to call the vote.

(Motion negatived: nays 7; yeas 4)

Do we have any other routine motions for consideration?

Mr. Godin.

[Yvon Godin, NDP, Acadie—Bathurst, NB]

I move the motion on the witnesses' expenses.

That will be easy; the wording is the same as in the former motion:

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.

I don't see how anyone would vote against that.

[The Chair, Conservative, Michael Chong]

Is there any debate?

Is there no debate?

Okay.

[Jacques Gourde, Conservative, Lotbinière—Chutes-de-la-Chaudière, QC]

I would actually love to hear Mr. Dionne Labelle debate that issue.

[Some hon. members]

Oh, oh!

[The Chair, Conservative, Michael Chong]

Seeing no further debate, I'll call the question.

(Motion agreed to)

Is there another routine motion that members wish to consider?

Monsieur Gourde.

[Jacques Gourde, Conservative, Lotbinière—Chutes-de-la-Chaudière, QC]

Mr. Chair, we have the following motion:

That the Subcommittee on Agenda and Procedure be composed of five (5) members including the Chair, the two Vice-Chairs, the Parliamentary Secretary for Official Languages and a member of the government party.

It is the second routine motion, without the amendment introduced earlier.

[The Chair, Conservative, Michael Chong]

We have a motion in front of us. Is everyone clear on the motion? Okay. Is there any debate on the motion?

Seeing none, I'll call the question.

(Motion agreed to)

Monsieur Gourde.

[Jacques Gourde, Conservative, Lotbinière—Chutes-de-la-Chaudière, QC]

Mr. Chair, I have another motion, this time on the reduced quorum:

That the Chair be authorized to hold meetings to receive evidence and to have that evidence printed when a quorum is not present, provided that at least four (4) members are present, including one (1) member of the opposition and one (1) member of the government party.

[The Chair, Conservative, Michael Chong]

Thank you, Mr. Gourde.

Is there any debate on this motion?

Mr. Nicholls.

[Jamie Nicholls, NDP, Vaudreuil—Soulanges, QC]

Mr. Chair, in terms of debate, I find if unfortunate that we couldn't have “official opposition”. That's all; it's just to register that. Instead of just “opposition”, it should be “official opposition”.

[The Chair, Conservative, Michael Chong]

Understood. Thank you.

You could always propose an amendment.

[Some hon. members]

Oh, oh!

[Jamie Nicholls, NDP, Vaudreuil—Soulanges, QC]

I think we already did.

[The Chair, Conservative, Michael Chong]

We'll vote on the motion.

(Motion agreed to)

Mr. Gourde, the floor is yours.

[Jacques Gourde, Conservative, Lotbinière—Chutes-de-la-Chaudière, QC]

Mr. Chair, I have another routine motion. This one is about the distribution of documents:

That only the Clerk of the Committee be authorized to distribute to the members of the Committee any of the documents, including motions, and that all documents which are to be distributed among the Committee members must be in both official languages; and that the clerk shall advise in advance all witnesses appearing before the Committee of this requirement and inform them of the availability of translation services.

[The Chair, Conservative, Michael Chong]

Thank you, Mr. Gourde.

Yes, Mr. Godin?

[Yvon Godin, NDP, Acadie—Bathurst, NB]

Mr. Chair, I just want to know which motion this is.