Evidence of meeting #1 for Public Safety and National Security in the 40th Parliament, 3rd Session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was chair.

A recording is available from Parliament.

On the agenda

MPs speaking

Also speaking

Clerk of the Committee  Mr. Roger Préfontaine

3:35 p.m.

The Clerk of the Committee Mr. Roger Préfontaine

Ladies and gentlemen, I see a quorum.

So we can proceed to elect a chair.

I am ready to receive motions for the position of chair.

Mr. Holland.

3:35 p.m.

Liberal

Mark Holland Liberal Ajax—Pickering, ON

Mr. Clerk, I will give you a motion. After careful consideration and much lobbying from a number of people, I've decided to nominate Garry Breitkreuz for chair. I think he's done a great job, and I look forward to his continued leadership in that regard.

3:35 p.m.

The Clerk

It has been moved by Mr. Holland that Garry Breitkreuz be elected as chair of the committee.

Are there any further motions?

Mr. Kania.

3:35 p.m.

Liberal

Andrew Kania Liberal Brampton West, ON

Yes: that Mr. Breitkreuz give his speech now.

3:35 p.m.

Some hon. members

Oh, oh!

3:35 p.m.

The Clerk

There being no further motions, is it the pleasure of the committee to adopt the motion?

(Motion agreed to)

3:35 p.m.

The Clerk

I declare Mr. Breitkreuz duly elected as chair of the committee.

3:35 p.m.

Some hon. members

Hear, hear!

3:35 p.m.

The Clerk

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

Mr. Breitkreuz.

3:35 p.m.

Conservative

Garry Breitkreuz Conservative Yorkton—Melville, SK

Thank you.

I'd like to nominate Mr. Mark Holland for that position.

3:35 p.m.

The Clerk

It has been moved by Mr. Breitkreuz that Mark Holland be elected as first vice-chair of the committee.

Are there further motions?

Does the motion carry?

(Motion agreed to)

I declare Mr. Holland first vice-chair.

3:35 p.m.

Some hon. members

Hear, hear!

3:35 p.m.

The Clerk

The second vice-chair must be a member of an official opposition party other than the official opposition.

Madam Mourani.

3:35 p.m.

Bloc

Maria Mourani Bloc Ahuntsic, QC

Thank you, Mr. Clerk.

First, I would like to say hello to all my colleagues and to tell them that I am happy that we can begin our work. I would like to introduce my colleague Mr. Desnoyers, who will join me on this committee.

I nominate Mr. Don Davies—whose work is excellent—for the position of second vice-chair.

3:35 p.m.

The Clerk

Madam Mourani proposes Mr. Davies.

Are there any other motions?

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

(Motion agreed to)

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

3:35 p.m.

Some hon. members

Hear, hear!

3:35 p.m.

The Clerk

I would like to congratulate Mr. Breitkreuz on his election, tell him it's a pleasure to work with him, and invite him to take the chair.

3:40 p.m.

Conservative

The Chair Conservative Garry Breitkreuz

I'd like to thank everybody. I appreciate the confidence you've shown, and I look forward to your cooperation. This has been one of the best committees on the Hill. It's been an honour for me to chair this committee. I'll continue to try to do my best. We have some interesting times ahead, I'm sure. Some of the issues we're going to deal with are dear to my heart, but I'll try to do my best to be honest and fair. I look forward to working with all of you.

I'd like to welcome Mr. Desnoyers to our committee, and Mr. Wrzesnewskyj. I appreciate you coming on the committee, and I look forward to working with you as well.

I welcome everybody else back. It's a little late to say Happy New Year, but I'll do that anyway.

Again, thank you very much for the confidence you've shown in having me as your chair.

That really completes our agenda. If you so wish, we could move....

Oh, Mr. MacKenzie, you had your hand up.

3:40 p.m.

Conservative

Dave MacKenzie Conservative Oxford, ON

I was just going to suggest that it would be nice to have a speech from the chair of the committee.

From the government side, I'd like to welcome the two new members to this committee. I think, as the chair has already indicated, it is certainly our experience that we've gotten along very well. We have our differences, but that's fair. I think at the end of the day, everybody enjoys being part of this committee and working together.

3:40 p.m.

Conservative

The Chair Conservative Garry Breitkreuz

Thank you.

I'd like to congratulate Mr. Holland and Mr. Davies as well for the support they've shown. It's been great working with you guys. I look forward to more of the same.

3:40 p.m.

Liberal

Mark Holland Liberal Ajax—Pickering, ON

The feeling is mutual, Chair.

If I may, I'll give you a motion to go in camera to deal with future business. I think we have a couple of items. We have to set our calendar. Most importantly, we have to bring forward the work that we had done in the previous session on the corrections report.

I'll give you a motion to go in camera to deal with future business.

3:40 p.m.

Conservative

The Chair Conservative Garry Breitkreuz

Okay.

You've all heard that motion. Are you all agreeable to go in camera to deal with future business of the committee?

3:40 p.m.

Some hon. members

Agreed.

3:40 p.m.

Conservative

The Chair Conservative Garry Breitkreuz

I see no dissension, so let's pause for a moment and move in camera.

[Proceedings continue in camera]