Bill C-2 (39th Parliament, 1st Session) committee  I'm not sure I fully appreciate your question. If you are asking whether proceedings of a committee would be adversely affected by provisions in the Conflict of Interest Act, it's only to the extent that parliamentary secretaries might not be able to participate in the debate or vote at committee where they would be in conflict.

Bill C-2 (39th Parliament, 1st Session) committee  I don't know what information a parliamentary secretary who is a privy councillor may have, as against that of a parliamentary secretary who's not a privy councillor. In either case, he or she is sitting on this committee and is participating as a member of Parliament.

Bill C-2 (39th Parliament, 1st Session) committee  No. Our lawyers are here and we will do what you ask. Just tell us exactly...

Bill C-2 (39th Parliament, 1st Session) committee  That's correct. Let me put it this way. Mr. Wild or any other Department of Justice lawyer who might be here and present himself or herself to assist the committee in considering a government bill may be asked questions that call for a legal answer, and you might see that as giving legal advice.

Bill C-2 (39th Parliament, 1st Session) committee  Section 49 of the Constitution Act, 1867, requires that all questions be determined by a majority of voices. There might be some who think that's not terribly important. Section 48 of the Constitution Act, 1867, requires that the House have a quorum of 20 before it starts its business.

Bill C-2 (39th Parliament, 1st Session) committee  Mr. Chairman, the statutes would govern public office-holders and the provisions of the House of Commons would govern members of Parliament. It might be that the same official would have responsibilities for inquiring into alleged conflicts with respect to either members or to public officer-holders, meaning ministers or a parliamentary secretary.

Bill C-2 (39th Parliament, 1st Session) committee  Are you referring to Bill C-2?

Bill C-2 (39th Parliament, 1st Session) committee  I think that we found everything which could affect the privileges of parliamentarians. Going through the bill clause-by-clause would require an enormous amount of time.

Bill C-2 (39th Parliament, 1st Session) committee  Mr. Chairman, I must point out that this idea that there are 15 amendments is just a little off-base. In fact, it is the number of subjects which is at issue. There are 15 subjects involved. However, you cannot present a motion concerning a subject; you have to proceed clause-by-clause and study the entire bill.

Bill C-2 (39th Parliament, 1st Session) committee  Our legal advisors are at your service, Ms. Guay, as they are at the service of any committee member wishing to draft an amendment. All you have to do is ask our legal advisors to prepare them. We do not present amendments; it is the members who do so.

Bill C-2 (39th Parliament, 1st Session) committee  Mr. Chairman, we are willing to prepare amendments for Ms. Guay and for any other member of the committee. Just tell us what you want and we will prepare the amendments.

Bill C-2 (39th Parliament, 1st Session) committee  Mr. Chairman, I'd certainly be pleased to do that. However, please understand that we only draft in response to instructions received from members of the committee, so there has to be that event: the member has to request them. You can forward requests for amendments, but then we need to seek instructions from the member as to what he or she wishes to do.

Bill C-2 (39th Parliament, 1st Session) committee  I don't know the facts of that case.

Bill C-2 (39th Parliament, 1st Session) committee  Mr. Chairman, I need to remind the member that in the last Parliament we had two or three votes that were won by one vote or were tied and the Speaker had to break the tie. A member's presence could arguably make a difference.

Bill C-2 (39th Parliament, 1st Session) committee  I don't know.