Evidence of meeting #1 for Special Committee on the Canadian Mission in Afghanistan in the 39th Parliament, 2nd session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was going.
A recording is available from Parliament.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Pierre Lemieux
For in camera meeting transcripts, it is:
That one copy of the transcript of each in camera meeting be kept in a Committee Clerk's office for consultation by members of the Committee.
I need someone to propose that.
Thank you, Mr. Hawn.
Is there any discussion?
(Motion agreed to)
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Pierre Lemieux
On notice of motions, it 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 Clerks of the Committee and distributed to members in both official languages.
This is moved by Ms. Black.
(Motion agreed to)
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Pierre Lemieux
We have one other motion here. Everyone has it in front of them. This is the allocation of time for witnesses' presentations and the questioning of witnesses:
That, at the discretion of the Chair, witnesses be given ten (10) minutes to make their opening statement;
And that, at the discretion of the Chair, during the questioning of witnesses the time allocated to each questioner be as follows:
1st round (seven minutes each): Liberal, Bloc Québécois, NDP, Conservative
2nd round (five minutes each): Liberal, Conservative, Bloc Québécois, Conservative, Liberal, Conservative, Liberal, Conservative
And that when a minister is in attendance the order and time allocation for questioning witnesses be the same as above, with the exception that in the first round of questioning ten (10) minutes be allocated to each questioner of each party.
Is there any discussion on this point?
Yes, Ms. Black.
NDP
Dawn Black NDP New Westminster—Coquitlam, BC
I know this is modelled after the process that's used in the defence committee, but it's not the process that's used at many other committees, including the foreign affairs committee.
Everything in Parliament is allocated on party representation in the House, and this method of deciding the questioners is not allocated on party representation in the House.
My point is, in the second round, as a member of the New Democratic Party, I don't get an opportunity to ask a question. I would prefer to see an allocation of the time more in keeping with the majority of committees in the House of Commons, whereby the New Democratic Party does get an opportunity in the second round.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Pierre Lemieux
That's a good point. Thank you very much.
You're quite right, every committee is different in the way in which it operates, so I open the floor for discussion on this matter.
We have Monsieur Patry.
Liberal
Bernard Patry Liberal Pierrefonds—Dollard, QC
There's no problem with this. We agree to give another spot to the NDP. We fully agree with this.
Liberal
Bob Rae Liberal Toronto Centre, ON
As long as Ms. Black promises to ask constructive and positive questions....
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Pierre Lemieux
Thank you.
We'll need an amendment, so that we know exactly what we're talking about here—where we would like to slot this in.
Do we have an amendment—perhaps from Ms. Black, on what you're thinking of when you say this?
NDP
Dawn Black NDP New Westminster—Coquitlam, BC
I don't know how the rotation works on the foreign affairs committee, but could we model it on something like that?
Do you have it with you?
It would be the fifth one down in the second round—is that right?—after the Conservative Party.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Pierre Lemieux
So it would go Liberal, Conservative, Bloc, Conservative, NDP.
Liberal
Bernard Patry Liberal Pierrefonds—Dollard, QC
We're giving the Bloc and the NDP the same amount of time as the official opposition. We should go Liberal, Conservative, Bloc Québécois, Conservative, Liberal, then NDP.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Pierre Lemieux
We have Monsieur Patry recommending that the NDP slot come after the Liberal slot, not before it.
Is there any other discussion on the point of where the NDP should be sitting in this roster?
We need a formal amendment that we can actually vote on.
Mr. Patry.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Pierre Lemieux
Did you propose an amendment, Ms. Black, or was it more of a suggestion?
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Pierre Lemieux
You opened the discussion, so we go over to Mr. Patry.
We have a formal amendment that the NDP position be in slot number six, right after the second Liberal round of questions.
Is there any discussion on this point?
Conservative
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Pierre Lemieux
They become number seven, yes, that's right.
All in favour of the amendment—
