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
We have a proposal for meeting on Wednesday evenings from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m.
Liberal
Bob Rae Liberal Toronto Centre, ON
We have an internal committee meeting, but we could change that if it needs to be done. We could do that.
So are you suggesting we meet only once a week?
Conservative
Deepak Obhrai Conservative Calgary East, AB
Yes, unless something happens that requires a special meeting; otherwise, normally and as a routine, once a week.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Pierre Lemieux
We have a proposal on the floor for meeting once a week on Wednesdays from 6 o'clock to 8 o'clock.
Is there any other discussion on this matter?
Liberal
Bob Rae Liberal Toronto Centre, ON
The only trouble with the 6 o'clock time, Mr. Chairman, is that it gets eaten up by votes on Wednesday nights. I wonder whether we could say 6:30, maybe, and agree to go to 8:30.
Liberal
Bob Rae Liberal Toronto Centre, ON
I'd just like an informal understanding, in any event, that if there are votes that take us to 7 o'clock, we'd sit for two hours; that we understand we would keep going for two hours.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Pierre Lemieux
I think that's the aim.
The aim is to meet for two hours, then, once a week, Wednesday evenings from 6:30 to 8:30, unless the beginning is delayed by votes, in which case we would start a little bit later.
We'll start through the routine motions. The first is for the services of analysts from the Library of Parliament. The motion reads:
that the committee retain, as needed and at the discretion of the Chair, the services of one or more analysts from the Library of Parliament to assist it in its work.
Is there any discussion on this particular point?
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Pierre Lemieux
Thank you, Mr. Hawn.
Is there any discussion on this particular motion?
(Motion agreed to)
The second one reads:
That the Subcommittee on Agenda and Procedure be composed of the Chair, the three Vice-Chairs and a member of the Conservative Party.
I need a proposer for this motion.
Thank you, Mr. MacKenzie.
Is there any discussion?
Mr. Keddy.
Conservative
Gerald Keddy Conservative South Shore—St. Margaret's, NS
Mr. Chair, the only discussion would be that a member of the whip's staff be present at that subcommittee meeting. That's the only addition.
Conservative
Gerald Keddy Conservative South Shore—St. Margaret's, NS
Most of the whips are going to be there anyway.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Pierre Lemieux
I think this is in fact covered under “Staff at in camera meetings”. The subcommittee meetings would be in camera meetings.
Thank you for the remark; we will arrive there in due course.
Is there any other discussion on this point?
(Motion agreed to)
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Pierre Lemieux
The motion for distribution of documents is:
That the clerks of the committee be authorized to distribute documents to members of the committee and only when such documents exist in both official languages.
I need a proposer for this motion.
Yes.
Liberal
John McKay Liberal Scarborough—Guildwood, ON
This is just a point of frustration more than anything else. I'm sure this committee will be the exception rather than the rule, but in pretty well every committee I have ever sat on, the documents arrive about the same time as the committee starts, and it's very frustrating. My preference is to read material in advance. I don't know whether you can do it through your clerk or whether it should be a rule of the committee so that people have some discipline about this, but I would have thought that a rule of 24 hours in advance for document distribution is not such a bad rule. I appreciate that there are difficulties with witnesses, etc., but if you don't impose the discipline on yourself, then nothing will happen.
I'm not a member of this committee, but I offer that as an observation, from being 10 years here.
Dawn Black NDP New Westminster—Coquitlam, BC
I would support Mr. McKay's intervention, because I know in the past—it was routine a number of years ago in Parliament—you received the documentation at least the day before the meeting. I don't know whether we need a motion to the effect that we receive it 24 hours in advance, but I'm prepared to move that motion in support of it.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Pierre Lemieux
Okay. After consultation with the clerk, let me just frame this discussion. I think it's a valid point. As parliamentarians, we all like to receive our material early so that we can be fully prepared for the meetings.
I think there are probably two issues at play. Number one is with respect to the witnesses and their key information, that is, when exactly do they deliver their material to the committee? Is it important for the committee to have that material, I think is the fundamental question.
And the second issue, which the clerk was just mentioning to me, is the issue of translation. Oftentimes the witnesses submit documents in one official language. We are able to provide translation services to ensure that they are in both official languages for the meeting. However, that does take time.
So if we do end up amending this particular routine motion so that witnesses' material be provided 24 hours in advance, I think the fundamental question is whether it will block us from getting written information from witnesses that we might find valuable.
That's my point, and I'll open the floor once again.
Mr. Hawn.
Conservative
Laurie Hawn Conservative Edmonton Centre, AB
When we're only meeting once a week, it should alleviate part of the problem with some witnesses being late, and so on. But when we're getting briefings from departmental officials or whomever, I think it's a reasonable rule that they provide us with their material 24 hours in advance, because they know they're coming and they have the staff to do it. Their material can come here already translated.
That would at least legislate part of this.