Evidence of meeting #1 for Special Committee on the Canadian Mission in Afghanistan in the 40th Parliament, 2nd Session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was chair.
A recording is available from Parliament.
6:05 p.m.
The Co-Clerk of the Committee Mr. Paul Cardegna
Order, please.
Honourable members of the committee, I see a quorum.
I am ready to receive motions for the position of chair.
6:05 p.m.
Conservative
6:05 p.m.
The Co-Clerk Mr. Paul Cardegna
It has been moved by Laurie Hawn that Rick Casson be elected as chair of the committee. Are there any further motions?
Is it the pleasure of the committee to adopt the motion?
6:05 p.m.
Some hon. members
Agreed.
6:05 p.m.
The Co-Clerk Mr. Paul Cardegna
I declare the motion carried.
I would now ask my colleague to take over for the election of the vice-chair.
6:05 p.m.
The Co-Clerk of the Committee Ms. Angela Crandall
We'll proceed to the election of the vice-chair pursuant to the motion, adopted in the House on February 10, that there be one vice-chair of the special committee.
Are there motions for—
6:05 p.m.
The Co-Clerk Ms. Angela Crandall
Are there any other motions for nomination as vice-chair?
The committee has heard the question. All in favour please signify.
6:05 p.m.
Some hon. members
Aye.
6:05 p.m.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Rick Casson
I'd like to start by thanking you all very much for what I consider to be a vote of confidence. Hopefully, we can make some things happen at this committee. We all know that it was struck for a very special reason and since last June hasn't been functioning. We'll be very interested in getting it going and getting an information flow back to Canadians, as this committee was intended to do.
I recognize some faces around the table from my many years on the defence committee: Mr. Bachand, for one; Mr. Wilfert; and others of you who have filled in; and Laurie Hawn, of course, at defence. We're excited about this.
Now, if it's the wish of the committee, we can deal with the routine motions. Is it all right that we proceed this way?
6:05 p.m.
Some hon. members
Agreed.
6:05 p.m.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Rick Casson
Very good.
What's been distributed is the set of motions adopted in the last Parliament for this committee. Do we need to do just one motion, or do we need to do them one at a time?
6:05 p.m.
Some hon. members
One at a time.
6:05 p.m.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Rick Casson
Okay.
The first one is that the committee will meet on Wednesdays from 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. and, regardless of when the meeting starts, will sit for two full hours.
Mr. Wilfert.
6:05 p.m.
Liberal
Bryon Wilfert Liberal Richmond Hill, ON
Mr. Chairman, I believe that if you seek it you'll find a consensus, that there is agreement to move it to Thursday from 3:30 to 5:30. I have been in consultation with our whip, and I believe others have with theirs, to change the time. I had looked at Tuesday, but apparently there was a conflict on Tuesday mornings. Otherwise, I think that would have been also amenable to many of the members.
I would make an amendment to this to move it to Thursdays from 3:30 to 5:30.
6:10 p.m.
Conservative
6:10 p.m.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Rick Casson
Okay, it's Mr. Wilfert. And then Mr. Wilfert has proposed an amendment.
6:10 p.m.
Conservative
Laurie Hawn Conservative Edmonton Centre, AB
Oh no, I'm sorry. I'll move the motion, and then Bryon can amend it.
6:10 p.m.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Rick Casson
Mr. Hawn moved the original motion, Mr. Wilfert moved an amendment, and Mr. Crête wants to speak to it.
6:10 p.m.
Bloc
Paul Crête Bloc Montmagny—L'Islet—Kamouraska—Rivière-du-Loup, QC
I'm not at all pleased with the change.
Many members plan their schedules from Monday to Thursday. On Thursday afternoon, they leave Ottawa to return to their respective ridings. I would have preferred to see you opt for Tuesday or some other morning, rather than for Thursday afternoon. In a pinch, I would even prefer Wednesday evening. If we meet on Thursday afternoon, our riding schedules that have been set for the entire session will be disrupted. It's always possible to make some adjustments while we are here. Members are present from Monday to Thursday, or from Tuesday to Friday. To hold a meeting on Thursday afternoon would disrupt our planned schedule for the session.
6:10 p.m.
Conservative
Laurie Hawn Conservative Edmonton Centre, AB
We did look at alternative times, and Thursday from 3:30 to 5:30 was the only time that didn't cause conflicts with other committees.