Agriculture Committee on Feb. 3rd, 2009

[Blake Richards, Conservative, Wild Rose, AB]

Actually, I want to interject on the point of order, if I can.

[The Chair, Conservative, Larry Miller]

On the point of order? Okay.

[Blake Richards, Conservative, Wild Rose, AB]

I just want to support what Mr. Storseth is saying here. I understand that every amendment does change the intent of a motion, but in this case Mr. Storseth is absolutely correct. The two conflict with each other directly. In other words, in order to allow the NDP to be inserted anywhere in that order prior to all members speaking, they are now in direct conflict. So you now have a motion that is going to conflict with the other.

[Brian Storseth, Conservative, Westlock—St. Paul, AB]

Mr. Chair, if it would be of service, I have my Marleau and Montpetit for the clerk to read up on.

[The Chair, Conservative, Larry Miller]

I know there's probably nobody in this room who knows it any better than you. However, this is one of those issues where the only way you can have an amendment on it is for it to be contrary to something in it. We have to let democracy take its place here, and I think we should have a vote on it. That will deal with the point of order.

I have two more speakers--Mr. Easter and Mr. Atamanenko--and I'm going to let you close up, Mr. Atamanenko, because it's your amendment.

Mr. Easter.

[Wayne Easter, Liberal, Malpeque, PE]

Thank you, Mr. Chair.

We know that Brian must sleep with that big book at night. You're probably right about the rules, Brian.

I think there's a principle at stake here, Mr. Chair. While I sympathize with Alex and his position and could in fact agree to it if there were a second member here at committee, I do think everyone who is an official member of the committee should have the right to speak and raise questions prior to someone else's having a second round if they want to take that opportunity; if they don't, that's fine. You do sit in committee sometimes, and there are some members who really don't get an opportunity to raise a question for several weeks. That's not really fair, especially when you're having hearings that are only an hour long--and we've seen that in the past.

I see nothing wrong with the original pattern of questioning that we had in the previous committee. Then if there's an opportunity to come in the second time, that's great. In Alex's case, he would have 12 minutes, where somebody else had only five, and quite a few might have zero. I think you have to go through the roster first.

[The Chair, Conservative, Larry Miller]

Thank you.

Mr. Atamanenko, do you have any closing remarks?

[Alex Atamanenko, NDP, British Columbia Southern Interior, BC]

I guess this will go down as a point in history where I actually disagree with Wayne, but that's good.

I maintain that I believe my party should be represented in the second. We have only two rounds. We don't have three rounds, from my experience. My party should have a chance in the second round, the five-minute round of questions, to ask a question. How that happens and where we're put or where I'm put doesn't matter. That's the principle I'm going from because of the divergent views that all of us represent, which should have a chance to be represented here.

[The Chair, Conservative, Larry Miller]

Thanks, Mr. Atamanenko.

I'm going to call the question.

[Brian Storseth, Conservative, Westlock—St. Paul, AB]

On a point of order, Mr. Chair, what are we voting on?

[The Chair, Conservative, Larry Miller]

We're voting on Mr. Atamanenko's amendment.

[Brian Storseth, Conservative, Westlock—St. Paul, AB]

And Mr. Lemieux didn't have an amendment on it?

[The Chair, Conservative, Larry Miller]

No, he did not. It was a suggestion.

(Amendment negatived)

[The Chair, Conservative, Larry Miller]

Is everybody's clear on the main motion that Mr. Lemieux read?

(Motion agreed to)

[The Chair, Conservative, Larry Miller]

Do we have any other motions?

Sorry?

[Wayne Easter, Liberal, Malpeque, PE]

André wants to speak.

[The Chair, Conservative, Larry Miller]

Mr. Bellavance.

[André Bellavance, Bloc, Richmond—Arthabaska, QC]

As I was asking earlier on, I would like to know if there is a difference between what Mr. Lemieux has proposed and how we normally worked. It is the same thing in my opinion.

[The Chair, Conservative, Larry Miller]

It's generally the same thing.

[André Bellavance, Bloc, Richmond—Arthabaska, QC]

You will ensure that every member of the committee has an opportunity to speak as was formerly the case?

[The Chair, Conservative, Larry Miller]

Yes, and the only difference, Mr. Bellavance, is that the composition of the committee from parties is slightly different. That's the only change.

[André Bellavance, Bloc, Richmond—Arthabaska, QC]

Fine.

[The Chair, Conservative, Larry Miller]

Yes.

[André Bellavance, Bloc, Richmond—Arthabaska, QC]

I understand. There is one less Liberal and one more Conservative member.

[The Chair, Conservative, Larry Miller]

Are there any other motions to do with routine motions?

We've dealt with the composition of the steering committee here. I would suggest that we use our time on Thursday for that steering committee to meet, if that's suitable. We can get a room or we can do it in my office, whichever your preference is. The clerk will get us a room and notify everybody.

Mr. Atamanenko, and then Mr. Storseth.