Agriculture Committee on Feb. 12th, 2009

[The Chair, Conservative, Larry Miller]

We have an amended motion, which was agreed upon. We now have another proposed amendment by Mr. Storseth.

I would suggest, Mr. Storseth, that you read it back in for the record.

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

Can you read it in?

[The Chair, Conservative, Larry Miller]

I'll ask the clerk to read it.

Can he resubmit the same amendment?

[The Clerk]

Technically no, because it was--

[The Chair, Conservative, Larry Miller]

Okay.

Could I have everybody's attention? Mr. Storseth wants to present an amendment that he had previously presented and then had withdrawn. In order for him to re-table that amendment, I need the committee's permission. Do I have that approval?

[Some hon. members]

Agreed.

[The Chair, Conservative, Larry Miller]

Okay. I have that approval. I'll now ask the clerk to reread that amendment.

[The Clerk]

Here's how the amendment would read after the fourth line of the paragraph of the motion of Mr. Atamanenko. I'll read the last words. After “usual consultations with the Whips”, it would read: “the composition of the Subcommittee be proportionally the same as that of the Standing Committee on Agriculture and Agri-Food, with the Chair being a member of the government”.

[Wayne Easter, Liberal, Malpeque, PE]

Could you read it again?

[The Clerk]

Okay, After “usual consultations with the Whips”, on the fourth line, it would read: “the composition of the Subcommittee be proportionally the same as that of the Standing Committee on Agriculture and Agri-Food, with the Chair being a member of the government”.

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

It's just a technicality. That's the way you wanted it anyway.

[The Chair, Conservative, Larry Miller]

Just to be clear, Mr. Storseth, there was some indication over here, and over there, that you wanted to take the subcommittee part out of it. Is it your intention to have the subcommittee--

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

No. I just wanted to be clear on that. The way the subcommittee is structured would be proportionally the same.

That's not saying that there have to be 12, Wayne. That's just saying that if you guys decide to go to five, it's proportionally the same--

[Wayne Easter, Liberal, Malpeque, PE]

But you are saying there would be a subcommittee?

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

It's my understanding that that's where you guys were going anyway, so yes.

[The Chair, Conservative, Larry Miller]

You've heard the amendment. Is there discussion on the amendment?

[Wayne Easter, Liberal, Malpeque, PE]

Just to be sure, Mr. Chair, could we please read the whole motion with the amendment in it so that we're not missing anything?

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

I'm not trying to do anything sneaky.

[Wayne Easter, Liberal, Malpeque, PE]

We trust you.

[The Chair, Conservative, Larry Miller]

I'll ask J-F to read that, please.

[The Clerk]

The motion, as amended, would read as follows:

That, given the listeriosis crisis that occurred last summer, the Standing Committee on Agriculture and Agri-Food establish a Subcommittee on Food Safety; and that the members of the subcommittee be named after the usual consultations with the Whips; the composition of the Subcommittee be proportionally the same as that of the Standing Committee on Agriculture and Agri-Food, with the Chair being a member of the government, and that the Subcommittee be granted all of the powers of the Committee pursuant to Standing Order 108(1) except the power to report directly to the House.

[The Chair, Conservative, Larry Miller]

Is everyone clear on the motion?

Mr. Lemieux.

[Pierre Lemieux, Conservative, Glengarry—Prescott—Russell, ON]

Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Just before we vote on this, I appreciate the suspended meeting you gave us to consult, but I want to clarify something now. Mr. Easter was talking about the subcommittee, whether or not we should have it, before the suspension. We discussed it again during the suspension. I just want to confirm through you, Chair, if Mr. Easter is planning to amend this motion to remove the subcommittee or not? I'm just following up on his earlier comments. It's still a little unclear to me.

Thank you, Mr. Chair.

[The Chair, Conservative, Larry Miller]

I've never been able to guess what Mr. Easter might say, so I'm going to ask him.

[Wayne Easter, Liberal, Malpeque, PE]

We'll be supporting the amendment, Mr. Chair.