Bill C-2 (39th Parliament, 1st Session) Committee on May 3rd, 2006

[The Chair, Conservative, David Tilson]

I would like to call the meeting to order. This is the first meeting of the Legislative Committee on Bill C-2, the Federal Accountability Act.

The orders of the day are the organizational meeting. I would like to advise the committee that I have received the following communication from Speaker Milliken:

Pursuant to Standing Order 113, I am pleased to confirm your appointment as Chair of the Legislative Committee on Bill C-2, An Act providing for conflict of interest rules, restrictions on election financing and measures respecting administrative transparency, oversight and accountability.

As the chair of this committee, it is my role to act as a neutral arbitrator of the proceedings, ensuring the orderly conduct of debate and careful attention to the clause-by-clause study of the bill.

There are two people I would like to introduce before we get into some housekeeping matters. The first is the clerk of the committee, Miriam Burke. Let's give her a hand.

[Some hon. members]

Hear, hear!

[The Chair, Conservative, David Tilson]

As well, there is the legislative clerk attached to the committee for this bill, Susan Baldwin. You'll never miss her.

They, of course, will answer any questions that you have relating to the process we're about to undertake.

I would like to turn to some housekeeping matters. I've given representatives of each of the caucuses a copy of this, which has been varied slightly. These are routine motions that a committee normally adopts at its first meeting. You have a list before you of the possible motions. I would propose that we proceed through the list to consider the ones we want to adopt. You should have that list before you.

I'm going to read the motions one by one, and we'll ask for a mover of the motions, if you wish to do that or to amend a motion.

Mrs. Jennings, did you have a comment?

[Marlene Jennings, Liberal, Notre-Dame-de-Grâce—Lachine, QC]

I want to amend the first one, the subcommittee one.

[The Chair, Conservative, David Tilson]

The first one has to do with the subcommittee on agenda and procedure: that the subcommittee on agenda and procedure be composed of the chair and one member from each party.

Does anyone wish to move that motion, or one similar to it?

Two questions, with Madam Jennings first.

[Marlene Jennings, Liberal, Notre-Dame-de-Grâce—Lachine, QC]

I would like to move an amendment so that the motion would read as follows: “That the Subcommittee on Agenda and Procedure be composed of the chair and one member from each party, and that any decision of the subcommittee must be ratified by the committee.”

[The Chair, Conservative, David Tilson]

Most of you have more experience than I have in these matters, but my observation is that it's standard. I suppose if you wish to put that in, it would be fine with me.

Monsieur Sauvageau, did you have a question?

Mr. Murphy, did you have a question?

[Marlene Jennings, Liberal, Notre-Dame-de-Grâce—Lachine, QC]

He's seconding my motion.

[The Chair, Conservative, David Tilson]

Mr. Petit.

[Daniel Petit, Conservative, Charlesbourg—Haute-Saint-Charles, QC]

I'd like to know what exactly you mean by “that any decision [...] must be ratified by the committee”. Does that mean that we would have to meet in committee of the whole, with everyone present, to adopt those decisions?

[The Chair, Conservative, David Tilson]

My recollection of what happens is that normally someone from the committee reads a report of the committee, which is presented to the committee and voted on, or rejected, or debated—or amended.

[Benoît Sauvageau, Bloc, Repentigny, QC]

I don't mean to speak for Ms. Jennings, but in my experience, when a subcommittee meets and there's a consensus, the information is brought to the full committee so that it can be conveyed to all members. If there's no consensus on the subcommittee, it automatically becomes an item for debate in the full committee. I think Ms. Jennings' motion is an attempt to clarify the situation, i.e., any item that is not agreed on unanimously by the subcommittee would be debated in the full committee.

[Daniel Petit, Conservative, Charlesbourg—Haute-Saint-Charles, QC]

Couldn't we just say that?

[The Chair, Conservative, David Tilson]

Through the chair, please.

[Daniel Petit, Conservative, Charlesbourg—Haute-Saint-Charles, QC]

Mr. Chairman, it might be helpful to indicate that any decision we don't agree on would go to the full committee. Otherwise, we're going to waste time, because even if we agree, we are going to have problems. So it would be better to indicate right away what we can work on.

[Marlene Jennings, Liberal, Notre-Dame-de-Grâce—Lachine, QC]

I take your point. I think my motion was poorly worded. Instead, it should read as follows: “[...] and any decision the subcommittee does not agree on unanimously should be decided by the full committee.”

[The Chair, Conservative, David Tilson]

Did I hear a question over here?

Mr. Poilievre.

[Pierre Poilievre, Conservative, Nepean—Carleton, ON]

Does it not require a motion to create a subcommittee before we start talking about the way in which this--

[The Chair, Conservative, David Tilson]

We have a motion, we have an amendment to the motion, and we'll find out what's going to happen soon, I hope.

Any other questions or comments?

Mr. Moore.

[James Moore, Conservative, Port Moody—Westwood—Port Coquitlam, BC]

I was on a legislative committee in the 2000-2004 Parliament, a legislative subcommittee, and I don't remember there being a subcommittee on agenda and procedure. I think it was the Bill C-55 committee and I think you were on it. This is standard, and I just wanted to make sure that was the case.

I know it's not necessarily standard for a committee, because as a committee you often make these decisions as a whole. Having a subcommittee for a legislative committee is standard procedure, I understand.

[The Chair, Conservative, David Tilson]

We're going to move on Ms. Jennings' amendment first.

(Amendment agreed to)

[The Chair, Conservative, David Tilson]

We'll vote on the motion as amended.

Yes?

[Tom Lukiwski, Conservative, Regina—Lumsden—Lake Centre, SK]

My apologies for being late; I was tied up in the House.

Could you read the motion, please?

[The Chair, Conservative, David Tilson]

Madam Clerk.

[The Clerk of the Committee, Ms. Miriam Burke]

The motion as amended would be that the subcommittee on agenda and procedure be composed of the chair and one member from each party and that all decisions that are not unanimous be approved by the main committee.

(Motion as amended agreed to)