Bill C-27 (39th Parliament, 1st Session) Committee on May 8th, 2007

[The Chair, Liberal, Bernard Patry]

Good afternoon, everyone.

I am very sorry to be late. I am not usually late, but there can be a problem when you have another committee, such as the Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs.

Pursuant to Standing Order 113(3), this meeting is for the organization of Bill C-27. You have the orders of the day and the appointment letter of the chair by the Speaker of the House. The letter reads:

Pursuant to Standing Order 113, I'm pleased to confirm your appointment as Chair of the Legislative Committee on Bill C-27, an Act to amend the Criminal Code (dangerous offenders and recognizance to keep the peace).

It's signed by Mr. Milliken.

You've all received the routine motions. They are the same routine motions that we passed for Bill C-25. Do you want me to read all the motions?

[Some hon. members]

Dispense.

[The Chair, Liberal, Bernard Patry]

Is everyone agreed on these routine motions?

Madame Jennings.

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

We're in agreement.

The only thing that we would like to add is what we had added at the legislative committee for Bill C-35, which is:

“Staff at in camera meetings.” It simply states:

That, unless otherwise ordered, each Committee member be allowed to be accompanied by one staff person at an in camera meeting.

We would like to add: “and that each party be allowed to be accompanied by one staff person from its Whip's office at an in camera meeting.”

[The Chair, Liberal, Bernard Patry]

Are there any comments concerning the addition from Mrs. Jennings?

Do you have any comments?

(Motion agreed to.)

Mr. Bélanger.

[Mauril Bélanger, Liberal, Ottawa—Vanier, ON]

Point 6 refers to the availability of documents in both official languages. Is it necessary to add this, or do we agree to say that documents must be available at the time of distribution? Too often we're told that the trial is coming and that—

[Some hon. members]

No, no.

[Mauril Bélanger, Liberal, Ottawa—Vanier, ON]

So that's understood. If a document is not available in both languages, it won't be distributed.

[An hon. member]

That's it.

[Mauril Bélanger, Liberal, Ottawa—Vanier, ON]

Thank you.

[The Chair, Liberal, Bernard Patry]

If a witness submits a presentation drafted in only one of the official languages, it will not be distributed to committee members. Instead it will be distributed by the clerk, once the document has been translated into the other official language.

Mr. Moore.

[Rob Moore, Conservative, Fundy Royal, NB]

Under speaking times, one of the things we do at the justice committee, which I think works well, is that no member speaks twice before another member has spoken once. I think we've added it to our other committee on Bill C-35. I would make the suggestion that we follow this format that no member speaks twice before another member speaks once.

[The Chair, Liberal, Bernard Patry]

Ms. Jennings.

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

However, if a committee member hasn't yet spoken and his or her turn has come up, that member may decide to give his time to a member of his party or any other member. I think that's also acceptable.

[The Chair, Liberal, Bernard Patry]

Mr. Ménard.

[Réal Ménard, Bloc, Hochelaga, QC]

We have to see how many speaking rounds are allotted to us. Then we'll have to see how the political parties manage their time, and that's up to them. If we're entitled to two rounds, normally each of the committee members will speak. I understand the fairness rule. If we want members to take part in the committee and to have the feeling of being useful, they have to be able to ask questions. But if, for a strategic reason that is up to a party, for example, opposition colleagues want to have their critic speak twice, it seems to me that doesn't concern us. However, the Chair must enforce the fairness rule. The other parties must not interfere in a party's internal affairs. So there's a balance between the two.

[The Chair, Liberal, Bernard Patry]

I entirely agree with what Ms. Jennings, Mr. Ménard and Mr. Moore said. The NDP has only one member, and, if there is a second round, he will speak twice, whereas the other committee members will only have spoken once. There has to be a fairness rule, so that all members who want to ask questions can do so.

[Mauril Bélanger, Liberal, Ottawa—Vanier, ON]

From what Mr. Moore said, Mr. Comartin won't be able to ask a second question or speak before all committee members have spoken.

[The Chair, Liberal, Bernard Patry]

That's what I just said. Mr. Comartin would speak twice because we're proceeding by political party, not by persons.

[Mauril Bélanger, Liberal, Ottawa—Vanier, ON]

Mr. Chairman, that goes against what Mr. Moore said.

[The Chair, Liberal, Bernard Patry]

It worked very well during the study of Bill C-35. As Mr. Ménard mentioned, the member may be alone, or say that his or her colleague does not wish to speak. It's the political party that chooses its critic. We usually try to give all members the opportunity to ask questions. That's what I've always said.

[Réal Ménard, Bloc, Hochelaga, QC]

That's why you have our respect and friendship.

[The Chair, Liberal, Bernard Patry]

Thank you.

We will vote on all these routine motions, including item 10 as amended by Madame Jennings.

(Motions 1 to 9 inclusive agreed to)

(Motion 10 as amended agreed to)

(Motion 11 agreed to)

We will continue.

You've all received the documents sent by the clerk?

At the first meeting, we'll hear the first witness on Bill C-27, the Minister of Justice.

Mr. Moore, does anyone have comments? Will the first witness be the Minister of Justice?

[Rob Moore, Conservative, Fundy Royal, NB]

That sounds good. Of course, there would be some departmental staff there.

[The Chair, Liberal, Bernard Patry]

There would be departmental staff there, yes.

Go ahead, Mr. Comartin.