Bill C-32 (40th Parliament, 3rd Session) Committee on Nov. 23rd, 2010

[The Chair, Conservative, Gord Brown]

Okay. There are nine points there.

Mr. Angus.

[Charlie Angus, NDP, Timmins—James Bay, ON]

I would generally agree with my dear cousin at the other end of the table--

[Voices]

Oh, oh!

[Charlie Angus, NDP, Timmins—James Bay, ON]

--but I'm not willing to support the reduced quorum motion. I find that very problematic. If we are going to have a committee that thoroughly examines things, there has to be a sense that the public would trust that. We're going to do this as the committee and people have to show up for it. I don't like the idea that as long as three members show up, they can hold the meeting. That's not acceptable to me in a committee like this.

[The Chair, Conservative, Gord Brown]

Let me suggest that we proceed on the proposed routine motions, minus the reduced quorum and the questioning of witnesses. Then, if there is general consensus on all those points, we would go back and visit number 3 and number 9. Is there a general consensus?

Madame Lavallée.

[Carole Lavallée, Bloc, Saint-Bruno—Saint-Hubert, QC]

The seventh motion deals with the presence of staff at in camera meetings. We would have to add the words "and a member of the party" so that a member from our whips' offices can attend. That is a customary add-on in various committees, so you will easily find wording for that.

[The Chair, Conservative, Gord Brown]

All right. What I was going to say is that I mis-numbered them in terms of.... We don't have consensus on 3, or 7, or 10. Is that correct?

[A voice]

Yes.

[The Chair, Conservative, Gord Brown]

Okay. So why don't we have a motion to approve 1, 2, 4, 5, 6, 8, and 9?

[An hon. member]

I so move.

[The Chair, Conservative, Gord Brown]

Okay. That's moved by Mr. McTeague and seconded by Mr. Del Mastro.

Is there any discussion? All in favour?

(Motion agreed to [See Minutes of Proceedings])

[The Chair, Conservative, Gord Brown]

That's carried, so we'll go back to number 3, on reduced quorum. Can we have a motion to that effect?

Mr. Del Mastro.

[Dean Del Mastro, Conservative, Peterborough, ON]

Well, I don't know what number Mr. Angus would see as appropriate in this instance. That said, I won't have the committee held up because some folks can't fit it into their schedules. I would suggest if it's not three members, perhaps.... The total membership of this committee is what, 10, 11? So I'd entertain a motion at six, so that we'd greater than a half of the committee here. If folks can't fit it into their schedule, I'm not going to have the committee held hostage for that.

[The Chair, Conservative, Gord Brown]

Mr. Del Mastro, you're moving a reduced quorum of six?

[Dean Del Mastro, Conservative, Peterborough, ON]

To six.

[The Chair, Conservative, Gord Brown]

Do we have a seconder? I want to get the motion on the floor. Then we'll have comments.

[The Clerk]

We don't need a seconder.

[The Chair, Conservative, Gord Brown]

Okay.

Mr. McTeague.

[Dan McTeague, Liberal, Pickering—Scarborough East, ON]

I have a question for Mr. Del Mastro. You're suggesting that there would be six members present?

[Dean Del Mastro, Conservative, Peterborough, ON]

At least six.

[Dan McTeague, Liberal, Pickering—Scarborough East, ON]

At least? Then how do we break up in “including one member of the opposition”?

[Dean Del Mastro, Conservative, Peterborough, ON]

There would have to be at least one member from the opposition.

[Dan McTeague, Liberal, Pickering—Scarborough East, ON]

Would you not want to increase that as well?

[Dean Del Mastro, Conservative, Peterborough, ON]

Sure, if you like. I would anticipate that Conservative members would be present at all times and--

[Dan McTeague, Liberal, Pickering—Scarborough East, ON]

All right. I would suggest then that perhaps that number would at least be consistent here. If you're going to double the number, you also would double the number of members of the opposition to two.