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

[Dean Del Mastro, Conservative, Peterborough, ON]

Okay. That's fine. So it's six and two.

[Mike Lake, Conservative, Edmonton—Mill Woods—Beaumont, AB]

What's the regular quorum right now?

[The Chair, Conservative, Gord Brown]

Do you want to explain that, Michelle?

[The Clerk]

A committee's regular quorum is a simple majority, meaning 50% of the members plus one.

[Mike Lake, Conservative, Edmonton—Mill Woods—Beaumont, AB]

So--

[Dean Del Mastro, Conservative, Peterborough, ON]

That's what I've just proposed.

[Mike Lake, Conservative, Edmonton—Mill Woods—Beaumont, AB]

Yes, so we don't need to have a reduced quorum routine motion, do we? Let's just not--

[An hon. member]

Okay.

[The Chair, Conservative, Gord Brown]

Mr. Del Mastro, you're withdrawing that motion?

[Dean Del Mastro, Conservative, Peterborough, ON]

No, I'm not. The motion is six members present and at least two members of the opposition. That's the motion on the floor.

[The Chair, Conservative, Gord Brown]

Mr. Angus.

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

I would accept it if it says “a member from at least two opposition parties”. My concern is that I don't want to have a situation where a deal is made on the side, the meetings go ahead, and two members from one party sit in. Then that's an issue of us hijacking.... If a member from two opposition parties...I'm the only representative from the New Democrats and perhaps I'm caught in a snowstorm. I wouldn't want to hold up the meeting, but I certainly wouldn't want....

[The Chair, Conservative, Gord Brown]

Ms. Lavallée.

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

I am totally against a reduced quorum. I do not see the point of that motion. This is a legislative committee that will last a few months. We are all very motivated to attend each and every meeting. I cannot imagine that parties would not send their members to attend the meetings, especially when witnesses are present.

I am completely against any backroom deals between political parties to exclude another party. That does not make sense. Everyone must attend for there to be a quorum. That is how things work. There is no reason for there to be a reduced quorum.

[The Chair, Conservative, Gord Brown]

Mr. Rodriguez.

[Pablo Rodriguez, Liberal, Honoré-Mercier, QC]

I do not understand why this motion should be so contentious. We do not mind if there is no reduced quorum.

[The Chair, Conservative, Gord Brown]

Mr. Del Mastro.

[An hon. member]

A simple majority.

[Dean Del Mastro, Conservative, Peterborough, ON]

A simple majority? Is there agreement?

[An hon. member]

A simple majority.

[Dean Del Mastro, Conservative, Peterborough, ON]

Okay. That's fine.

[The Chair, Conservative, Gord Brown]

Okay. So there's no motion on reduced quorum.

Moving along to number 7: “Staff at in camera meetings”. That was one issue. Do we have a motion?

Mr. Del Mastro.

[Dean Del Mastro, Conservative, Peterborough, ON]

I just move that we adopt Madame Lavallée's suggestion that a representative of each party's respective whip's office be allowed to attend.

[An hon. member]

Agreed.

[The Chair, Conservative, Gord Brown]

All right.