On a point of order, I don't think that's how it reads.
Evidence of meeting #2 for Canadian Heritage in the 39th Parliament, 1st Session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was motions.
Evidence of meeting #2 for Canadian Heritage in the 39th Parliament, 1st Session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was motions.
3:35 p.m.
NDP
3:35 p.m.
Conservative
3:35 p.m.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Gary Schellenberger
It says the first two questions are to the official opposition, but you're right--
3:35 p.m.
Conservative
Jim Abbott Conservative Kootenay—Columbia, BC
Followed by five minutes for the Bloc and five minutes for the New Democrats.
3:35 p.m.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Gary Schellenberger
Previously was it not one, one, and one down the line, and then to the governing party? Then we went one, one, and then to the governing party. Then we came back.
Here's what we did last time. In the first round and the last round we had Conservative, Bloc, NDP, and Liberal. The second round for five minutes was Conservative, Bloc, and Liberal. Then we went Conservative, Liberal, and NDP. Then we went Conservative and Liberal. So we'll just reverse Liberals and the Conservatives in that particular way.
I am only the chair, but it has worked quite well for us in the last couple of years. Would the way we did it previously satisfy the people around the table?
3:35 p.m.
Some hon. members
Agreed.
3:40 p.m.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Gary Schellenberger
So we'll just rewrite it to go with this.
We're all in agreement, then, to go with the format we had previously--
3:40 p.m.
Conservative
3:40 p.m.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Gary Schellenberger
That'll be rewritten.
(Motion agreed to [See Minutes of Proceedings])
Item five is on payment of witnesses' travel and living expenses: that, if requested, reasonable travel, accommodation, and living expenses be reimbursed to witnesses, not exceeding two representatives per organization; and that, in exceptional circumstances, payment for more representatives be at the discretion of the chair.
Do we have a mover for that?
3:40 p.m.
Conservative
Ed Fast Conservative Abbotsford, BC
I suppose it's appropriate if someone wants to make the motion and speak to it. I would have some problems with that because it does leave it open. All it requires is a request from any witness. It doesn't even have to be a witness who's called by us. If someone asks to speak to this committee, is accepted on the witness list, and would like to have their reasonable expenses covered, this doesn't seem to provide us with the discretion to say we don't think their testimony is really relevant enough to trigger expenses.
Do you see what I'm driving at?
3:40 p.m.
Liberal
Jean-Claude D'Amours Liberal Madawaska—Restigouche, NB
Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
When I read the motion in French, that is not what it says. the words “the witnesses who request it” mean that those who are considered as witnesses may request reimbursement, but the committee decides who the witnesses will be. If reasonable expenses are claimed by the witnesses, it is up to the committee to reimburse them, without judging the relevancy of their testimony. If they are here, it is because the committee invited them.
3:40 p.m.
Conservative
Ed Fast Conservative Abbotsford, BC
I understand that point. But say someone is accepted as a witness and twenty days later, once they've considered it's going to cost them some money to get here, they make a request and it's going to be fairly expensive, although it might still be considered reasonable. We're then obligated to make that allowance. It's somewhat vague and leaves it open to abuse.
3:40 p.m.
Liberal
Mauril Bélanger Liberal Ottawa—Vanier, ON
Mr. Chairman, my colleague is quite wrong. It is my colleague Mr. D'Amours who is right. People come here because they were accepted by the committee. From that point on, they have the status of witness and they have a right to be reimbursed for their expenses, whether they come from British Columbia or from Ottawa. The expenses of a person coming from Ottawa would be limited to their taxi fare, whereas in the case of those coming from British Columbia, the expenses could add up to much more. We cannot start discriminating between witnesses because they come from farther away and it costs more to get them here. It would be never-ending, if we made that kind of discrimination.
3:40 p.m.
NDP
Charlie Angus NDP Timmins—James Bay, ON
The standard practice for the other committees is that if witnesses have been approved and decided by us as a committee and we ask their presence, we pay for up to two from each organization that we've asked to speak, if they're coming, unless at our discretion we feel there warrants a larger representation. But in general we're not looking to have six people from an organization come. We pay for two, and that has been the standard practice.
3:45 p.m.
Bloc
Maka Kotto Bloc Saint-Lambert, QC
Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
On the one hand, I wanted to remind you that the procedure is the same one we used during the last Parliament and that we never received any reports or complaints from witnesses who might have felt wronged.
On the other hand, it is up to us to assess the witnesses we bring here. I repeat what was said earlier on. If these witnesses are considered to be valid, then we do consider them as such, and if there are expenses to cover, they will be covered, on a reasonable basis; it is clearly indicated.
3:45 p.m.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Gary Schellenberger
I would just like to expand a wee bit. I think this is standard in most of these procedures. I know it's something we've accepted in this committee since I've been here and there hasn't been a problem with it.
I would suggest a mover.
Madame Boucher.
(Motion agreed to)
3:45 p.m.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Gary Schellenberger
Motion number 6 concerns the distribution of documents with translation: that the clerk of the committee be authorized to distribute to the members of the committee documents only when they exist in both official languages.
Again, this is something that has been standard, that if there's a motion or something to be presented to this committee, it be in translation, it be in both official languages.
I would ask for a mover.
Mr. Angus.
(Motion agreed to)
3:45 p.m.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Gary Schellenberger
Motion number 7 deals with working meals: that the clerk of the committee be authorized to make the necessary arrangements to provide working meals for the committee and its subcommittees.
In the last session, I think we might have had one working meal, if even that.
It is moved by Mr. Angus.
3:45 p.m.
Conservative
Jim Abbott Conservative Kootenay—Columbia, BC
While we're talking about that, just out of curiosity, has there been a dollar budget established for all committees, and specifically this committee?