Canadian Heritage Committee on Feb. 14th, 2011

[The Chair, Conservative, Michael Chong]

Please go ahead, Mr. Pomerleau, and keep your comments brief.

[Roger Pomerleau, Bloc, Drummond, QC]

I'll do that.

I agree that the committee should hear from Mr. Pentefountas. Unfortunately, given the very nature of politics, a person appointed to a political position must expect to be questioned, because their salary is paid by the State and they must openly demonstrate that they are qualified for the job.

[The Chair, Conservative, Michael Chong]

Merci.

Monsieur Del Mastro, you have two minutes left in this meeting.

[Dean Del Mastro, Conservative, Peterborough, ON]

I don't think Mr. Pentefountas would in any way oppose coming, but if you make this a dog-and-pony show....

I assume--and I'll want some clarification from the chair on this--you will first call a vote on the amendment and then the motion as amended.

[The Chair, Conservative, Michael Chong]

No, I'm calling a vote on the motion. There is no amendment on the floor.

[Dean Del Mastro, Conservative, Peterborough, ON]

There must be an amendment, because I have two motions, neither of which reads--

[The Chair, Conservative, Michael Chong]

No. Mr. Angus read the motion into the record. Disregard your paper copies. They are not relevant. The motion was read into the record, as moved by Mr. Angus. That's the motion we're dealing with.

[Dean Del Mastro, Conservative, Peterborough, ON]

So neither one of these is the actual motion we're voting on.

[The Chair, Conservative, Michael Chong]

Those are simply notices of motion. Mr. Angus moved a different motion that he has read into the record.

[Dean Del Mastro, Conservative, Peterborough, ON]

I'm not familiar with this procedure, because in any other committee I've been to you receive a motion. A motion can be amended for a vote, and then you vote on the amendment.

[The Chair, Conservative, Michael Chong]

The procedure is simple. Members must give notices of motion for issues that are not on the agenda. Two members of this committee gave notices of motions to discuss a particular issue, which is the supposed appointment of Mr. Tom Pentefountas to the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission. That is the subject under which we are debating today, and therefore any member can move a motion in that regard.

Mr. Angus moved a motion and it is in order. So the motion as he moved it verbally, as he read it into the record, is the one we're dealing with right now.

[Dean Del Mastro, Conservative, Peterborough, ON]

The minister will be here on Wednesday, and I imagine many of the questions pertaining to what I would refer to as an amendment to Madam Lavallée's motion can be placed to him at that time. But I caution members that if this is the process and how things are going to be dealt with....

I remember us putting a pledge to bring forward a separate body to preside over appointments, but I also remember that the candidate we brought forward, who was the CEO of the year, was bounced by opposition members as a person they didn't see as qualified to staff that. So we wouldn't subject another person to another kangaroo court performance.

If this is how we are going to do these things, I think it's a sad day--a very dark time for our political process.

[The Chair, Conservative, Michael Chong]

Thank you very much.

Is there further debate?

There is further debate but the meeting is out of time, so I will reschedule additional time. I cannot call the question. You cannot collapse debate on a motion, so this debate will continue at our next meeting after the minister and departmental officials appear. I will allocate half an hour for debate on this motion, seeing that 15 minutes wasn't sufficient this time around.

This meeting is adjourned.