Evidence of meeting #1 for Canadian Heritage in the 41st Parliament, 1st Session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was angus.
A recording is available from Parliament.
Conservative
Paul Calandra Conservative Oak Ridges—Markham, ON
Given the opportunity, you might cede your time to someone else.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Rob Moore
Is it the will of the committee to adopt the motion as put forward by Mr. Calandra?
Mr. Angus.
NDP
Charlie Angus NDP Timmins—James Bay, ON
Just to be clear, we're going to go Conservative, NDP, Liberal, Conservative, seven minutes, and then opposition, government in subsequent rounds of five minutes.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Rob Moore
Just to be clear, there's no distinction on NDP or Liberal opposition. You will work it out? Okay.
Mr. Allison.
Conservative
Dean Allison Conservative Niagara West—Glanbrook, ON
Sorry to be a pain in the butt, but in regard to starting the second round with the opposition, if we go opposition, government, we're still going to be short a member at the end. It's going to end up with another opposition before our members have had a chance to go once. I state that for the record. The committee can do what they want to do, but if we go with that rotation we'll end up with another opposition going before all our members have had a chance to speak.
Conservative
Conservative
Jim Hillyer Conservative Lethbridge, AB
Maybe to get around that problem we would just go and start opposition, government, opposition, government and when we get to the point where it would be someone speaking twice we go government-government.
Conservative
Liberal
Scott Simms Liberal Bonavista—Gander—Grand Falls—Windsor, NL
Just to speak to that, I think we've been in situations, even in a minority--and Charlie, you would agree--where there were times when we've actually done that. We've just said the rules state it's opposition-government but if there is somebody who needs a question, like, Mr. Hillyer, if you want to ask a question and it's back to opposition and I go again I'm certainly willing to give you an opportunity. We've done that on many occasions. I think in good faith we can work our way through it.
NDP
Charlie Angus NDP Timmins—James Bay, ON
I think we really can't start micromanaging. There are many committees we're on where one member will ask questions three times in a row because it's their file. So if we went to the position that until everyone gets to speak then we as opposition would say we're sorry, but the parliamentary secretary already spoke in the first round of questions, so he doesn't get the second round. That wouldn't be seen as fair. You have your rounds and you can divide them up the way you want. You have the extra seven minutes and you could have a four-minute and a three-minute if you wanted to.
So it's within the parties to decide who speaks, because there will be times when someone is going to be the lead on an issue and they're going to ask a series of questions. I think we have a good motion. We're pretty much there. I think we should vote on it.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Rob Moore
Okay.
Are you clear enough on the motion?
(Motion agreed to) [See Minutes of Proceedings]
Next on the list is document distribution: that only the clerk of the committee be authorized to distribute to the members of the committee and only when the documents are available in both official languages, and that witnesses be advised accordingly.
Is there any discussion on that motion?
Mr. Angus.
NDP
Charlie Angus NDP Timmins—James Bay, ON
We've always had a very clear rule that if a witness brings something that's not in both official languages, it cannot be distributed. They are told in advance. It can be translated. If they want to give it to us, it's translated, and we get it later, but it's not distributed at the table. We would be very strong about this.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Rob Moore
Is there any further discussion?
(Motion agreed to)
The next motion is on 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.
(Motion agreed to)
The next motion is on travel, accommodation, and living expenses of witnesses: 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 made at the discretion of the chair.
(Motion agreed to)
Next is access to in camera meetings: that unless otherwise ordered, each committee member be allowed to have one staff member present from their office and from their party at in camera meetings.
Mr. Calandra.
Conservative
Paul Calandra Conservative Oak Ridges—Markham, ON
Would that include a staff person from a House officer?
Conservative
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Rob Moore
Is there any further discussion?
(Motion agreed to) [See Minutes of Proceedings]
Next is the motion on transcripts of in camera meetings: that one copy of the transcript of each in camera meeting be kept in the committee clerk’s office for consultation by members of the committee or by their staff.
Mr. Angus.
NDP
Charlie Angus NDP Timmins—James Bay, ON
I'm not going to contradict this. I always think, though, that perhaps this might be the one time to remind all our committee members of the absolute importance of in camera. An in camera meeting is in camera. It's very easy to walk out of here and be talking and maybe say what happened, because sometimes things are very political in camera. It's not necessarily something that people do because they want to undermine the work of the committee, but it really damages the ability of this committee to work if people take what happens in camera and say any of that outside.
So I just want to remind people of the importance here, that what's considered in camera is to be discussed only with the members who were there and is never to be spoken about outside.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Rob Moore
That's good advice.
Is it the will of the committee to adopt the motion?
(Motion agreed to)
Our next motion concerns the notice of motion: that 48 hours' notice be required for any substantive motion to be considered by the committee, unless the substantive motion relates directly to business then under consideration; and that the notice of motion be filed with the clerk of the committee and distributed to members in both official languages.
Mr. Calandra.
Conservative
Paul Calandra Conservative Oak Ridges—Markham, ON
I'm just going to read out a bit of a change:
That 48 hours' notice shall be required for any substantive motion to be considered by the committee; and that the motion shall be filed and distributed to members by the clerk in both official languages. Completed motions that are received by close of business shall be distributed to members the same day.
Conservative
NDP