Evidence of meeting #1 for Canadian Heritage in the 41st Parliament, 2nd Session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was chair.
A recording is available from Parliament.
8:50 a.m.
The Clerk of the Committee Mrs. Emma-Leigh Boucher
Members of the committee,
I see a quorum.
I must inform members that the clerk of the committee can only receive motions for the election of the chair. The clerk cannot receive other types of motions, cannot entertain points of order, nor participate in debate.
We can now proceed to the election of the chair. Pursuant to Standing Order 106(2), the chair must be a member of the government party.
I am ready to receive motions for the chair.
Mr. Nantel, you have the floor.
8:50 a.m.
NDP
Pierre Nantel NDP Longueuil—Pierre-Boucher, QC
Thank you.
Among all our colleagues across the way, Mr. Brown would probably be the best choice.
8:50 a.m.
An hon. member
Absolutely.
8:50 a.m.
The Clerk
It has been moved by Monsieur Nantel that Mr. Brown be elected as chair of the committee.
Are there any other motions?
Is it the pleasure of the committee to adopt the motion?
(Motion agreed to)
I declare the motion carried and Mr. Brown duly elected chair of the committee.
8:50 a.m.
Some hon. members
Hear, hear!
8:50 a.m.
The Clerk
Before inviting Mr. Brown to take the chair, if the committee wishes, we will now proceed to the election of the vice-chairs.
Pursuant to Standing Order 106(2), the first vice-chair must be a member of the official opposition.
I am now prepared to receive motions for the position of first vice-chair.
Mr. Dykstra, you have the floor.
8:50 a.m.
Conservative
8:50 a.m.
The Clerk
It has been moved by Mr. Dykstra that Monsieur Nantel be elected as first vice-chair of the committee.
Are there any further motions?
Is it the pleasure of the committee to adopt the motion?
(Motion agreed to)
I declare the motion carried and Monsieur Nantel duly elected first vice-chair of the committee.
8:50 a.m.
Some hon. members
Hear, hear!
8:50 a.m.
The Clerk
Pursuant to Standing Order 106(2), the second vice-chair must be a member of an opposition party other than the official opposition.
I am now ready to receive motions for the position of second vice-chair.
8:50 a.m.
Conservative
Blake Richards Conservative Wild Rose, AB
Of the choices, there seems to be a clear choice here, and I would nominate Mr. Dion.
8:50 a.m.
The Clerk
Excellent. It has been moved by Mr. Richards that Monsieur Dion be elected as second vice-chair of the committee.
Is it the pleasure of the committee to adopt the motion?
(Motion agreed to)
I declare the motion carried and Monsieur Dion duly elected second vice-chair of the committee.
8:50 a.m.
Some hon. members
Hear, hear!
8:50 a.m.
The Clerk
I now invite Mr. Brown to take the chair.
8:50 a.m.
Conservative
The Chair (Mr. Gordon Brown (Leeds—Grenville, CPC)) Conservative Gord Brown
Good morning everyone. Thank you for your confidence in me. I look forward to working with all of you and I think we can accomplish a lot of things. As I look around the table, there are many familiar faces who have been on this committee for a number of years, so I'm sure we will continue to accomplish good things.
As Thursday is a Friday schedule, we will not have a meeting this Thursday and will have our next meeting next Tuesday morning at 8:45.
8:50 a.m.
NDP
Matthew Dubé NDP Chambly—Borduas, QC
If you are done, I would just like take this opportunity, since there is no meeting on Thursday, to move a motion right now as well. Okay?
I'd like to move the following motion:
That in the Standing Committee of Canadian Heritage, the Chair may receive a motion to move in camera only for the purpose of discussing: (a) wages, salaries and other employee benefits; (b) contracts and contract negotiations; (c) labour relations and personnel matters; (d) a draft agenda or draft report; and (e) documents or matters requiring confidentiality, such as national security. And that furthermore, that all votes taken in camera be recorded in the minutes, including which member voted which way when recorded votes are requested.
I'll just say this about the motion. I think both the government and the opposition parties have been at odds since the beginning of this Parliament, the election of May 2011, with questions of in camera meetings, and I feel it's a great opportunity to come to a consensus on them. We do recognize that there are times where it's appropriate to be in camera and I think this way we would set out clear guidelines going forward and hopefully make our committees more productive.
It is that simple. It is quite simple and I think that Canadians will appreciate this. We recognize the fact that it is sometimes important to sit in camera, but we must have provisions that state that most of our work be done in public.
I submit all of this to you, Mr. Chair, in all humility.
Thank you.
8:50 a.m.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Gord Brown
Thank you very much, Mr. Dubé. At the next meeting on this next Tuesday, we will deal with routine motions and all of the business of the committee. I think we should put that off until next Tuesday.
8:55 a.m.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Gord Brown
Great.
On that note, we'll adjourn the meeting and we'll see everyone next Tuesday.
8:55 a.m.
Liberal
Stéphane Dion Liberal Saint-Laurent—Cartierville, QC
Mr. Chair, why don't we work right now? We spent the summer not working. Well, I worked but not in the House. Now we have an opportunity to get through to Canadians that we are serious and want to work hard right away. You told us that we won't be working on Thursday, so why don't we spend today going ahead with what you want to do next Tuesday?
8:55 a.m.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Gord Brown
Monsieur Dion, we're on a Friday schedule this week. We will do that business next Tuesday.
On that note, I will adjourn the meeting.
