Go ahead, Ms. Romanado.
Evidence of meeting #1 for Electoral Reform in the 42nd Parliament, 1st Session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was chair.
A recording is available from Parliament.
Evidence of meeting #1 for Electoral Reform in the 42nd Parliament, 1st Session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was chair.
A recording is available from Parliament.
2:50 p.m.
Liberal
Sherry Romanado Liberal Longueuil—Charles-LeMoyne, QC
Could you clarify? Are you saying Tuesday morning would be the steering committee, and then there would be meetings on Wednesday and Thursday, and we would finish early enough on Thursday so folks could go back?
2:50 p.m.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Francis Scarpaleggia
Then we would just keep going. I think the idea is to be out of here Thursday, if possible.
2:50 p.m.
A voice
There's the steering committee.
2:50 p.m.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Francis Scarpaleggia
Yes, there's the steering committee, but we could invite the analysts for Tuesday afternoon. We could invite Mr. Kingsley for Wednesday morning. I don't know what....
2:55 p.m.
Green
Elizabeth May Green Saanich—Gulf Islands, BC
Scott Reid is right that we're going way off the motion that's on the floor, but I like thinking outside the box for a moment.
Is there any chance that the steering committee could meet this week, perhaps tomorrow or the day after? I'm just wondering if that's a possibility for people. Again, even if we meet Thursday morning early as a committee, I will have to cancel my participation in the opening of Canada Day in my riding. It's okay, and I will do it, but British Columbia is a lot farther away than you think. It takes a while.
2:55 p.m.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Francis Scarpaleggia
At the risk of overstepping bounds here, based on what I've heard, we could get started Tuesday morning and be out of here—except for Mr. Obama's speech—on Wednesday. People could catch their flights Thursday, and we'd still get a lot of work done.
The way we could proceed—though the committee will decide, of course—is that Ms. Romanado could withdraw her specific motion, and somebody could present something along the lines of what we seem to be gathering consensus on, and then we could get on with it.
2:55 p.m.
NDP
Nathan Cullen NDP Skeena—Bulkley Valley, BC
Perhaps before I propose what you have suggested, Chair, Ms. Romanado will withdraw the motion so I can do that.
2:55 p.m.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Francis Scarpaleggia
Do I understand that if Ms. Romanado withdraws her motion, you want to present something?
2:55 p.m.
Liberal
Sherry Romanado Liberal Longueuil—Charles-LeMoyne, QC
I'm happy to withdraw it, as long as we have a motion. The earliest that I could meet is next Tuesday. My apologies, but....
2:55 p.m.
NDP
Nathan Cullen NDP Skeena—Bulkley Valley, BC
I don't know how to put this in proper legalese, but I would move that committee members submit their witness lists by this Thursday, the end of the week. Is that fair for committee members?
This is the initial tranche of expert witnesses. Let's say it's by this Friday, to give the analysts at least enough time to have that first look at the witness lists. The steering committee will meet Tuesday at 10 a.m., with the hope that the first full committee meeting will be Wednesday—
2:55 p.m.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Francis Scarpaleggia
We would meet Tuesday afternoon with the analysts and the committees directorate. It would be a three-hour meeting.
2:55 p.m.
Liberal
Sherry Romanado Liberal Longueuil—Charles-LeMoyne, QC
Could we make the deadline Thursday, since Friday is a holiday in Quebec?
2:55 p.m.
Conservative
Scott Reid Conservative Lanark—Frontenac—Kingston, ON
On a point of order, what was the point Mrs. Romanado was making? It sounds excellent, but I didn't catch it until it was done.
2:55 p.m.
Liberal
2:55 p.m.
Conservative
2:55 p.m.
An hon. member
Friday is Saint-Jean-Baptiste Day.
2:55 p.m.
Conservative
2:55 p.m.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Francis Scarpaleggia
Mr. Cullen, you can include this in a motion you will move in committee.
First, the preliminary lists of witnesses must be submitted by June 23. The steering committee would meet on Tuesday, June 27, at 10 a.m., and that would be followed by a second three-hour meeting of the committee—for example, from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. The next day, on Wednesday morning, we would invite Mr. Kingsley and Mr. Mayrand. Afterwards—
2:55 p.m.
NDP
Nathan Cullen NDP Skeena—Bulkley Valley, BC
What you are proposing will lead to scheduling conflicts for some of us. Would it be possible to do all of that on Wednesday for four hours and to then hold a brief committee meeting on Thursday morning?