Environment Committee on March 12th, 2008

[Nathan Cullen, NDP, Skeena—Bulkley Valley, BC]

To be clear, we haven't talked about it.

[The Chair, Conservative, Bob Mills]

Then he will not be able to vote, and we won't have achieved an awful lot. It has to be named by the full committee, not by the steering committee. They can't make decisions. All of them must be made by the main committee.

While we have the main committee here and we haven't adjourned the meeting, if everybody agrees, we should do it. Then we don't have to bring it back and discuss it. We can't carry on with the meeting until we do this.

[Nathan Cullen, NDP, Skeena—Bulkley Valley, BC]

I'd like not to get hung up on this particular part of the conversation. I hear what you're saying in terms of the procedure. I think it's due course to hear from the other opposition parties particularly, and the government as well.

[The Chair, Conservative, Bob Mills]

Sure.

I'd like some input.

Mr. Bigras, did you have a brief comment, and then Mr. McGuinty and Mr. Warawa?

Mr. Warawa.

[Mark Warawa, Conservative, Langley, BC]

Thank you, Chair.

The norm is that the parliamentary secretary would be on the steering committee—if we have a steering committee. If anything is sent to the steering committee, the norm would be that I would be on that committee—I, or whomever the parliamentary secretary is—so that you would get the government's perspective on that, which will hopefully make the discussions at the committee more efficient.

This committee, as we've heard time and time again, has the right to be its own master. So if the motion is made today that I not be temporary but a member of the steering committee, and in the future—which could be at any time—the committee wants to change their mind, then it could be reconsidered.

[The Chair, Conservative, Bob Mills]

It has to be done by the main committee. That's the point.

[Mark Warawa, Conservative, Langley, BC]

But I would prefer that it be simple, that I'm a member of the committee.

[The Chair, Conservative, Bob Mills]

Mr. Cullen.

[Nathan Cullen, NDP, Skeena—Bulkley Valley, BC]

Perhaps, despite recent experience and better judgment, I will then move that the parliamentary secretary become a permanent member of the steering committee and that we move to look over the schedule for the next 30 to 60 days.

[The Chair, Conservative, Bob Mills]

Is there any discussion on that?

(Motion agreed to)

[Nathan Cullen, NDP, Skeena—Bulkley Valley, BC]

Then I would move that the meeting be adjourned.

[The Chair, Conservative, Bob Mills]

We'll go to a steering committee meeting.

This meeting is adjourned.