Environment Committee on Feb. 3rd, 2009

[The Chair, Conservative, James Bezan]

We have to finish off the first motion we're on before we get to this motion.

[Linda Duncan, NDP, Edmonton Strathcona, AB]

But it's different from the first time it was presented.

[The Chair, Conservative, James Bezan]

No, that's the second motion.

[Linda Duncan, NDP, Edmonton Strathcona, AB]

Okay, that's the second motion.

[The Chair, Conservative, James Bezan]

Before we vote on the motion as seven and five.

[Linda Duncan, NDP, Edmonton Strathcona, AB]

I'm not going to agree to reducing my time if the second round excludes me. That would be absurd.

[The Chair, Conservative, James Bezan]

Essentially what they're saying is that the first round is a seven-minute round, then there's a five-minute round, which is the rest of the members, and then a third round would be back to the first round with the same rotation, but at five minutes.

Mr. Watson.

[Jeff Watson, Conservative, Essex, ON]

Briefly, we're speaking to the seven minutes? Okay. I've had this experience with the transport committee, in my other committee duties. We found, with the really collegial atmosphere, that the seven-minute rounds actually produced a third round of questions, which then offered an additional question to the New Democrats. That's been the practice, and I've been on that committee for over a year. I think that efficiency of lowering the time limit to seven got far more questions on the floor. I'm in support of the amendment.

[The Chair, Conservative, James Bezan]

That's been my experience on the agriculture committee as well. With the seven and five we always get to a third round, and then all parties get one more question at the end on the third round.

Monsieur Bigras.

[Bernard Bigras, Bloc, Rosemont—La Petite-Patrie, QC]

Even if we cut the time allocation in the first round, I doubt we will get to a third round. Perhaps the clerk could guide us. I think that the third round will prove increasingly difficult. Even if we reduce the time allocation during the first round from ten to seven minutes, I doubt that we will get through a full third round. So we should look at the time that will be granted.

[The Chair, Conservative, James Bezan]

Another way we can manage this—and it's my suggestion as chair and I did it at the agriculture committee—is that we never have more than four witnesses at the table at a time. Instead of taking an hour for witnesses, the most you're going to take is 30 to 40 minutes. That leaves more time for questioning and a fuller discussion.

Madam Duncan.

[Linda Duncan, NDP, Edmonton Strathcona, AB]

I understood the motion by Mr. Warawa to be similar to the official languages, which I think is fair, reasonable, and practicable. The first round per party is seven minutes; the second round per party is five minutes; and then you go to the third round for five minutes. That's what I understood was being recommended.

The recommendation that is coming forward, as I understand it now, is not fair. It is probably going to end up reducing my time, not increasing my ability—and not just mine, but I think that of all the parties.

So I think the official languages is the best compromise: seven minutes; then five minutes; and then if you have a third round, five minutes. I'd even defer to having the first questions by the Conservatives members in the third round.

[The Chair, Conservative, James Bezan]

Mr. Warawa.

[Mark Warawa, Conservative, Langley, BC]

Well, I think the timing is the first question. That's the motion that's on the floor, and then we can go into the sequence of questioning.

Is that okay?

[The Chair, Conservative, James Bezan]

Okay.

The way the motion reads on time allotment is that that the first round per party is seven minutes, and the second round for remaining members is five minutes, with a rotation between opposition and government members. That's the motion on the floor from Mr. Warawa.

Is there any further discussion?

A final comment, and then Mr. Trudeau.

Go ahead, Mark.

[Mark Warawa, Conservative, Langley, BC]

Elaborating of what you just said, Chair, the principle that nobody gets a second question until everybody has had a chance—

[The Chair, Conservative, James Bezan]

A chance to ask one.

[Bernard Bigras, Bloc, Rosemont—La Petite-Patrie, QC]

I would simply like to make a comment.

[The Chair, Conservative, James Bezan]

I have Mr. Trudeau first.

Mr. Trudeau.

[Justin Trudeau, Liberal, Papineau, QC]

Could I suggest that we map this out and actually time it and look at what it looks like? I'm new to this committee, new to any committee actually, and the numbers flying around are unclear. I would like to count the timing.

[The Chair, Conservative, James Bezan]

We can do the mapping and deal with it as a first point of business at our next full committee meeting—if that's the suggestion.

[Justin Trudeau, Liberal, Papineau, QC]

I'm just asking if we could go through it now, seven minutes for this party, seven minutes for that party, and seven minutes—

[The Chair, Conservative, James Bezan]

Okay, we'll do it really fast.

[Justin Trudeau, Liberal, Papineau, QC]

—so we could actually map it out and see what sort of time....

[The Chair, Conservative, James Bezan]

Okay, we'll do that.

Mr. Radford will just quickly map it out.

Monsieur Bigras.