Evidence of meeting #1 for Access to Information, Privacy and Ethics in the 39th Parliament, 1st Session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was move.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Tom Wappel
That's the motion, yes.
If there are no amendments to the motion, the motion is as Mr. Tilson moved it with the friendly suggestion.
I will call the question.
(Motion agreed to)
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Tom Wappel
Now we go to the witness statement motion. Ten minutes? Again, there is no hard and fast rule there. That was what the committee did last time. Ten minutes is for opening remarks.
Who would like to move that?
Liberal
Pat Martin NDP Winnipeg Centre, MB
Mr. Chair, the only thing I would like to know is whether there is any limit for witnesses. Are you interested in having a limit for one group of witnesses? If you're contemplating two-hour meetings, do we want to set some kind of outside limit? One group of witnesses shall be entertained for no longer than one hour, unless there's a motion to add to it.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Tom Wappel
I think, Mr. Martin, that's probably best done on an ad hoc basis as we know which witnesses are coming, and either in full committee or in the steering committee we can make a recommendation. I agree with you. If we have 10 minutes apiece and 12 witnesses, we'll have no questions. So that could be done, depending on the subject matter and how many witnesses we schedule.
My practice would be to not over-schedule witnesses, so members would have an opportunity to ask the appropriate number of questions. I would suggest that we not try to get that specific in this general motion. This motion is just to deal with opening remarks by the witnesses.
Any other questions? All in favour of the motion?
(Motion agreed to)
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Tom Wappel
Thank you.
Any questions?
(Motion agreed to [See Minutes of Proceedings])
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Tom Wappel
The next item is distribution of documents. Who would move that, please?
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Tom Wappel
Mr. Zed, thank you.
Any discussion?
(Motion agreed to [See Minutes of Proceedings])
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Tom Wappel
The next item is notices of motion. This is in case anyone wants to bring a notice of motion. Please be aware that in the last committee, members needed to give 48 hours' formal notice to bring a notice of motion before the committee, and that's what is here.
Mr. Martin, do you have a question? We don't have a motion for this.
NDP
Pat Martin NDP Winnipeg Centre, MB
If I could speak to this, I would like to recommend that the 48-hour notice be dropped to 24 hours. This is my preference. It varies from committee to committee, but if you have something really compelling that you want to bring to the committee--say you meet on Tuesdays and Thursdays, and on Wednesday you have something really earth-shattering that you want dealt with, it really can't be dealt with until the following Tuesday, with the 48-hour rule.
So I prefer 24 hours, and I would like to move that it be the rule for this committee.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Tom Wappel
Before we go to Mr. Kenney, I'll ask our clerk to comment on what you just said, Mr. Martin.
The Clerk
Normally, Mr. Martin, if you were to give us a notice of motion on Tuesday afternoon it would appear on Thursday's agenda. We don't literally say it has to be 48 hours. It's basically two overnights, or two sleeps.
It is just like in the House. Since the committee meets every other day, on Tuesdays and Thursdays, there's never a problem with that.
NDP
Pat Martin NDP Winnipeg Centre, MB
Well, Mr. Clerk, the example I used was Wednesday. If your thought or vision, as it were, came to you on Wednesday, it's frustrating to have to wait for the whole weekend to pass. The next Tuesday is the first time you can raise it in the committee.
Some committees do have 24 hours.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Tom Wappel
Mr. Martin, you've formally moved that notice of motion with the substitution of 24 hours for 48 hours. Is that correct?
Conservative
Jason Kenney Conservative Calgary Southeast, AB
As a point of information, am I correct in understanding that by order of the House, this committee cannot sit when the special legislative committee on Bill C-2 is sitting?
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Tom Wappel
Mr. Kenney, we're in the midst of a motion on notices of motion. I'd be happy to deal with that question--
Conservative
Jason Kenney Conservative Calgary Southeast, AB
Sorry, I meant to ask that when this matter is dispensed with.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Tom Wappel
Okay. I'll keep that in mind.
There is a motion before us that's exactly as written in front of you, except 48 hours is changed to 24 hours.
Yes, sir.
Conservative
Mike Wallace Conservative Burlington, ON
Are there any issues from the clerk's perspective on translation if it's a 24-hour turnaround?
