Evidence of meeting #1 for Access to Information, Privacy and Ethics in the 40th Parliament, 2nd session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was amendment.
A recording is available from Parliament.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Paul Szabo
Now that we've legitimized the resources that make us look good in this committee, the second item is with regard to the subcommittee on agenda and procedure, which is basically our steering committee. We have used that from time to time, although the committee last time also thought that engaging all members on certain things....
I would entertain a motion with regard to the second item on the subcommittee on agenda and procedure.
Mr. Dechert.
February 4th, 2009 / 3:45 p.m.
Conservative
Bob Dechert Conservative Mississauga—Erindale, ON
Mr. Chairman, I'd like to propose that the subcommittee on agenda and procedure be composed of four members, one member from each of the political parties.
Secondly, I would propose that the quorum of the subcommittee shall consist of at least three members, one of whom must be from the government and one member of the opposition.
Thirdly, I propose that each member of the subcommittee shall be permitted to have one assistant attend at any meetings of the subcommittee on agenda and procedure.
I think the first part is consistent with what was done previously, and the second two paragraphs simply add the statement about quorum and a member of the staff of each member being present.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Paul Szabo
We don't have that before us, and before I call for any bid, I want members to.... Do we have that written down somewhere?
I would refer members to the minutes of the meeting of the last Parliament. The motion is as on the legal-sized sheets that were distributed to you. It basically says the chair, two vice-chairs, and the other party who is not holding one of those three positions, period. As I recall, the reason for this is that the subcommittee on agenda and procedure itself cannot make any decisions. It simply is there to discuss and refer to the full committee, because it's the committee that has to determine such things.
I'll leave it at that; the chair shouldn't be driving the debate here. But I'd ask Mr. Dechert if he could explain the rationale for making the additional conditions with regard to quorum with any four members. Is that the intent?
Conservative
Bob Dechert Conservative Mississauga—Erindale, ON
No, I don't believe that is the intent. The intent is simply to deal with quorum and with each committee member who's there having a staff member present. I don't think that it matters whether they're the vice-chairs or any other member of the committee.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Paul Szabo
If that's the case, then I believe that what has been put on the standard does cover it. There are four persons, one from each party. It has been our practice in the past that an assistant be permitted to attend, and I think it's always helpful for members to have that resource available.
So the only other issue, I think, in regard to what we have is that of quorum. We were silent last time around. I'm sure that you, being a lawyer, picked up very quickly that we were silent on what constitutes quorum. I suspect that, in view of the fact that there is no decision-making authority,....
Would you care to speak to the middle paragraph, on quorum?
Conservative
Bob Dechert Conservative Mississauga—Erindale, ON
Simply put, since you're setting agendas for meetings, we think there should be a minimum standard for quorum to make sure that all parties are properly represented there.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Paul Szabo
I can tell you that I don't think we ever had a steering committee meeting without all the parties being represented. It's extremely important to have the input from all, so—
Conservative
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Paul Szabo
Yes. That certainly would be the intent.
Are there others who would care to speak with regard to the quorum?
Madame Freeman.
Bloc
Carole Freeman Bloc Châteauguay—Saint-Constant, QC
That is how it was before. So I see no reason at all to add the quorum item. It is the same in other committees.
NDP
Bill Siksay NDP Burnaby—Douglas, BC
Chair, I wonder if you could just read it one more time. It has been a while since I heard it. I have a comment on it as well.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Paul Szabo
Okay.
It is proposed that the subcommittee on agenda and procedure be composed of four members, one member from each of the political parties; that quorum of the subcommittee shall consist of at least three members, one of whom must be from the government and one member of the opposition; and that each member of the subcommittee shall be permitted to have one assistant attend at any meetings of the subcommittee on agenda and procedure.
NDP
Bill Siksay NDP Burnaby—Douglas, BC
Chair, I would support the standard motion that's presented on the long sheet here, with perhaps the addition about assistants.
I'm not comfortable with the designation of specific members from each political party or the requirement for a quorum. It seems to me that should one of the designated parties decide not to attend the meeting, the meeting couldn't go ahead. As I think you very clearly pointed out, steering committees don't have any power. Any decision made there has to be brought to the full committee and discussed and ratified at that committee. So I don't think there's an issue here of needing more limitations on that committee. I think the standard motions have served us well, and I couldn't support a motion that included those things.
If you want me to do a formal amendment, I can propose that we do that.
Liberal
Conservative
Russ Hiebert Conservative South Surrey—White Rock—Cloverdale, BC
Thank you, Mr. Chair.
I actually think it might be helpful for this committee to have the amendment, if for no other reason than to make it possible for other members to represent their party at a subcommittee meeting. The current motion reads that the vice-chairs be the ones who participate. If, for example, you or one of the vice-chairs was simply unavailable at a given time, I think it would be almost necessary to have a representative from that particular party participate in the subcommittee meeting, and there would be no loss to the value of the meeting. But to hold that subcommittee hostage because one person is simply not available I think is unnecessary.
Bloc
Carole Freeman Bloc Châteauguay—Saint-Constant, QC
Normally, if someone cannot attend, you send another member of the party. There has never been a problem with that working.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Paul Szabo
I do agree with you that we seem to have been able to conduct our business in our steering committees. Indeed, Mr. Hiebert raises a valid point, I believe, that should he not be available but a steering committee be necessary, all of a sudden we couldn't have a meeting. As a matter of fact, what would happen is that if Mr. Hiebert, as an example, did not want us to ever have a steering committee meeting, he would just never make himself available and that would be it. But he would never do that.
It's a good technical point. The consensus I hear is that all four parties should be represented. I'm sure each party knows who they would like to have there, who specifically needs to speak on behalf of their party. The assistant issue I think is acceptable to all members. The quorum issue I don't think is necessary, because if we have four members, one from each party, everybody has an opportunity to send; there's no restriction. That may cause a little bit of difficulty, but I would think Mr. Dechert's proposed motion, excluding the quorum issue, might be a reasonable fit for the needs of the members, if that's acceptable.
I'm going to put that question. Is that acceptable?
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Paul Szabo
It would read now, instead of what you have here, which refers to chairs and two vice-chairs, that the subcommittee on agenda and procedure be composed of four members, one member from each of the political parties, and that each member of the subcommittee shall be permitted to have one assistant attend at any meetings of the subcommittee on agenda and procedure.
C'est ça.
Bloc
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Paul Szabo
Who will be the chair of the steering committee?
Normally, the chair of the main committee.
Mr. Wrzesnewskyj.