Information & Ethics Committee on April 1st, 2010

[Wayne Easter, Liberal, Malpeque, PE]

Mr. Chair, I call the question on the main motion.

[The Chair, Liberal, Paul Szabo]

The motion is as originally presented. Is there any further debate on the motion?

[Pierre Poilievre, Conservative, Nepean—Carleton, ON]

On a point of order, Mr. Chair.

[The Chair, Liberal, Paul Szabo]

Please state your point of order.

[Pierre Poilievre, Conservative, Nepean—Carleton, ON]

Just to clarify—

[The Chair, Liberal, Paul Szabo]

That's not a point of order.

[Pierre Poilievre, Conservative, Nepean—Carleton, ON]

It is actually a point of order.

Have the rules been altered to empower specific members of the committee to call a vote, or does that happen after the speakers' list has expired?

[The Chair, Liberal, Paul Szabo]

I recognized Mr. Easter as I had called for speakers on the motion, but in his speech he expressed the view that he would like to call the question.

That is not a motion before us. When the debate collapses, I will ask the committee whether or not they are ready to take the vote. I am not in any hurry to do anything, as long as members have something to contribute.

But, Mr. Poilievre, you are correct.

[Pierre Poilievre, Conservative, Nepean—Carleton, ON]

Thank you.

[The Chair, Liberal, Paul Szabo]

I think at this point there is a very clear disagreement among members of the committee as to whether or not staff personnel are relevant to this work. I don't think there's going to be a resolution to it. I'm in the members' hands on how we proceed.

Right now we have the motion by Mr. Easter, unamended. Is there any further debate on the motion by Mr. Easter?

Mr. Poilievre.

[Pierre Poilievre, Conservative, Nepean—Carleton, ON]

Yes, I'd like to call for a vote.

Thank you.

[The Chair, Liberal, Paul Szabo]

Should we put it to a vote? Are the members ready for the vote on the motion as presented by Mr. Easter?

[Some hon. members]

Agreed.

[The Chair, Liberal, Paul Szabo]

(Motion agreed to)

There being no direction right now, I will ask the clerk to make contact with all of the parties named in the motion to determine availability and to advise what possible dates we would have available to schedule hearings with these witnesses. The motion does indicate that the Minister of Human Resources would appear by herself. I think we will try to combine that with another scheduled meeting.

The motion also mentions a separate meeting or meetings. Since there are five people, that may be a little difficult to do in one meeting. It is not going to be possible to extend hours, but I suggest that we could find a venue where we could have a meeting that would perhaps start an hour earlier. We would go from 10 a.m. until 1 p.m. to have enough time for those five, if possible. Otherwise it may take two meetings. We will do our best to arrange that.

Colleagues, there being no further business, I wish you a happy Easter.

Go ahead, Madame Freeman.

[Carole Freeman, Bloc, Châteauguay—Saint-Constant, QC]

I want to wish everyone a Happy Easter! Enjoy the time off!

[The Chair, Liberal, Paul Szabo]

Thank you.

You started off well and you finished very well.

Merci bien. The committee is adjourned.