Information & Ethics Committee on June 16th, 2011

[The Chair, NDP, Nathan Cullen]

We're procedurally out of line, but that's all right. We can find our way.

Go ahead, Charlie.

[Charlie Angus, NDP, Timmins—James Bay, ON]

So you're saying that quorum would be four. And that would include...?

[Dean Del Mastro, Conservative, Peterborough, ON]

One member from each recognized party.

[Charlie Angus, NDP, Timmins—James Bay, ON]

Okay. So that's basically two, one, one.

[Dean Del Mastro, Conservative, Peterborough, ON]

Yes.

[Charlie Angus, NDP, Timmins—James Bay, ON]

Okay.

[A voice]

The chair counts in quorum.

[Charlie Angus, NDP, Timmins—James Bay, ON]

The chair counts. Okay.

[The Chair, NDP, Nathan Cullen]

Chad, do you mind reading out how you see that motion?

[The Clerk]

The motion would read that the chair be authorized to hold meetings to receive evidence and to have that evidence printed when a quorum is not present provided that at least four members are present, including one member from each recognized party.

[The Chair, NDP, Nathan Cullen]

Go ahead, Charlie.

[Charlie Angus, NDP, Timmins—James Bay, ON]

I think our agreement on this is that as long as we have one member from the opposition, it would be fine, as opposed to “from each recognized party”.

[The Chair, NDP, Nathan Cullen]

You're proposing one member?

We had better reread this.

Mr. Del Mastro.

[Dean Del Mastro, Conservative, Peterborough, ON]

That's fine. I was only doing it out of respect for the Liberal member, but if.... That's fine.

[The Chair, NDP, Nathan Cullen]

So Charlie...? We're moving it as originally proposed, but having “four” as the inclusion?

[A voice]

Four.

[The Chair, NDP, Nathan Cullen]

Okay.

[The Clerk]

Sorry, Mr. Chair, but just so I'm clear on the wording, it would be “provided that at least four members are present, including one member of the official opposition”. Is that it?

[A voice]

Of the opposition.

[The Clerk]

One member of the opposition? Okay. Great.

[The Chair, NDP, Nathan Cullen]

Okay. Does everybody understand what's in front of us?

Mr. Casey, are you okay with that?

[Sean Casey, Liberal, Charlottetown, PE]

Yes. My concern would be that not having Scott here would hold up your business, so I think that makes perfect sense.

[The Chair, NDP, Nathan Cullen]

Right.

Mr. Hiebert, did you want to throw something in?

[Russ Hiebert, Conservative, South Surrey—White Rock—Cloverdale, BC]

Would that not allow one party to be present and have quorum?

[The Chair, NDP, Nathan Cullen]

Not as I read this, no.