Thank you very much, Chair, although people may not be thanking me.
Chair, what is there to say about this motion? There are so many things going on here that I just really wonder, if it wasn't for the fact that the member brought it back a second time—I take it he's reread it at least once—it seems like it was written on the back of a napkin, maybe a napkin from a Quebec convention centre or something.
There are a few things about the motion that I question, but I'd like to get to the business of clearing the decks on the standing order front. I'd like to hear from the clerk on Standing Order 108(1)(a), because my reading of that standing order is that it has to do with business that's referred to a committee from the House. In fact, let me just see, as I think I might have it handy. Standing Order 108(1)(a) has to do with “Powers of standing committees”, which is what is referred to here in this motion.
Standing committees shall be severally empowered to examine and enquire into all such matters as may be referred to them by the House—
I just don't know if we have heard from the House on this. It continues:
—to report from time to time, and except when the House otherwise orders, to send for persons, papers and records, to sit while the House is sitting, to sit during periods when the House stands adjourned, to sit jointly with other standing committees, to print from day to day such papers and evidence as may be ordered by them, and to delegate to subcommittees all or any of their powers except the power to report directly to the House.
I would like to hear from the clerk on this, because it seems to me that it's a mistake, a misprint or a typo, or maybe there's something that I'm not understanding here. I would love to be enlightened on that.