Finance Committee on May 1st, 2006

[Massimo Pacetti, Liberal, Saint-Léonard—Saint-Michel, QC]

I have in writing at the office what we had agreed on.

There is another point as well, and I think, Judy, you brought this up. When the ministers are here from the government, the Conservatives actually drop off and move down so that the opposition members have more of a chance. That was never formally done, but it was accepted by the committee members.

So on the first round the Conservatives would go, but we try to put in an extra round of questioning for the opposition members.

[The Chair, Conservative, Brian Pallister]

If you'd like to come forward with a suggestion on that, Mr. Pacetti, at a subsequent meeting--

[Massimo Pacetti, Liberal, Saint-Léonard—Saint-Michel, QC]

I can provide you with copies of what I have drawn up. We approved it at our second meeting, not at our first meeting. I didn't bring it with me. I have the two, when the ministers come and when the ministers don't appear.

A lot of times, though, if you add them up, even five minutes, you're going to be way over an hour, and depending on who we're going to have here, it's not going to be enough time.

[The Chair, Conservative, Brian Pallister]

Mr. Pacetti, as to your suggestion regarding a revised order when a minister attends, I'm sure the committee would be willing to deal with that at a subsequent meeting. I believe our clerk can provide us all with copies of that proposal.

Let's finish with the motion from Madam Ablonczy. Are we in agreement?

[Diane Ablonczy, Conservative, Calgary Nose Hill, AB]

I agree to those additions.

[The Chair, Conservative, Brian Pallister]

All right.

Does there need to be any further discussion on the order, as we have dealt with it here? Very good. Seeing as there is support for that, we'll proceed with that order.

Now, what other subsequent business do we have?

[Diane Ablonczy, Conservative, Calgary Nose Hill, AB]

Do we need a vote on that, Mr. Chairman?

[The Chair, Conservative, Brian Pallister]

I think we had consensus on that, but if you like, we can have a vote.

[Diane Ablonczy, Conservative, Calgary Nose Hill, AB]

No.

[The Chair, Conservative, Brian Pallister]

Yes, Mr. Pacetti?

[Massimo Pacetti, Liberal, Saint-Léonard—Saint-Michel, QC]

Before we go, another point of order is whether we need a resolution for any documentation or testimony that was presented in the prior Parliament. Or is that going to be—

[The Chair, Conservative, Brian Pallister]

We can discuss that at our next business meeting. Very good.

Mr. Loubier, go ahead, please.

[Yvan Loubier, Bloc, Saint-Hyacinthe—Bagot, QC]

Mr. Chairman, we also need to table a motion requesting that briefs and documents tabled with the Standing Committee on Official Languages be in both official languages. If you wish, I could be responsible for that motion and give it to you in writing at the next meeting.

[The Chair, Conservative, Brian Pallister]

Mr. Loubier, I believe we have dealt with this one under distribution of documents in our previous routine motions. So the issue of both official languages that you've just raised is agreed to.

[Yvan Loubier, Bloc, Saint-Hyacinthe—Bagot, QC]

Very well. That one had slipped my mind, Mr. Chairman.

[The Chair, Conservative, Brian Pallister]

Mr. Dykstra, go ahead, please.

[Rick Dykstra, Conservative, St. Catharines, ON]

Thank you, Mr. Chair.

I just wanted to introduce the following two motions to be added to the routine motions of the Standing Committee on Finance.

[The Chair, Conservative, Brian Pallister]

Mr. Dykstra, you would require unanimous consent from committee members to proceed with these.

[Rick Dykstra, Conservative, St. Catharines, ON]

Then I would ask for unanimous consent to proceed.

[The Chair, Conservative, Brian Pallister]

Mr. Dykstra, would you like to quickly outline what these motions entail, without reading the motions, just to give an idea of whether you'll get consensus or not here, or approval?

[Rick Dykstra, Conservative, St. Catharines, ON]

What I'm looking for is that whenever main estimates or supplementary estimates are tabled in the House, the committee invite the minister or relevant senior officials of the department to appear, and second, that whenever a chapter of a report of the Auditor General refers to a subject, that the Auditor General or senior officials be given the opportunity to appear at the meeting.

[The Chair, Conservative, Brian Pallister]

Is there consensus here? Will we give leave to Mr. Dykstra?

Yes, Mr. McKay? Do you have a question?

[John McKay, Liberal, Scarborough—Guildwood, ON]

I'm not clear on what the point of the motions is, because the committee is master of its own proceedings. I would have thought that if there was a tabling of anything, the committee—

[The Chair, Conservative, Brian Pallister]

Prior to entering into discussion on this, I'll ask again if there is leave to ignore the notice of motion prior, and then we'll get on to the discussion.

[John McKay, Liberal, Scarborough—Guildwood, ON]

There is no leave to ignore it, but I think that I'd like to hear what the reasoning is.