Evidence of meeting #1 for Finance in the 39th Parliament, 2nd Session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was committees.
A recording is available from Parliament.
4:10 p.m.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Rob Merrifield
Does that make sense?
We have a motion on the floor for 48 hours. We'll deal with that one first.
4:10 p.m.
A voice
It wasn't moved; it was amended.
4:10 p.m.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Rob Merrifield
It wasn't moved; I accepted it as the motion, forgetting that he did one there. It doesn't matter.
On the 48 hours, all in favour please indicate.
(Motion negatived)
The floor can entertain another motion. Is that the 45?
He was first, unless he wants to change it.
4:10 p.m.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Rob Merrifield
Okay, that's for 45 hours.
(Motion negatived)
Trente-six. All in favour?
(Motion agreed to)
Next is staff attendance at in camera meetings.
Go ahead.
4:10 p.m.
Bloc
Paul Crête Bloc Montmagny—L'Islet—Kamouraska—Rivière-du-Loup, QC
I would like to change "be allowed to have one staff member" to "be allowed to have his or her staff present at an in camera meeting." Each member might need a researcher and an assistant. I do not want us to be limited to one employee per member. If there was a limit of two people per member, that would be all right.
4:15 p.m.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Rob Merrifield
Okay, we'll open the floor. He's saying that he wants not one but two motions.
For debate, go ahead, Massimo.
4:15 p.m.
Liberal
Massimo Pacetti Liberal Saint-Léonard—Saint-Michel, QC
I would have moved that there be one person per whip office or party, but not two.
4:15 p.m.
NDP
Thomas Mulcair NDP Outremont, QC
Mr. Chairman, for obvious reasons, I am going to support the Bloc's motion. If we were restricted to one person per member, the NDP would be entitled to only one person in total, when we might need a variety of skills. I support the motion for two people; that will be enough for me under any circumstance.
4:15 p.m.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Rob Merrifield
Actually it would be the same as what Massimo just said for you guys.
Are we saying two?
Does anyone want to speak to this?
Go ahead.
4:15 p.m.
Conservative
Rick Dykstra Conservative St. Catharines, ON
I understand that dilemma faced by some. One of the ways we could deal with this is to say if we each have two people in here--potentially we're going to own half the seats in the place, right? It does get a little bit onerous here. I wonder if—to solve Mr. Mulcair's issue with respect to having two folks based on the fact that it works for him—the other way to do this is to make sure that you could have staff and/or a person from the party so you can cover off a researcher. You can cover off somebody from the leader's office. That is an and/or rather than a situation in which you have two members each way.
I think 24 people in here watching us do our work—
4:15 p.m.
Bloc
Thierry St-Cyr Bloc Jeanne-Le Ber, QC
I want to be sure that I have properly understood Rick's motion. I believe that Massimo was talking about one staff person per member, plus one per party.
4:15 p.m.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Rob Merrifield
Okay, that looks like a consensus. Are we good with that? I hear that as a recommendation, and Rick, if you make that as a motion, number ten should be done.
Okay, that takes care of routine procedures.
4:15 p.m.
Liberal
Massimo Pacetti Liberal Saint-Léonard—Saint-Michel, QC
Mr. Chair, it's easy for the NDP. They'll be allowed two people, but the Conservatives and the Liberals will be allowed how many people?
4:15 p.m.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Rob Merrifield
Two, one for an individual plus one from the party. That's what you recommended—
4:15 p.m.
Liberal
4:15 p.m.
Liberal
Massimo Pacetti Liberal Saint-Léonard—Saint-Michel, QC
If I can propose an additional motion—I don't know if we need a motion as this is just part of the routine motions. I don't know if we have to write it, but we usually indicate it—seeing as the finance committee is one of the major committees on the Hill, when possible that we be able to be on camera and be televised.
4:15 p.m.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Rob Merrifield
I think that is assumed. I don't think you need it here, but anybody can request that it be on camera and assume that it's going to be.
Can we obtain a motion to go in camera?
4:15 p.m.
A voice
I so move.
4:15 p.m.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Rob Merrifield
We will break for a couple of minutes to clear the room and go in camera.
[Proceedings continue in camera]