Evidence of meeting #1 for Finance in the 40th Parliament, 2nd Session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was chair.
A recording is available from Parliament.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative James Rajotte
Okay. The clerk will make that change.
The motion will read “jusqu'à 10 minutes“.
All in favour, then, on when a witness appears? Well, we've voted on that.
Now we'll discuss when a minister appears, such as the Minister of Finance or others.
We'll have Mr. McKay.
Liberal
John McKay Liberal Scarborough—Guildwood, ON
Chair, I'd like to propose that in round three, after the NDP has had seven minutes, that we immediately move to the second round. The rationale for that is that the minister has 15 minutes for the presentation, which is usually the government's agenda, and I've noticed that it frequently exceeds 15 minutes. That effectively means that if you add the Conservative's seven minutes to the government's 15 minutes, they essentially, in the first round, get equal time, not that I've noticed any fluffball questions coming from the Conservative side of the equation.
Essentially, the government gets more time to present its side of the issue in the first round, and by the time the first round is over, the whole thing is over, because the minister generally appears for about an hour. My view of it is that when a minister appears, the weighting should go to the opposition rather than to the government side of the equation. So I'd propose a very simple amendment that we immediately go to the second round after the NDP has had its seven minutes.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative James Rajotte
Mr. McKay is proposing that the fourth questioner be eliminated entirely and we just go to the second round.
I have Mr. Mulcair, Mr. Wallace, and Mr. Kramp.
NDP
Thomas Mulcair NDP Outremont, QC
While I'd like to thank Mr. McKay for his concern, I have to say, with all due respect, that his comments show a profound lack of awareness of the difference between the executive and legislative branches of government.
In this forum, as lawmakers, we are all equal. We must all have an opportunity to put questions to the government, and that applies to those of us who are members of the same political party. In my view, it would be a mistake, in so far as our parliamentary institutions are concerned, not to give MPs, regardless of their political affiliation, equal time during the first round. Even though my party stands to benefit from this proposal, I think it would be wrong for this institution.
Conservative
Daryl Kramp Conservative Prince Edward—Hastings, ON
There's no repetition necessary. That was my point.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative James Rajotte
Thank you.
If there's nothing further on that, we'll vote first on the amendment by Mr. McKay to remove the Conservative member of Parliament from the first round.
(Amendment negatived)
That's defeated.
Next, “when a minister appears...”, unamended, as written?
(Motion agreed to)
Conservative
Liberal
John McCallum Liberal Markham—Unionville, ON
Someone mentioned that the minister sometimes exceeds his limit. Is it not usually the case that we have rules? When we have a rule, it should be obeyed. If a minister does come before us, can I ask you as the incoming chair whether you intend to require that the rules be followed?
Conservative
The Chair Conservative James Rajotte
My understanding, as this is written, is that any minister will have a maximum of 15 minutes. As the chair, I will have to hold the minister to that.
Liberal
Massimo Pacetti Liberal Saint-Léonard—Saint-Michel, QC
I think we just ran into a problem before, when we had the 15 minutes. We had a minister come in and speak for 30 minutes in a one-hour appearance. He came 10 minutes late. I think that was a problem.
I would like to propose an additional motion, maybe an informal motion: that due to the importance of the finance committee, it be given priority in being in one of the two main committee rooms, this one or the one across the hall, and that it be televised as much as possible. I can put that in a motion. I'm not sure, but I know we have put this in the past. Could we put that somewhere?
Liberal
Massimo Pacetti Liberal Saint-Léonard—Saint-Michel, QC
That's right. I get so much TV time, I have to rely on this committee for it.
Conservative
Mike Wallace Conservative Burlington, ON
I just have a question for the clerk. I don't care where we meet. I don't mind the concept of having it televised. Are there not other committee rooms that have the ability to televise meetings?
Conservative
Mike Wallace Conservative Burlington, ON
In the West Block, but not in the meeting room across from where we were before, for example?
Conservative
The Chair Conservative James Rajotte
I think all members would concur and I think we can strongly express that to the clerk and to the whips. You can tell all your whips that you want to be here.
Mr. Menzies.