Evidence of meeting #1 for Finance in the 42nd Parliament, 1st Session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was witnesses.
A recording is available from Parliament.
The Clerk of the Committee Ms. Suzie Cadieux
Honourable members of the committee, I see a quorum. I must inform members that the clerk of the committee can only receive motions for the election of the chair. The clerk cannot receive other types of motions, cannot entertain points of order, nor participate in debate.
We can now proceed to the election of the chair.
Pursuant to Standing Order 106(2), the chair must be a member of the government party.
I am ready to receive motions for the chair.
Mr. MacKinnon.
Liberal
Steven MacKinnon Liberal Gatineau, QC
I nominate the Honourable Wayne Easter, member for Malpeque, as chair of the Standing Committee on Finance.
The Clerk
It has been moved by Mr. MacKinnon that Mr. Easter be elected as chair of the committee.
Are there any further motions?
(Motion agreed to)
The Clerk
I declare the motion carried, and Mr. Wayne Easter duly elected chair of the committee.
Liberal
The Clerk
I'm now prepared to receive motions for the first vice-chair, who must be a member of the official opposition.
The Clerk
It has been moved by Lisa Raitt that Mr. Ron Liepert be elected first vice-chair of the committee.
Are there any further motions?
(Motion agreed to)
The Clerk
I declare the motion carried and Ron Liepert duly elected first vice-chair of the committee.
The Clerk
Pursuant to Standing Order 106(2), the second vice-chair must be a member of an opposition party other than the official opposition.
I am now prepared to receive a motion for the second vice-chair.
Mr. Ouellette, you may go ahead.
Liberal
Robert-Falcon Ouellette Liberal Winnipeg Centre, MB
I would like to nominate Guy Caron as second vice-chair of the committee.
The Clerk
It has been moved by Monsieur Ouellette that Monsieur Caron be elected as second vice-chair of the committee.
(Motion agreed to)
The Clerk
I declare the motion carried and Guy Caron duly elected second vice-chair of the committee.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Wayne Easter
The analyst is handing out copies of the routine motions. We'll go through them one by one. We'll discuss and debate them and come to a decision.
I'll begin by saying thank you for your support. We have a lot of work ahead of us as a finance committee. Hopefully we can get along relatively well most of the time, but being politics, there will be some give and throw. There's no doubt about that.
I will tell you where I come from, as chair. We do recognize that the government has an agenda. They have laid out their action plan. They have a responsibility to carry out that agenda based on the election that was just held. As members of Parliament, from all parties, who are not members of the executive council, we have a responsibility too. It's somewhat different from that of the executive council. We have a responsibility to improve legislation where possible; to make proposals; and to not be afraid, regardless of where we sit, to challenge the government to improve legislation.
I hope we can do what is best as a committee for all Canadians, given where we come from. We come from a lot of different backgrounds. There's a lot of experience in many different walks of life on this committee. I think that's all to the better for Canadians.
That's where I come from, as chair. We'll try to be as neutral as possible and not get into too many arguments with Phil.
We'll turn now to routine motions. The first one is entitled “Service of Analysts from the Library of Parliament”. Do you want me to read that, or can somebody move it?
Steven so moves:
That the Committee retain the services of one or more analysts from the Library of Parliament, as needed, to assist the Committee in its work, at the discretion of the Chair.
(Motion agreed to)
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Wayne Easter
The next is “Reduced Quorum”:
That the Chair be authorized to hold meetings to receive and publish evidence when a quorum is not present, provided that at least three (3) members are present, and provided that one (1) is from government and one (1) is from opposition.
To the new committee members, these are the routine motions of the previous committee. You have the right to amend them as you see fit. We'll get into a discussion and make a decision as a committee if amendments come forward.
Mr. McColeman so moves this motion.
(Motion agreed to)
Next is “Distribution of Documents”:
That only the Clerk of the Committee be authorized to distribute documents to the members of the Committee and only when the documents exist in both official languages, and that the Clerk notify all witnesses of this requirement in advance.
That is moved by Mr. MacKinnon.
(Motion agreed to)
“Working Meals” is the next one:
That the Clerk of the Committee be authorized to make the necessary arrangements to provide for working meals for the Committee and its subcommittees.
That is moved by Mr. Sorbara.
The members who have been here will know how wonderful those meals are. The sandwiches are good.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Wayne Easter
The next motion is entitled “Witnesses' Expenses”:
That, if requested, reasonable travel, accommodation and living expenses be reimbursed to witnesses not exceeding two (2) representatives per organization; and that, in exceptional circumstances, payment for more representatives be at the discretion of the Chair.
Is there a mover?
