Fisheries Committee on May 9th, 2006

[Peter Stoffer, NDP, Sackville—Eastern Shore, NS]

I'm just throwing it out for discussion. I'm not married to the idea.

[The Chair, Conservative, Gerald Keddy]

There seems to be some discussion here that some committees may have done this in the past.

[The Clerk]

In the last Parliament there was a representative from the government in addition to the chair.

[The Chair, Conservative, Gerald Keddy]

So there is room for one more person from the governing party in addition to the chair.

[Peter Stoffer, NDP, Sackville—Eastern Shore, NS]

I'm trying to help you guys out over there. Pick someone. Say yes.

[James Lunney, Conservative, Nanaimo—Alberni, BC]

Mr. Chair, with all due respect, in discussion with Mr. Fabian Manning, we would suggest Mr. Cummins sit on the government side, rather than the PS--with all due respect, Randy.

[Randy Kamp, Conservative, Pitt Meadows—Maple Ridge—Mission, BC]

Well, I think there's some reasoning for that.

[An hon. member]

We didn't ask Mr. Cummins.

[An hon. member]

Would you accept that nomination, John?

[The Chair, Conservative, Gerald Keddy]

Could we simply say not “Mr. Cummins” there but “one other member of the Conservative Party”?

[Randy Kamp, Conservative, Pitt Meadows—Maple Ridge—Mission, BC]

Sure.

[The Chair, Conservative, Gerald Keddy]

All right.

Thank you, Mr. Stoffer.

I'm just going to read this motion one more time: that the subcommittee on agenda and procedure be composed of the chair, the two vice-chairs, a member of the other opposition party, and a member of the Conservative Party—that member to be Mr. Cummins.

Is that agreed?

(Motion agreed to)

[The Chair, Conservative, Gerald Keddy]

The motion on reduced quorum is that the chair be authorized to hold meetings to receive evidence and to have that evidence printed when a quorum is not present, provided that at least three members are present, including one member of the opposition.

[An hon. member]

So moved.

[The Chair, Conservative, Gerald Keddy]

Mr. Stoffer.

[Peter Stoffer, NDP, Sackville—Eastern Shore, NS]

I have a question on that. As you know, sir, the odd time we get witnesses who appear with one language only in their evidence. Does this indicate in any way that this evidence must be translated before it gets here? It doesn't say that in the quorum motion. I'm just wondering if that is standard.

[The Chair, Conservative, Gerald Keddy]

Mr. Stoffer, this is simply to hear the witnesses. It's not to receive evidence.

[Peter Stoffer, NDP, Sackville—Eastern Shore, NS]

It says here it's to have that evidence printed.

[The Chair, Conservative, Gerald Keddy]

All evidence is automatically.... “Distribution of documents” I think takes care of that.

[Gerry Byrne, Liberal, Humber—St. Barbe—Baie Verte, NL]

Mr. Chair, I think it cannot be distributed unless it's in both official languages.

[The Chair, Conservative, Gerald Keddy]

Exactly.

Do we have a mover of the motion on reduced quorum?

[James Lunney, Conservative, Nanaimo—Alberni, BC]

I so move.

(Motion agreed to)

[The Chair, Conservative, Gerald Keddy]

For distribution of documents, the motion is that the clerk of the committee be authorized to distribute to the members of the committee only documents that are available in both official languages.

[Fabian Manning, Conservative, Avalon, NL]

I so move.

(Motion agreed to)

[The Chair, Conservative, Gerald Keddy]

On working meals, the motion is that the clerk of the committee—Mr. Latimer—be authorized to make the necessary arrangements to provide working meals for the committee and its subcommittee.