Fisheries Committee on Nov. 14th, 2007

[The Chair, Conservative, Fabian Manning]

Basically these are the ones we adopted in the past and I think we should run through them to make sure that everybody is satisfied with what we're doing here.

Everybody has a copy. We're going to go through each motion and if anybody has any questions or concerns, raise them, or if not, we'll adopt them at the end of the session.

On services of analysts from the Library of Parliament: that the committee retain, as needed and at the discretion of the chair, the services of one or more analysts from the Library of Parliament to assist it in its work.

I'll ask for a mover on each motion so we can follow through. Randy Kamp moved that one.

[Some hon. members]

Agreed.

[The Chair, Conservative, Fabian Manning]

On the subcommittee on agenda and procedure: that the subcommittee on agenda and procedure be established and be composed of the chair, the two vice-chairs, and a member of the other opposition party.

Mr. Kamp.

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

For what it's worth, in our last committee that motion read as it does here, with the addition of “and a member of the Conservative Party”.

[The Chair, Conservative, Fabian Manning]

Are you moving this, or just stating what was in the last...?

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

I'm telling you what we passed in May 2006. I wonder if there is a reason that we're presenting this motion, as opposed to what has been our tradition.

[The Chair, Conservative, Fabian Manning]

As a point of clarification, on May 9, 2006, we adopted a motion that the subcommittee on agenda and procedure be composed of the chair, the two vice-chairs, and a member of the other opposition party, and a member of the Conservative Party.

It was a misprint on what you have here. This is what was adopted in May.

Mr. Lévesque, go ahead.

[Yvon Lévesque, Bloc, Abitibi—Baie-James—Nunavik—Eeyou, QC]

Does adding a member of the Conservative Party mean that the chair loses the right to vote at subcommittee meetings?

[The Chair, Conservative, Fabian Manning]

Okay, let's get it straight here.

I guess you're going to have days when you're going to have a job to understand me, and I'm going to have days when I'll have a job to understand you.

All I'm getting here is French.

[Yvon Lévesque, Bloc, Abitibi—Baie-James—Nunavik—Eeyou, QC]

Are you receiving the interpretation?

[The Chair, Conservative, Fabian Manning]

Yes, I'm receiving it now. Go ahead, Mr. Lévesque.

[Yvon Lévesque, Bloc, Abitibi—Baie-James—Nunavik—Eeyou, QC]

Given the motion that is before us, I would like to know if adding a Conservative member of Parliament means that the chair loses the right to vote at subcommittee meetings?

[The Chair, Conservative, Fabian Manning]

My understanding, Mr. Lévesque, is that the chair would only vote—any time, committee or steering committee—in the case of a tie.

[Yvon Lévesque, Bloc, Abitibi—Baie-James—Nunavik—Eeyou, QC]

So by adding a member of the Conservative Party, in addition to the chair, at subcommittee meetings, you are breaking the government's minority. That is what you are doing.

[The Chair, Conservative, Fabian Manning]

We'll go to Mr. Calkins.

[Blaine Calkins, Conservative, Wetaskiwin, AB]

I understand where my colleague is coming from on this. But the chair does not get to vote unless there is a tie. If there weren't a Conservative member on the subcommittee, the Conservatives wouldn't have a vote unless there was a tie. With a four-person system, which leaves three others who would be voting, you would never have a tie, which means that the Conservatives would never get to vote in the subcommittee.

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

Hear, hear!

[Blaine Calkins, Conservative, Wetaskiwin, AB]

So based on that, I don't understand what the problem is, because there would only be one Conservative voting in the event that there is a tie.

[The Chair, Conservative, Fabian Manning]

I don't fully understand that in English, so let's go again. Okay? Can you try that one again? I'm not sure that everybody got it.

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

Mr. Chair, you don't have to vote anyway, so don't worry about it—

[The Chair, Conservative, Fabian Manning]

I'm going to read the motion again.

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

—unless there's a tie.

[The Chair, Conservative, Fabian Manning]

The chair doesn't vote unless there's a tie.

[Yvon Lévesque, Bloc, Abitibi—Baie-James—Nunavik—Eeyou, QC]

I am satisfied with the explanation. I am prepared to support the motion at it stands.

[The Chair, Conservative, Fabian Manning]

We'll just run it by you again and make sure that everybody is clear: that the subcommittee on agenda and procedure be composed of the chair, two vice-chairs, a member of the other opposition party, and a member of the Conservative Party.