Evidence of meeting #1 for Foreign Affairs and International Development in the 41st Parliament, 1st Session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was chair.
A recording is available from Parliament.
9:15 a.m.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Dean Allison
Okay. Just so we're clear, round one would be NDP, Conservative, Liberal; and then it would be Conservative, NDP, Conservative in round two; round three would be Conservative, NDP, Conservative; and round four would be NDP, Conservative, the government. That's the proposal.
Is there any other discussion?
(Motion agreed to) [See Minutes of Proceedings]
The next motion I have is that the clerk of the committee be authorized to make the necessary arrangements to provide working meals for the committee and its subcommittees.
Are there any questions about that?
(Motion agreed to)
Thank you very much. We're feeding.
I apologize, because we're working from two sheets here, so I appreciate your patience. If we go back to the principal routine motions, there is a motion that the clerk of the committee be authorized to distribute documents to the members of the committee only when the documents are available in both official languages, and that the witnesses be advised accordingly.
That's the standard routine. Is that all right if we add that?
9:15 a.m.
Some hon. members
Agreed.
9:15 a.m.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Dean Allison
All right, thank you. I appreciate you giving me an opportunity to move back and forth.
We're going to move back to the routine motions of the committee of the 40th Parliament. So the next one is that if requested, reasonable travel, accommodation, and living expenses be reimbursed to witnesses, not exceeding two representatives per organization, provided that, in exceptional circumstances, payment for more representatives be made at the discretion of the chair
(Motion agreed to)
Next is that unless otherwise ordered, each committee member be allowed to have one staff at in camera meetings and that one additional person from each party be allowed to be present.
I think, Mr. Dechert, that goes to your original thought?
9:15 a.m.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Dean Allison
All right. Any other comments?
(Motion agreed to)
Thank you very much.
The next one I have here is that one copy of the transcript of each in camera meeting be kept in the committee clerk’s office for consultation by members of the committee or their staff.
(Motion agreed to)
The next one is that 48 hours’ notice be required for any substantive motion to be considered by the committee, unless the substantive motion relates directly to business then under consideration; and that the notice of motion be filed with the clerk of the committee and distributed to members in both official languages; and that for motions requiring 48 hours’ notice, the chair be authorized to defer consideration until 15 minutes prior to the adjournment time for the meeting as indicated in the notice of the meeting.
There is another suggestion here that the 48 hours' notice be calculated in the same manner as for the House.
9:20 a.m.
Conservative
9:20 a.m.
Conservative
9:20 a.m.
NDP
Paul Dewar NDP Ottawa Centre, ON
Perhaps we could have a clarification from the clerk, because I don't recall. Is that how the rules were employed in the last Parliament?
9:20 a.m.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Dean Allison
No, I believe it was 48 hours, but if that is over a weekend and stuff, we're suggesting that we have some understanding for the committee as to when that's going to be.
Go ahead.
9:20 a.m.
Conservative
Bob Dechert Conservative Mississauga—Erindale, ON
Could I ask the clerk for her view on the wording “unless the substantive motion relates directly to the business then under consideration”? Would that be the standard ruling in any event, if that wording weren't there?
9:20 a.m.
The Clerk
No.
9:20 a.m.
Conservative
Bob Dechert Conservative Mississauga—Erindale, ON
My question is on the wording “unless the substantive motion relates directly to the business then under consideration”.
If that language weren't present and a committee member were to move a motion before 48 hours, would it likely be accepted by the chair on the basis that it relates to the matter then under consideration, or is that an extension of the general authority?
9:20 a.m.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Dean Allison
That's sort of standard. If we're on a topic and someone raises a motion, we can deal with it.
9:20 a.m.
Conservative
Bob Dechert Conservative Mississauga—Erindale, ON
We can under the rules of parliamentary procedure?
9:20 a.m.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Dean Allison
Right. The point is, if it weren't there you'd need unanimous consent to move forward.
9:20 a.m.
Conservative
Bob Dechert Conservative Mississauga—Erindale, ON
You'd need unanimous consent, but it wouldn't be at the discretion of the chair.
9:20 a.m.
Conservative
9:20 a.m.
NDP
Paul Dewar NDP Ottawa Centre, ON
I have another question based on that response.
First of all, I was wondering if for the 48 hours' notice we could tag on “to be calculated in the same manner as for the House”. I'm wondering if we could put a timeline on that. This has nothing to do with any political agenda or game. It's actually as a courtesy to the staff that we put it at four o'clock on weekdays and two o'clock on Fridays in terms of calculating the days to get motions in. I'd like some feedback from the clerks on that. They didn't ask for that; we just noticed it. It is difficult for them to have to get translation and everything going. We should be able to adhere to certain timelines during the weekdays and on Fridays as well.
I'm looking for clarification. When we're moving a motion that is relevant to the discussion, I just want to clarify that it's always been done through unanimous consent. If it's on topic, you can move a motion if you have the floor?
9:20 a.m.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Dean Allison
I don't believe it's ever needed unanimous consent, as long as it's within the area.
9:20 a.m.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Dean Allison
No, that would be if we didn't have this in.
I think a timeline is reasonable just for translation purposes, etc. I think in government operations it's four o'clock.
9:20 a.m.
Conservative
Bob Dechert Conservative Mississauga—Erindale, ON
My only comment is that we had 4 p.m. on one day and 2 p.m. on the other day. That seems a bit confusing to me.
