Government Operations Committee on April 10th, 2008

[The Chair, Liberal, Diane Marleau]

We'll ask our clerk. In my opinion, this isn't a very dangerous motion. Its purpose is to ask the Auditor General to examine the contract. It doesn't change much in the history of the world, except that the Auditor General will decide whether she'll examine the contract today, tomorrow, the next day or not at all. She could do it without this motion. I don't think it's all that difficult.

[Serge Ménard, Bloc, Marc-Aurèle-Fortin, QC]

The motion could be introduced another time.

[The Chair, Liberal, Diane Marleau]

I'll ask the clerk to give you a little more information.

I've asked the clerk to give us a ruling on Mr. Ménard's--

[The Clerk of the Committee, Mr. Michel Marcotte]

I'll be brief. In the Code régissant les conflits d'intérêts des députés,

the Conflict of Interest Code for Members of the House of Commons, an annex in the Standing Orders,

subsection 3(2) concerns private interests. What you're describing to me does not fall under the category of private interests, but rather under not furthering private interests, referred to in subsection 3(3). So you wouldn't be—

[The Chair, Liberal, Diane Marleau]

—in conflict of interest.

[The Clerk]

—in conflict of interest, in light of what you've explained to us.

[The Chair, Liberal, Diane Marleau]

Thank you, clerk.

Mr. Angus asked to speak.

[Charlie Angus, NDP, Timmins—James Bay, ON]

I have no shares in CGI, but I am now an official fan of the Montreal Canadiens and I want it on the record that I detest my team, the Toronto Maple Leafs, and I will now be supporting the Montreal Canadiens.

My question is procedural. We had asked if there was unanimous consent, but it didn't seem to me that everyone was paying attention. So do we not have unanimous consent?

[The Chair, Liberal, Diane Marleau]

No. Mr. Moore said no. He was very clear.

[Charlie Angus, NDP, Timmins—James Bay, ON]

Are we going to vote, then?

[The Chair, Liberal, Diane Marleau]

Yes.

[Charlie Angus, NDP, Timmins—James Bay, ON]

Okay, let's vote.

[The Chair, Liberal, Diane Marleau]

Go ahead, Mr. Casey.

[Bill Casey, Independent, Cumberland—Colchester—Musquodoboit Valley, NS]

I have a point of order. Can I vote?

[The Chair, Liberal, Diane Marleau]

I'm told that you cannot. While you are allowed to substitute, you cannot vote because you're not on the list of independents--

[Bill Casey, Independent, Cumberland—Colchester—Musquodoboit Valley, NS]

I am independent.

[The Chair, Liberal, Diane Marleau]

No, you are not on the list of associate members as an independent.

In the future it might be a good idea, when they do the list, to ask to have your name included as an associate member on whatever committee you'd like to--

[Bill Casey, Independent, Cumberland—Colchester—Musquodoboit Valley, NS]

Thank you. I didn't even know I could do that. Thank you.

[The Chair, Liberal, Diane Marleau]

Neither did I, and I was under the impression that you could vote, but the clerk tells me that you cannot. It's because you're not on that magic list, which includes just about everybody's name except yours and maybe one or two other independents.

[Bill Casey, Independent, Cumberland—Colchester—Musquodoboit Valley, NS]

Thanks very much.

[The Chair, Liberal, Diane Marleau]

I will call the vote on the motion.

(Motion agreed to)

[The Chair, Liberal, Diane Marleau]

Thank you very much, ladies and gentlemen. We will be seeing you on Tuesday morning.

The meeting is adjourned.