Evidence of meeting #1 for Government Operations and Estimates 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.
NDP
The Chair NDP Pat Martin
In other words, there could only be one on each side and me, and we could hear the witnesses' testimony.
NDP
Conservative
Mike Wallace Conservative Burlington, ON
Just for clarification, Mr. Chair, it says “at least three members are present”, including one from the opposition. Does this assume or does this mean that one has to be from the government side? Or could you have--
NDP
Conservative
Mike Wallace Conservative Burlington, ON
Okay. So I'm going to move a change that there be at least one from the government side.
NDP
NDP
The Chair NDP Pat Martin
That sounds reasonable. It shouldn't be that hard to press someone into service.
NDP
The Chair NDP Pat Martin
Yes.
Does that sound okay, everybody? Do I need to put it to a formal vote?
It is so moved. All in favour of the motion as amended by Mike to add one member of the opposition and one member of the government side, or reverse the order?
(Motion as amended agreed to)
The motion is carried. We can write that up in some sense of language.
Next is distribution of documents. This has been a contentious issue, and I hope we keep a firm hand on this in this committee as well.
That only the Clerk of the Committee be authorized to distribute documents to the members of the Committee and only when the documents are in both official languages, and that [all] witnesses be advised accordingly.
In other words, often witnesses will show up with documents they wish to circulate and they are not in both official languages, and that wastes everybody's time. If we make that a hard and fast rule at this committee at the outset, the clerk will be directed to advise witnesses not to bother showing up here with something in only one official language.
Is there any objection to this? Will anyone move this first of all, please?
NDP
The Chair NDP Pat Martin
The motion is moved by Nycole Turmel.
Is there any discussion? All those in favour?
(Motion agreed to)
The motion is carried. Thank you.
Next is on working meals. This is critical. This is vitally important:
That the Clerk...be authorized to make the necessary arrangements to provide working meals for the Committee and its subcommittees.
We should add “delicious, healthy, sumptuous”.
Will anybody move this motion, please?
NDP
The Chair NDP Pat Martin
Thank you, Denis.
Is there any discussion? Are there any directives regarding diet or anything like that? No.
All those in favour?
(Motion agreed to)
Thank you.
Next is travel expenses and living expenses of witnesses or travel accommodation. This is important as well.
That, if requested, reasonable travel, accommodation and living expenses be reimbursed to witnesses not exceeding two...representatives per organization; and that, in exceptional circumstances, payment for more representatives be made at the discretion of the Chair.
Is there any discussion, and could I have a mover for the motion?
NDP
The Chair NDP Pat Martin
It is so moved by Mike Wallace.
All those in favour?
(Motion agreed to)
The motion is carried. Thank you.
That does it for the pro forma motions. Oh, no, we have one more page.
Thank you.
On access to in camera meetings:
That, unless otherwise ordered, each committee member be allowed to have one staff [person] present from their office or from their party at in camera meetings.
The bolded language was added recently. I remember when who may attend in camera meetings became an issue. This contemplates that our whip's assistant, who may be touring the committee rooms and may pop in to count heads or observe, be allowed to attend as well. It just gave more flexibility to the parties as to who might be in the room.
Mike, will you move that motion?
NDP
The Chair NDP Pat Martin
Is there any discussion or debate? All those in favour?
(Motion agreed to)
The motion is carried. Thank you.
On transcripts of in camera meetings:
That one copy of the transcript at each in camera meeting be kept in the Committee Clerk's office for consultation by members of the Committee or by one of their staff members.
Again, this is a modification from past practice to give access to transcripts of in camera meetings not just to members themselves but to one of their staff whom they can assign to go and observe that.
If there is a mover, we can debate it.
NDP
The Chair NDP Pat Martin
It is moved by Mike Wallace.
Is there any debate? All those in favour?
(Motion agreed to)
The motion is carried. Thank you.
On notice of motion, there has been some flexibility. Various committees have different timelines for serving notice of motion. This recommends 48 hours' notice, which is the standard.
Mike.
Conservative
Mike Wallace Conservative Burlington, ON
The only addition that I experienced through the last five years is with regard to some people's definition of when the members should be notified and when the clock starts and so on, so I'd like to make one small amendment here to the last paragraph in the last sentence. It says:
the notice of motion will be filed with the Clerk of the Committee and distributed....
I'd like to add “on the same day the motion is received”
to members in both official languages.
That is assuming it is received in both official languages, of course, because that is when the clock starts.
If I happen to bring in a motion on Friday at 3:40, I'd like the clock to start that day. I think we should be notified that day that the motion has been received in both official languages in a legal.... My issue is that come Monday, if I've had a motion, some people might say, “We got it late in the day, so we didn't notify anybody until today, so the clock didn't start until that timeframe.” I'd like the clock to start the day the thing is received.
