Government Operations Committee on Dec. 13th, 2011

[The Chair, NDP, Pat Martin]

I see the clock at 3:30. I'm going to call the meeting to order. This is the 22nd meeting of the Standing Committee on Government Operations and Estimates.

Today, pursuant to Standing Order 111.1(1), we are here to consider the certificate of nomination of Mario Dion to the position of Public Sector Integrity Commissioner, which was referred to our committee on Wednesday, December 7, 2011.

I see that Mr. Wallace would like the floor.

[Mike Wallace, Conservative, Burlington, ON]

Yes, I have a small point of order, Mr. Chair. We know the bells are going to be ringing at 5:15, so why don't we move the committee business in camera at 5 o'clock?

I want to remind the chair that in our committee we had agreed that for the committee business.... Whether you agreed or not, the committee agreed that the committee business would be in camera, so that should have been listed on the agenda. But at 5 o'clock instead of 5:15 would be my change.

[Mathieu Ravignat, NDP, Pontiac, QC]

What committee are you referring to that agreed to this?

[Mike Wallace, Conservative, Burlington, ON]

This committee. We could take another vote if you'd like that to happen, but the committee business is always in camera in this committee and should be in all committees.

So there you go.

[The Chair, NDP, Pat Martin]

Well, you've heard Mr. Wallace's recommendation regarding the study of future business for the committee.

It is true that we had 15 minutes set aside, from 5:15 to 5:30. Now that we know bells will be occurring, are we in agreement that we will conclude our interviewing of Monsieur Dion at 5 o'clock and have 15 minutes of an in camera meeting to discuss future business?

[Mathieu Ravignat, NDP, Pontiac, QC]

Well we're certainly not agreed that it should be in camera.

[The Chair, NDP, Pat Martin]

I see. Then we'll have to put that to a vote.

First of all, all those in favour of dealing with future business at 5 o'clock? Do we have agreement on that?

(Motion agreed to)

Thank you.

There's been a motion that it be held in camera--

[Mike Wallace, Conservative, Burlington, ON]

All future business in camera.

[The Chair, NDP, Pat Martin]

That's a non-debatable motion.

[Mathieu Ravignat, NDP, Pontiac, QC]

I'd like to have a recorded vote on that, for sure.

[The Chair, NDP, Pat Martin]

A recorded vote has been called for.

[An hon. member]

The same as the last vote.

[Mathieu Ravignat, NDP, Pontiac, QC]

Let's record it again. I'm not debating it; I'm asking for a recorded vote.

[Mike Wallace, Conservative, Burlington, ON]

Excellent: you're taking away from your time with Mr. Dion. So let's record the vote.

Good thing we have the Integrity Commissioner here.

[The Chair, NDP, Pat Martin]

We have advice from the clerk that the normal routine motion that we go in camera is non-debatable and the vote is held right away. When you're moving a motion that all future committee business shall be debated in camera, that constitutes a substantive motion; therefore, notice would be required.

So we can deal with it for today: it will be in camera as of 5 o'clock. But if you want to make that motion and have it formal that all future committee business shall be in camera, you'll have to serve notice. That's my ruling.

[Mike Wallace, Conservative, Burlington, ON]

Okay. But we're in camera today.

[The Chair, NDP, Pat Martin]

We'll be in camera today at 5 o'clock.

[Mike Wallace, Conservative, Burlington, ON]

All right.

[The Chair, NDP, Pat Martin]

Agreed? Okay.

[Mike Wallace, Conservative, Burlington, ON]

Point of order.

[The Chair, NDP, Pat Martin]

One more point of order.

[Mike Wallace, Conservative, Burlington, ON]

On behalf of the committee, I want to wish you a very happy birthday today. There you go.

[The Chair, NDP, Pat Martin]

Oh, wow....

[Mike Wallace, Conservative, Burlington, ON]

You're 39 again. It's unbelievable.

[The Chair, NDP, Pat Martin]

You're trying to soften me up for the rest of the meeting, aren't you?