Colleagues, let's begin our meeting this morning. We do have quorum, so we'll proceed right away.
I would like to advise members that today's meeting is in public.
If members recall, at the end of our meeting on Tuesday, the committee—We will resume where we left off at the conclusion of that meeting.
I just want to point out to members that while you may have noticed there is a new number assigned to this meeting, I want to assure members that the chair is very aware that this is simply a continuation of that other meeting. The minutes of Tuesday's meeting state that the committee adjourned until 11 a.m. today, and that the discussion of the second report of the Subcommittee on Private Members' Business will continue at this time. I hope that clarifies any confusion that might exist over a new number for this meeting. The normal practice would have been to adjourn that meeting at the call of the chair.
Members will also remember that at the conclusion of that meeting Mr. Preston was next on the list of speakers and that he requested he be the first person recognized at today's meeting, and that was agreed.
While the matter before the committee for this meeting is the second report of the subcommittee, I want to also remind all members that we did dismiss our witness at that time. We excused Mr. Silva. Technically, there is no motion or witness before this committee at this time. If you recall, we excused Mr. Silva when we proceeded to debate the motion put forward by Monsieur Plamondon, which, after a lengthy debate, was withdrawn.
The question the committee ultimately has to answer today is whether the second report of the subcommittee will be concurred in. But at this time, I'm in the hands of my colleagues on the committee.
Therefore, pursuant to Standing Order 92, the committee will now resume consideration of the second report of the Subcommittee on Private Members' Business, which states:
Pursuant to Standing Order 92(1)(a), the Subcommittee on Private Members’ Business agrees that the following item of Private Members’ Business should be designated nonvotable on the basis that it contravenes the criterion that bills and motions must not concern questions that are substantially the same as ones already voted on by the House of Commons in the current session of Parliament.
In other words, that is Bill C-415.
In accordance with my understanding and that of the committee of the decision at the conclusion of the discussions on Tuesday, I will now recognize Mr. Preston. Mr. Preston, you have the floor.