Procedure and House Affairs Committee on Nov. 1st, 2007

[The Chair, Conservative, Gary Goodyear]

Good morning, colleagues. We will begin our meeting. We do have quorum now, so everybody can take their seats and we will get started.

First of all, I want to welcome everybody to, technically, our first meeting of the Standing Committee on Procedure and House Affairs. I want to remind members that the chair met informally on Monday with Mr. Proulx, Mr. Guimond, Mr. Godin, and Mr. Lukiwski. We did have a brief conversation about the way the committee would proceed.

I also want to tell members this morning that this meeting is in this particular room at the request of some members. The meeting is being held in public and is being televised.

I suggest that this morning we start with our routine motions as that is the typical way for a meeting to start up. You have in front of you the generic motions that we tend to adopt. I'm asking members to read through them as well. The clerk has provided members with a copy of what this committee adopted last year so you can refer to both. I will be looking for a mover of each motion. If colleagues would be kind enough to move each motion, read the motion into the record, then give me the opportunity to ask members to accept the motion, we'll move to the next one. Following that, we'll proceed with planning our work.

Is it acceptable to members that we proceed in that fashion?

[Some hon. members]

Agreed.

[The Chair, Conservative, Gary Goodyear]

Thank you.

I will then go to the paper with the heading “Routine Motions, Opening of a Session”. I'm looking for someone to move the motion.

Mr. Proulx, I'm accepting your motion for the first one, if you'd be kind enough to read it into the record.

[Marcel Proulx, Liberal, Hull—Aylmer, QC]

Mr. Chairman, this motion pertains to the services of analysts from the Library of Parliament.

That the Committee retain, as needed and at the discretion of the Chair, the services of one or more analysts from the Library of Parliament to assist it in its work.

(Motion agreed to)

[The Chair, Conservative, Gary Goodyear]

I will invite Michel to the table.

Congratulations. It's an honour to have you again this year.

Can I have a mover, please, for the second routine motion?

Thank you. Mr. LeBlanc.

[Dominic LeBlanc, Liberal, Beauséjour, NB]

Mr. Chairman, I would then move

That the Subcommittee on Agenda and Procedure be established and be composed of the Chair, two Vice-Chairs and a member of the other opposition party.

(Motion agreed to)

[The Chair, Conservative, Gary Goodyear]

May I have a mover for the next routine motion?

Mr. Guimond.

[Michel Guimond, Bloc, Montmorency—Charlevoix—Haute-Côte-Nord, QC]

First off, Mr. Chairman, our clerk provided us with the minutes of the meeting of April 6, 2006 at which time we sensibly agreed to the same routine motions. I believe we addressed one of the motions earlier this week when we struck the committee. Before I read the motion concerning a reduced quorum, I would like to know if we need to adopt a formal motion. I'm referring to the selection of the members of each of the 26 committees of the House of Commons. I don't see the motion anywhere here. Is it still relevant and useful?

[The Chair, Conservative, Gary Goodyear]

I think it would be fair to read it into the record. We did agree to that motion at the end of the last meeting. We can read it into the record and then agree just for procedural correctness.

[Michel Guimond, Bloc, Montmorency—Charlevoix—Haute-Côte-Nord, QC]

The motion reads as follows:

That the four (4) whips be delegated the authority to act as the Striking Committee pursuant to Standing Orders 104, 113 and 114 and that they be authorized to present directly to the Chair, in a report signed by all four (4) whips, or their representatives, their unanimous recommendations for presentation to the House, on behalf of the Committee.

We would need to check and see if the standing order numbers still correspond.

(Motion agreed to)

[The Chair, Conservative, Gary Goodyear]

Thank you very much, Mr. Guimond.

Going back to the routine motions, may I have a mover for the next routine motion?

Mr. Preston, please.

[Joe Preston, Conservative, Elgin—Middlesex—London, ON]

I move:

That the chair be authorized to hold meetings and receive evidence and to have that evidence printed when a quorum is not present, provided that at least three (3) members are present, including one member of the opposition.

(Motion agreed to)

[The Chair, Conservative, Gary Goodyear]

May I now have a mover for the next motion on distribution of documents, please?

Madame Robillard.

[Lucienne Robillard, Liberal, Westmount—Ville-Marie, QC]

Regarding the distribution of documents, we move the following motion:

That only the Clerk of the Committee be authorized to distribute documents to members of the Committee and only when such documents exist in both official languages.

[The Chair, Conservative, Gary Goodyear]

Merci beaucoup.

Do you have a comment, Mr. Epp?

[Ken Epp, Conservative, Edmonton—Sherwood Park, AB]

I notice that last year it was included in there that witnesses be so informed--something to that effect--and be advised accordingly. I think that's wise, and I would recommend that we include that in the motion this year.

[The Chair, Conservative, Gary Goodyear]

Okay. I wonder if our clerk could read the addition to the routine motion adding that witnesses be warned.

[The Clerk of the Committee, Mr. James M. Latimer]

The motion would read then:

That only the Clerk of the Committee be authorized to distribute to the members of the committee documents, and only when they exist in both official languages, and that witnesses be advised accordingly.

[Ken Epp, Conservative, Edmonton—Sherwood Park, AB]

That's very good. If you need a formal amendment we can do it that way, or just....

[The Chair, Conservative, Gary Goodyear]

We'll accept the motion as read into the record.

(Motion agreed to)

[The Chair, Conservative, Gary Goodyear]

Thank you.

I need a mover for the next motion on the routines list and any comments on that. Is there a mover for the next motion, please?

Monsieur Lemieux.

[Pierre Lemieux, Conservative, Glengarry—Prescott—Russell, ON]

Sure, I move:

That the Clerk of the Committee be authorized to make the necessary arrangements to provide working meals for the Committee and its subcommittees.

(Motion agreed to)

[The Chair, Conservative, Gary Goodyear]

Could we have another mover, please, for the next motion, colleagues?

Mr. Epp.

[Ken Epp, Conservative, Edmonton—Sherwood Park, AB]

I move:

That, if requested, reasonable travel, accommodation and living expenses be reimbursed to witnesses, not exceeding two (2) representatives per organization; and that, in exceptional circumstances, payment for more representatives may be made at the discretion of the Chair.

How is that for good reading?

[The Chair, Conservative, Gary Goodyear]

That's excellent. Thank you, Mr. Epp.

(Motion agreed to)