Evidence of meeting #1 for Procedure and House Affairs in the 40th 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.
12:05 p.m.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Joe Preston
In camera transcripts are the subject of the next motion.
Monsieur Godin.
12:05 p.m.
NDP
Yvon Godin NDP Acadie—Bathurst, NB
Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
I move that one copy of the transcript of each in camera meeting be kept in the Committee Clerk's office for consultation by members of the Committee.
12:05 p.m.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Joe Preston
We've heard the motion. Is there discussion on the motion?
(Motion agreed to)
12:05 p.m.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Joe Preston
I believe those are all of our routine motions, unless someone else has another to suggest.
That being the case, we've finished that order of business.
Mr. Reid.
12:05 p.m.
Conservative
Scott Reid Conservative Lanark—Frontenac—Lennox and Addington, ON
I was going to propose a motion, if I might, dealing with notice for substantive motions to be considered.
The motion I would make is that 48 hours advanced notice be required for any substantive motion to be considered by the committee, and that motions be filed and distributed to members by the clerk in both official languages.
12:05 p.m.
Conservative
12:05 p.m.
Conservative
Scott Reid Conservative Lanark—Frontenac—Lennox and Addington, ON
Sure. The motion is that 48 hours advanced notice be required for any substantive motion--I emphasize the word “substantive“ motion--to be considered by the committee, and that the motion shall be filed and distributed to members by the clerk in both official languages.
12:10 p.m.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Joe Preston
I would have the clerk read it and then we'll discuss it, if needed.
12:10 p.m.
The Clerk
Mr. Chair, through you to the committee, I believe Mr. Reid is moving that 48 hours notice be required for any substantive motion to be considered by the committee and that the motion be filed with and distributed by the clerk in both official languages.
12:10 p.m.
NDP
Yvon Godin NDP Acadie—Bathurst, NB
I cannot support this motion, Mr. Chairman. The same arguments were raised during our last meeting in 2006. As a rule, members of the Procedure and House Affairs Committee are House officials. Some very important motions may have to do with the workings of the House of Commons. We cannot stop work in the House of Commons because of a motion. We should always be prepared to consider a motion. That is why we cannot file a motion, which may concern the House of Commons, 48 hours before considering it. We have to remember that we are for the most part officials of the House of Commons and as such, we have always maintained that the 48 hours notice requirement was unacceptable. It works for other committees that examine bills and consider other matters that affect the House of Commons differently.
I am a Whip and I have been a member of the Procedure and House Affairs Committee since 2000. The same argument is always made and the 48 hours notice of motion requirement has always been rejected. I intend to reject it again, for the same reasons. This committee should be prepared to consider any issue, any time.
12:10 p.m.
Liberal
Rodger Cuzner Liberal Cape Breton—Canso, NS
From our perspective, when we were in government it was one that we never did like or enjoy but saw the merit in it, and we see the merit in Mr. Godin's argument now. We believe that it's necessary for the operation of the committee. We think it's good as it stands.
12:10 p.m.
Conservative
Tom Lukiwski Conservative Regina—Lumsden—Lake Centre, SK
With the willingness of the committee, I'd like to bring forward a discussion on a couple of other routine motions, and that's on the length of time for questioning and the order of questions. In different committees, we give different time allocations for rounds of questioning.
If I may, I'd like to suggest that the witnesses of any organization that is coming to make interventions or presentations before this committee be given ten minutes to make their opening statement. During the questioning of witnesses--this is the most important part--there should be allocated seven minutes for the first round of questioning and five minutes allocated to each questioner in the second round and beyond.
I'm open to discussion on this. I think we've kind of gone around the horn. The reason I'm saying seven and five is because we have an additional member on the government side now. I'm just trying to open it up for discussion to see what the committee thinks would be the best allocation of time for this committee during the questioning of witnesses. I'm suggesting seven and five.
12:10 p.m.
Bloc
Michel Guimond Bloc Montmorency—Charlevoix—Haute-Côte-Nord, QC
May I make a suggestion that could be helpful to committee members? To be honest, I have to admit that we have not had time to consider the order and length of questions. I've discussed with Mr. Proulx the matter of excluding our assistants from in camera meetings. On that very issue, there could be three or four other motions. Could we not draw up a list right now and have the steering committee discuss it, even if that means reporting back to the main committee? Might that be a good suggestion?
12:15 p.m.
Conservative
Tom Lukiwski Conservative Regina—Lumsden—Lake Centre, SK
Sure. I don't have a problem with that. You're right, there are several others, Michel. There is not just the time allocation for questioners; there is the order of questioning, whether there are staff, how many staff, in camera or not in camera. So certainly I would agree that we can submit a list of those types of routine motions and forward that to the steering committee, and they can report back to the committee as a whole.
12:15 p.m.
Conservative
Tom Lukiwski Conservative Regina—Lumsden—Lake Centre, SK
Do I want to put a deadline on that or something?
12:15 p.m.
Bloc
Michel Guimond Bloc Montmorency—Charlevoix—Haute-Côte-Nord, QC
Maybe before the next steering committee.
12:15 p.m.
Conservative
12:15 p.m.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Joe Preston
I will certainly take that on, to make sure we can gather those other routine motions through the chair for the steering committee and that we discuss them there before they come back here. That's very positive. There are some real elements to some of those.
Monsieur Proulx and Mr. Albrecht.