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.

On the agenda

MPs speaking

Also speaking

Clerk of the Committee  Mr. James M. Latimer

12:15 p.m.

Liberal

Marcel Proulx Liberal Hull—Aylmer, QC

Thank you, Mr. Chairman.

Under the circumstances, the Subcommittee on Agenda and Procedure could look at what happened with the previous committee and determine exactly what changes could be made to address the increased membership.

12:15 p.m.

Conservative

The Chair Conservative Joe Preston

Mr. Albrecht.

12:15 p.m.

Conservative

Harold Albrecht Conservative Kitchener—Conestoga, ON

Mr. Chair, just for clarification, the steering committee is charged with bringing back the item or will be charged with bringing back a recommendation for the routine proceeding? Which is it?

12:15 p.m.

Conservative

The Chair Conservative Joe Preston

I took it as a recommendation--

12:15 p.m.

Conservative

Harold Albrecht Conservative Kitchener—Conestoga, ON

Of the actual...?

12:15 p.m.

Conservative

The Chair Conservative Joe Preston

I see nods around the room, so that would be it, and scheduling....

Sorry, Mr. Godin.

12:15 p.m.

NDP

Yvon Godin NDP Acadie—Bathurst, NB

If we are done with that subject, then I think we should consider scheduling a meeting of the steering committee, perhaps on Thursday. I think we need to begin discussing our agenda.

12:15 p.m.

Conservative

The Chair Conservative Joe Preston

You've read my mind, or perhaps taken it from me, that the steering committee or the scheduling and agenda committee should meet probably during this committee's time slot on Thursday to prepare those items, plus discuss the future agenda and be prepared to come back to the committee of the whole the following week. If that's all right, I'll take that upon....

Monsieur Guimond.

12:15 p.m.

Bloc

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

That is an excellent idea. However, I think some informal talks have already taken place between my two colleagues who are whips. I know that the Government Whip, in anticipation of next Thursday's scheduled economic update by the Minister of Finance, would like to give priority to getting the Finance Committee back up and running. Therefore, if the steering committee meets, at the very least we need to have the list of Finance Committee members approved, so that you can report to the House.

12:15 p.m.

Conservative

The Chair Conservative Joe Preston

It's my reading of it that we will form the striking committee by putting the four whips in charge of that, and they only have to report to the chair, who then reports to the House. This committee now does not have to meet in order to assign the finance committee's membership, provided the whips have come to a conclusion on the membership.

12:15 p.m.

Bloc

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

I thought we had to approve the list. I misunderstood.

12:15 p.m.

Conservative

The Chair Conservative Joe Preston

Madam Jennings.

12:15 p.m.

Liberal

Marlene Jennings Liberal Notre-Dame-de-Grâce—Lachine, QC

Thank you, Chair.

Given the Minister of Finance's preoccupation that the Standing Committee on Finance be able to begin its work following his economic and fiscal update, I'm sure that is going to be an incentive to the government members to get their lists of members together for the committees as quickly as possible.

12:15 p.m.

Conservative

The Chair Conservative Joe Preston

Okay. Seeing nothing else, the steering committee of the agenda committee will meet in this time slot on Thursday from eleven to one.

Do I have a motion to adjourn?

Mr. Reid so moves.

12:15 p.m.

Some hon. members

Agreed.

12:15 p.m.

Conservative

The Chair Conservative Joe Preston

Thank you very much. It was a pleasant first meeting.