Procedure and House Affairs Committee on Nov. 25th, 2008

[The Chair, Conservative, Joe Preston]

Thank you, Monsieur Godin. I accept all of your congratulations and will take on the job in earnest and with your sage advice.

Now, if I could ask the permission of the committee, our business is finished for the day, but there are other things we can accomplish, with the unanimous will of the committee, to move forward with our routine motions so that we can set the pace for how the committee will function. I see agreement, so let's go ahead and move forward on that.

What you've been handed are the minutes of the first meeting that took place in the last Parliament. We're going to try to adopt some of the motions that were moved the last time.

The first motion that I'm told is critical to us is for an analyst. The committee needs to retain the services of an analyst from the Library of Parliament, as needed, to assist the committee in its work. I will entertain motions.

Madam Jennings.

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

I so move.

[The Chair, Conservative, Joe Preston]

Is there discussion on that? I see none. Will the committee vote in favour of that motion?

(Motion agreed to)

[The Chair, Conservative, Joe Preston]

The next motion that is fairly critical to us, allowing us to move forward in setting the other committees, is assigning the authority of a striking committee, which is made up of the four whips of the parties in the House, to establish the committees and report back, if I'm not mistaken, to the chair so that it's reported to the House.

Is there any one willing to move that motion? I will read it:

That the four 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 Whips or their representatives, their unanimous recommendations for presentation to the House, on behalf of the committee.

The motion has been moved by Madame DeBellefeuille.

[Claude DeBellefeuille, Bloc, Beauharnois—Salaberry, QC]

Thank you, Mr. Chairman.

I would just like to ask you to read a little more slowly, as I'm a unilingual francophone who needs to rely on the interpretation services.

[The Chair, Conservative, Joe Preston]

We'll make sure it happens.

Mr. Lukiwski.

[Tom Lukiwski, Conservative, Regina—Lumsden—Lake Centre, SK]

Thank you, Mr. Chair.

We're in agreement with that, Mr. Chair. Just to let the other whips know, I spoke with Michel just a few moments before the meeting.

For the benefit of Rodger and Yvon, we're still probably a half a day to a day away.... There are still a few people on the government side on the assignment of committees. We're not quite sure. We should have that handled by tomorrow at the latest. I would hope that by the time we get together on Thursday the whips might even be in a position where they have the membership of committees struck and can report back to this committee.

We're probably half a day to a day away from assigning all of the members from our side. We're certainly in agreement with giving all of the whips the duty to strike the committees.

[The Chair, Conservative, Joe Preston]

Thank you for that information, Mr. Lukiwski.

Mr. Godin.

[Yvon Godin, NDP, Acadie—Bathurst, NB]

Mr. Chairman, I'd like to know if the Bloc Québécois and the Liberals have drawn up a complete list of their party members who will serve on committees and if they are prepared to submit that list to the committee.

[The Chair, Conservative, Joe Preston]

A question for you, Michel, and a question for you, Rodger.

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

The Bloc Québécois is prepared to submit the names of its members who will serve on all committees.

[The Chair, Conservative, Joe Preston]

Mr. Godin asked if you are close to your list for committees.

[Rodger Cuzner, Liberal, Cape Breton—Canso, NS]

Our lists are ready to go. The question that should be asked is, will the government be ready by day's end tomorrow?

[Tom Lukiwski, Conservative, Regina—Lumsden—Lake Centre, SK]

Rodger, my understanding is at the very lastest day's end tomorrow. It might even be day's end today.

[Yvon Godin, NDP, Acadie—Bathurst, NB]

Our list is ready as well. If you like, we can give it to the clerk.

[The Chair, Conservative, Joe Preston]

Monsieur Guimond.

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

You say your list is ready. For Tom's sake, no doubt you realize that there are a considerable number of names of this list. I would like us to have enough time to review the list. Last time, I was handed the list in the lobby 10 or 15 minutes before it was scheduled to be tabled. I don't know whether you were the House leader at the time, or whether it was Mr. Van Loan.

I would like to have enough time to review the list before it is tabled in the House.

[Tom Lukiwski, Conservative, Regina—Lumsden—Lake Centre, SK]

I can't speak on behalf of Minister O'Connor, but I don't believe we have any problems with that, Michel. So either Harold or I, or both, will speak with Minister O'Connor.

Are you saying you would like to see the partial list, or try to get the completed list to you as quickly as possible?

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

No, the all-party list.

[Tom Lukiwski, Conservative, Regina—Lumsden—Lake Centre, SK]

We'll attempt to get it to you as quickly as we possibly can.

[The Chair, Conservative, Joe Preston]

By passing this motion we're giving the striking committee two to four whips. They'll have time to discuss it at length with each other as long as they want before they have to present it to the chair.

Please take the time you need to do the document and let's move it forward.

Madame Jennings.

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

Thank you, Mr. Chairman.

Personally, I have only one concern. All of the committee members have been chosen. We want the standing committees to be struck so that they can begin their work. Given the considerable number of names, it would be very helpful to the clerk if the government list could be ready by the end of the day. Entering all of the names into the computer before submitting the list does indeed represent a phenomenal amount of work. The longer the process drags on, the longer it will be before the committees are up and running.

That being said, as the Whip mentioned, we the Official Opposition are ready, but in the spirit of cooperation, we will give you time to prepare your list.

[The Chair, Conservative, Joe Preston]

Mr. Lukiwski.

[Tom Lukiwski, Conservative, Regina—Lumsden—Lake Centre, SK]

The only reason, quite frankly, we don't have it ready now--it is my understanding at least--is that on some committees we have an additional member. Plus we asked all of our new members and all other members to indicate which committees they have a preference for. There are only two or three that we're trying to juggle. On all committees we're trying to keep some experienced members as well as some new members. We'll speak to the whip and make sure that Gordon speaks with Rodger, Michel, and Yvon and tries to get it done by the end of the day. I think it's really close.

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

Thank you.