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.