Procedure and House Affairs Committee on May 26th, 2009

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

Yes.

[The Chair, Conservative, Joe Preston]

Thank you.

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

Thank you very much.

First of all, I have an announcement for committee members, for you, Mr. Chair, and especially for our colleague Mr. Albrecht, who chairs the Subcommittee on Private Members' Business of the Standing Committee on Procedure and House Affairs: there will be a change of membership for the Bloc Québécois on the Subcommittee on Private Members' Business. Mrs. Gagnon, the Member for Québec, will be replacing Mrs. DeBellefeuille. It seems that there is no need to move a motion and that procedure simply dictates that we inform the committee. We sought the advice of the clerk on this.

Second—and this is for your information, Mr. Chair—on Thursday, May 14, before the break week, we approved a report calling for amendments to the Standing Orders. As I recall, the report called for minor changes to Standing Orders 153 and 156. You tabled this report in the House of Commons on Friday, May 15, but you did not move concurrence in it, either yesterday or this morning. There is nothing contentious about this report and no one has expressed any opposition to it. Therefore, I would like to know what you are waiting for to move concurrence in it?

[The Chair, Conservative, Joe Preston]

I'll take that under advisement and let you know what we're going to do.

Under the membership reports on private members' business, you've reported to us, and that's perfect. I think that, by tradition, this is all that needs to happen on this, to let the chair know about it.

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

I realize that. This is the reason why I made the first point. It's just advice.

But on my second question, what is your answer to that?

[The Chair, Conservative, Joe Preston]

I don't have an answer for it. I'll have to get back to the committee at the next meeting.

Mr. Proulx, do you have a point of order?

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

I'm wondering whether there may have been a problem with the translation between you and Mr. Guimond, in the sense that we decided at a sitting of this committee that we were accepting these changes that had been suggested by the Speaker.

[The Chair, Conservative, Joe Preston]

Right.

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

What have we done with that? Have we adopted them? Do we intend to adopt them? Are we going to table them?

[The Chair, Conservative, Joe Preston]

We did. We made the report to the House, as it was recommended.

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

No, you tabled the report, but did not move concurrence in it. Has that already been taken care of? According to my sources, it has not. You tabled the report on May 15, but have not yet moved concurrence in it.

[The Chair, Conservative, Joe Preston]

Oh, we didn't move concurrence in it?

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

Yes.

[The Chair, Conservative, Joe Preston]

So we'll need to seek concurrence in it?

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

Yes. Why do we have a report? Is it to take home for the summer?

[The Chair, Conservative, Joe Preston]

I apologize to Mr. Guimond for not understanding what he was originally asking.

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

Thank you.

[The Chair, Conservative, Joe Preston]

All right.

Is there a motion to adjourn?

[An hon. member]

I so move.

[The Chair, Conservative, Joe Preston]

It has been so moved. The meeting is adjourned.