Evidence of meeting #6 for Procedure and House Affairs in the 40th Parliament, 3rd session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was witness.
A recording is available from Parliament.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Joe Preston
Well, if we start doing it, then the decision has made by you rather than by the committee. I'd like it to be made by the committee, sir.
Liberal
Joe Volpe Liberal Eglinton—Lawrence, ON
--but I think if we want to know where these things came from--
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Joe Preston
That was the question I asked. Your answer to me was to start doing committee business. I would like, if we ask a question about where we're going to do committee business, to deal with that first.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Joe Preston
Okay.
Is it the will of the committee to stay in public?
Can I have a show of hands?
We have a majority right there, so I guess we are staying in public.
Mr. Lukiwski.
Conservative
Tom Lukiwski Conservative Regina—Lumsden—Lake Centre, SK
Mr. Chair, as a point of clarification on what Marcel was saying, are we going to be discussing the financial implications in public as well? We've never done that before.
Conservative
Tom Lukiwski Conservative Regina—Lumsden—Lake Centre, SK
Then let's amend whatever motion you're trying to make here.
Conservative
Scott Reid Conservative Lanark—Frontenac—Lennox and Addington, ON
Can I speak on a point of order here?
Conservative
Scott Reid Conservative Lanark—Frontenac—Lennox and Addington, ON
I think the rule here is simply this. You can go in camera or out of camera; all someone has to do is move a motion. You then immediately have a vote. There is no debate. You either go in or out.
So if we need to, when we get on to discussing the finances, we can just go in camera at that time.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Joe Preston
Super.
As committee business, we have a proposed witness list in front of us. I would like the clerk to distribute it and then have her discuss, if we could, where she's at in trying to put it together.
I will share with you at this time that I will not be here on Thursday. A friend has passed away and I have a funeral to attend on Thursday. I've asked Monsieur Proulx, as the vice-chair, to sit in the chair on Thursday if we have witnesses available for that day. The clerk will share with us what we have available for Thursday.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Joe Preston
Of course, that's at the will of the committee also. I just cannot be here.
Monsieur Guimond.
Bloc
Michel Guimond Bloc Montmorency—Charlevoix—Haute-Côte-Nord, QC
I wish to raise a point of order. The party whips have all agreed that when the Chair is not able to fulfill his duties and is replaced by a member of the opposition, in this case Mr. Proulx, the latter should be replaced by another Liberal member, or a Conservative member should sit out. The whips agreed on this so that the opposition would not be in a minority.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Joe Preston
Mr. Lukiwski, on that point...because I think we agree with that.
Conservative
Tom Lukiwski Conservative Regina—Lumsden—Lake Centre, SK
I just want to verify what Michel was saying is quite correct. All of the whips agreed that if, in any event, the vice-chair—in this case, Marcel—has to take the chair, we would not use that opportunity to gain a majority on the committee.
So I agree with what Michel was saying.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Joe Preston
All right. So we're okay on that issue? Let's see if we're there....
Would you like to share with us where you are at? I know you have been trying to contact people on both sides of the witness list, or the whole witness list. Let's see what you've been able to discover so far.
The Clerk of the Committee Ms. Angela Crandall
I have now been able to get contact information for most people. There are still a few from whom I haven't been able to get a response.
These are possible panels for the committee to consider in doing their business this way, but it will depend on availability. Some of them, such as Anne Bayefsky and Judy Rebick, are available the week that the House comes back from the break, and some of them have other dates of availability.
I spoke this morning with Mr. Landy. He won't be available until April 20. It seems for most people it will be mid-April or May. Some of them are out of the country.
Some people have said their professional commitments don't allow them the time to appear before the committee. I have listed them at the bottom of the second page.
For Thursday, the only person who potentially could be available is Ms. Fry. She is on House duty, though.
