Evidence of meeting #115 for Procedure and House Affairs in the 42nd Parliament, 1st session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.)
A recording is available from Parliament.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Larry Bagnell
Good morning. Welcome to the 115th meeting of the Standing Committee on Procedure and House Affairs.
For members' information, we are sitting in public.
I am glad to be back. It's been 2,000 miles of driving since I saw you last and 10,000 kilometres of flying.
Mr. Bittle.
Liberal
Conservative
Scott Reid Conservative Lanark—Frontenac—Kingston, ON
I'm sorry, Mr. Chair, I don't think you can actually say that. You can't debate the motion.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Larry Bagnell
Oh, you can't debate it. Sorry.
It is actually debatable if people want to speak. There is a limit on the debate of three minutes.
Conservative
NDP
Brian Masse NDP Windsor West, ON
Do we have an indication of the reasons for going in camera? It's something I'd be willing to hear.
Liberal
Chris Bittle Liberal St. Catharines, ON
It would be just to have a frank discussion. I think all the parties' positions have been on the table, but to get down to the nuts and bolts of where we're going from here on the legislation, we don't know. We can come out afterwards and everyone can put their position back on the record, but this would be just so that we can have a frank discussion about where we go from here.
NDP
Brian Masse NDP Windsor West, ON
I'll be opposing the motion. Prior to this existence here, I was a city councillor where they had specific guidelines in terms of going in camera, for property and personnel issues. Having been a member here for a number of years, I've witnessed our going in camera a number of times on different committees for different reasons, and I've never believed that it's helpful for the long term, so I'll be opposed to the motion.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Larry Bagnell
Does anyone else want to speak to the motion?
Mr. Bittle, you get the last word, as per our procedures.
Liberal
Chris Bittle Liberal St. Catharines, ON
I think I've put my position on the record.
(Motion agreed to)
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Larry Bagnell
We'll suspend for a minute while we switch to in camera.
[Proceedings continue in camera]