Evidence of meeting #117 for Procedure and House Affairs in the 42nd Parliament, 1st Session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was amendments.
A recording is available from Parliament.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Larry Bagnell
Good morning, and welcome to the 117th meeting of the Standing Committee on Procedure and House Affairs. This is primarily a committee business meeting, but we have a couple of elections to do first.
I'll turn it over to the clerk to run our election for a vice-chair.
The Clerk of the Committee Ms. Angela Crandall
Pursuant to Standing Order 106, the first vice-chair is a member of the official opposition.
I'm now ready to receive motions for the position of first vice-chair.
Mr. Reid, go ahead.
Conservative
Scott Reid Conservative Lanark—Frontenac—Kingston, ON
After giving this long thought, and considering the available candidates, and also the instructions from our whip—
Conservative
Scott Reid Conservative Lanark—Frontenac—Kingston, ON
—I have come to the conclusion that the stars have aligned for the most competent and best candidate, and also the one the whip would like to see, and therefore I nominate Stephanie Kusie.
Stephanie Kusie Calgary Midnapore, CPC
Does it have to be seconded before I make a speech?
Calgary Midnapore, CPC
I'm very happy to be here. I'm very honoured to have the role of shadow cabinet member for democratic institutions.
I'm sure many of you know.... Actually, I would not expect that.
I say this because I served on the Standing Committee on Official Languages with Ms. Lapointe. We have a history together. After that, I served with Mrs. Jordan.
That was through Status of Women, so it's very nice to see some familiar faces in the room.
Previous to my life as a parliamentarian, I was a diplomat for 15 years. I was very fortunate to have postings both in established and in developing democracies. I've seen the government hold democracy to account, as well as the potential negative pathways that this can take in the world, which we have definitely seen in the region of the Americas, where I primarily did my diplomatic career, but also other places abroad. It's really an honour to receive this position.
It's exciting for me as well because the minister and I have a lot in common. We're both young mothers, like Ruby. Each of the three of us has one son. That's something very exciting for us, but also our love for the Americas, of course, given the minister's charitable work abroad, where she met her husband, I understand. We both hablar español as well, so maybe we'll have some preguntas en español on the next occasion when she visits us. That probably won't happen, considering we keep things in both official languages here.
It's definitely an honour to be here. For the record, and regarding past vice-chair appointments, I will say that I am pro-democracy. I hope no one has a problem with that.
That's a joke.
Conservative
Scott Reid Conservative Lanark—Frontenac—Kingston, ON
I did not know this. I don't know why this wasn't shared with me before I made the nomination.
Calgary Midnapore, CPC
That's a terrible habit I have, turning tragedy into comedy.
Anyway, it's a pleasure to be here. Thank you very much, Scott and the committee, for your confidence in me. I look forward to this being a lot of fun. Procedure and processes, of course, are the basis of good society: peace, order and good government as we know it. As such, I'm very happy to be here.
I happily accept the nomination, and I ask for your support.
Thank you.
The Clerk
Is it the pleasure of the committee to adopt the motion?
(Motion agreed to)
I declare the motion carried, and Mrs. Kusie duly elected first vice-chair of the committee.
Liberal
Scott Simms Liberal Coast of Bays—Central—Notre Dame, NL
It was eerily similar to a Venezuelan election.
Calgary Midnapore, CPC
Yes, that's right. Exactly.
My first act is not really democratic.
Conservative
Scott Reid Conservative Lanark—Frontenac—Kingston, ON
To be fully parallel, I would have to beat up John as the alternative candidate.
Liberal
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Larry Bagnell
We also have to appoint a new chair of the Subcommittee on Private Members' Business.
David, go ahead.
Liberal
Liberal
