Procedure and House Affairs Committee on March 10th, 2016

[The Chair, Liberal, Larry Bagnell]

We have main estimates, yes. We need two hours for that. We need one for the House estimates and then the other for the Elections Canada estimates. We could do one hour on witnesses and one hour on one of those main estimates, if you want.

Which main estimate would you like to do?

[Scott Reid, Conservative, Lanark—Frontenac—Kingston, ON]

[Inaudible—Editor] this out so it can't be done?

[The Chair, Liberal, Larry Bagnell]

No, I'm going to get to that in a second. We need to know what we're doing when we come back.

[Anita Vandenbeld, Liberal, Ottawa West—Nepean, ON]

Actually, just to inform, my understanding is that on budget day on March 22 there wouldn't be any rooms available because of all the lock-ups. Have you confirmed a room for that day? There may be trouble.

[The Chair, Liberal, Larry Bagnell]

There wouldn't be any here but I'm sure there are rooms all over Parliament.

We have a room, yes.

[Anita Vandenbeld, Liberal, Ottawa West—Nepean, ON]

We have a room. Okay, sorry, I just wanted to double-check.

[The Chair, Liberal, Larry Bagnell]

Would someone suggest an estimate, either House or—

[David Christopherson, NDP, Hamilton Centre, ON]

Chair, wouldn't it make sense to tie the elections to the visit of the Chief Electoral Officer? Quite frankly, Mr. Reid, that should even open up a further broadening of questions you can ask under that ambit.

[The Chair, Liberal, Larry Bagnell]

The Tuesday we come back, the first hour we'll do the witness list; the second hour will be the House estimates. Is everyone agreed?

[Some hon. members]

Agreed.

[The Chair, Liberal, Larry Bagnell]

Now we'll go to Mr. Reid's motion. Go ahead.

[Scott Reid, Conservative, Lanark—Frontenac—Kingston, ON]

In practice, if adopted, this motion would mean we'd be inviting the witnesses to come on the Thursday of the week we come back after the break because that is the only remaining day in March. I'd just like to get a vote on this. The motion is: That the federal members of the Independent Advisory Board for Senate Appointments be invited to appear before the Committee before the end of March 2016, to answer all questions relating to their mandate and responsibilities.

I've already explained why I think that's important.

[The Chair, Liberal, Larry Bagnell]

Mr. Christopherson.

[David Christopherson, NDP, Hamilton Centre, ON]

Isn't there a speakers list?

[The Chair, Liberal, Larry Bagnell]

There is, but we're also at one o'clock, so I need permission from committee to extend the hours if you want to go on.

[Anita Vandenbeld, Liberal, Ottawa West—Nepean, ON]

I can't. No, we have other commitments.

[The Chair, Liberal, Larry Bagnell]

There is no permission to go on.

[Blake Richards, Conservative, Banff—Airdrie, AB]

Let the record show that the government side is clearly trying to block this motion from moving forward.

[The Chair, Liberal, Larry Bagnell]

The meeting is adjourned.