Procedure and House Affairs Committee on May 17th, 2016

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

I appreciate that we have to wait and see, and I appreciate that it is a hypothetical question. However, when we are contemplating such a change, we do need to understand what is possible and what can be accomplished.

I guess I will ask the question again. If the system that is brought forward calls for an increased number of seats or a redistribution, we must have some sense as to how long we would need to accomplish that.

I guess I will add to that question. We could be moving into the West Block chamber following the next election, or we may have already moved in, or we could still be in the current chamber if things are behind schedule. Could you give us some sense as to how many new seats could be accommodated in the current chamber, if necessary, and in a move to West Block, how many seats it could accommodate if that was necessary? You must have some sense as to....

We need to have that information when we are making those decisions, I think.

[Geoff Regan, Liberal, Halifax West, NS]

First of all, I can tell you that last Thursday, along with the House leaders and the whips of the three main parties, I had a tour of both the West Block and the Wellington Building. In the Wellington Building, the construction is basically finished. What is happening is the wiring and so forth. Getting it ready for members to move in and for committees to be meeting there is under way. That building will be used for a number of things, including 10 very nice committee rooms. How many offices for MPs were there?

[Marc Bosc]

It was 70.

[Geoff Regan, Liberal, Halifax West, NS]

There are 70 offices for MPs. Again, as I mentioned, I don't determine the allocation. We expect it will be open during the winter break. In other words, when we come back in the new year, we should be using it, I expect. That is well under way.

As for the West Block, the construction there seems to be going very well and is on schedule. It is an impressive development there, which I am sure you have heard about before. Maybe this committee wants to have a tour of it. I presume that is possible, and I encourage you to do that.

I will let Marc continue.

[Marc Bosc]

To go to the rest of your question, Mr. Richards, it is very difficult for us at this stage to go any further than what we have already said. It is a completely hypothetical construct at this point.

What I will say, though, is that in the West Block the floor space—and I stand to be corrected, Stéphan—is actually larger than in the current House. My understanding is that the currently planned seats that will go into the West Block are full-size seats like the ones in the old House. Is that correct?

Yes, that is correct.

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

What you are saying is that we would be getting rid of those benches that are on one wall.

[Marc Bosc]

That is the idea, yes.

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

Sorry to be insistent, but is there no way we can get any sense as to what number of seats that could accommodate if it was necessary? There must be some way....

[Marc Bosc]

We would have to get back to you on that. I don't have the answer.

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

If you could, I would appreciate it.

[Geoff Regan, Liberal, Halifax West, NS]

One of the neat things about it, of course, is that with the big dig next to the visitor centre, there are three floors that will be underground there. Also, in the middle of the West Block, what was the courtyard has been all dug out, so there will be three floors below the level of the new chamber, where there was just bedrock. It was just a slab before. They have created a lot of additional space that will be available in that building.

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

What do I have for time?

[The Chair, Liberal, Larry Bagnell]

You have 30 seconds.

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

Rather than move to something new, I think I will just thank you there.

[The Chair, Liberal, Larry Bagnell]

We go to our last speaker. Go ahead, David.

[David Christopherson, NDP, Hamilton Centre, ON]

Thanks, Mr. Chair. Thank you, Speaker, and everyone else who is here.

I want to start with BOIE. It is my understanding that the government promised in the last election to open up BOIE, and I haven't seen anything yet. I wonder if you can give us a sense of when we are going to throw open the doors of BOIE.

[Geoff Regan, Liberal, Halifax West, NS]

I am aware that this was mentioned in the mandate letter for the government House leader. I anticipate legislation on that at some point.

[David Christopherson, NDP, Hamilton Centre, ON]

Does it take legislation to open the doors?

[Geoff Regan, Liberal, Halifax West, NS]

Yes, it does.

[David Christopherson, NDP, Hamilton Centre, ON]

Can you expand on that a little?

[Geoff Regan, Liberal, Halifax West, NS]

It is in the Parliament of Canada Act, as I recall, but I am going to ask the Clerk to add to that.

[Marc Bosc]

I am going to call up the law clerk, because it is a legal question.

[Geoff Regan, Liberal, Halifax West, NS]

He doesn't want a non-practising lawyer answering that.

[Marc Bosc]

This is Philippe Dufresne, law clerk and parliamentary counsel.

[Philippe Dufresne, Law Clerk and Parliamentary Counsel]

Thank you.

Mr. Christopherson, the Parliament of Canada Act provides for the Board of Internal Economy, provides for confidentiality, and provides for an oath to be made by board members that prevents them from disclosing a whole range of matters, so opening that would require an amendment to those—