Evidence of meeting #4 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 things.
A recording is available from Parliament.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Larry Bagnell
I want to get exact details of the next meeting. First of all, we're going to ask those three clerks to comment on the items in the mandate letter, or do we have a specific sub-list, a shorter list?
NDP
David Christopherson NDP Hamilton Centre, ON
I have to tell you, for what it's worth, Mr. Chair, that I think we should start with just the one subject and see how we do. It's complex enough. It has so many moving parts to it.
NDP
David Christopherson NDP Hamilton Centre, ON
There's the inclusive Parliament, the family-friendly piece, and I would suggest confining it just to that for now until we get our sea legs, our rhythm, and then we can start tackling.... If we put too much on there, it's going to be overwhelming and we're not going to get anywhere. That's my worry.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Larry Bagnell
The clerk doesn't quite understand. Could you be a bit more detailed on the items under the mandate letter, items that fit under that topic?
NDP
David Christopherson NDP Hamilton Centre, ON
My concern was that if we just say anything in the mandate items, which really is anything under the sun—
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Larry Bagnell
No, that's not what I'm saying. Just define that a bit more: the inclusive and the family friendly, the Friday sittings—
NDP
David Christopherson NDP Hamilton Centre, ON
Yes, it's anything at all that affects the life here, the rhythm. I don't know how you phrase it.
Liberal
NDP
David Christopherson NDP Hamilton Centre, ON
Yes, but what it's not about is public accounts and estimates. It's not about the Senate.
What it is about is anything that has to do with making this a more inclusive Parliament, family friendly, call it what you will. For anything that the caucuses believe is part of that rubric, bring it to the steering committee, bring it to the discussion.
Liberal
David Graham Liberal Laurentides—Labelle, QC
Are we limited to two meetings a week if this gets out of hand?
Liberal
Kevin Lamoureux Liberal Winnipeg North, MB
I wonder if it might help if we give a few examples. For example, Dominic talked about two sitting days on a Tuesday, the Fridays, and the time in which we have votes inside the House. Those are a few of the specifics, just as examples. Others might want to throw out another couple of examples, but those are the three that come to mind right away.
NDP
David Christopherson NDP Hamilton Centre, ON
It's not a child care space, but a private family space, if that came up. Personally, I would leave a little more latitude for each of the caucuses to come up with whatever they think is part of this, and they can make the argument.
Liberal
Kevin Lamoureux Liberal Winnipeg North, MB
They could cite a few examples of what they're talking about.
NDP
David Christopherson NDP Hamilton Centre, ON
Sure.
Did we agree, Chair, that we would hold these hearings first and then hold a steering committee, and at that time we would bring all of it together and then bring a path back to the committee?
NDP
David Christopherson NDP Hamilton Centre, ON
I think where we were heading was to let ourselves be informed by the witnesses before we talk to our colleagues, so we can pass that on to them and bring back the information in the context of what we've already heard.