Procedure and House Affairs Committee on Dec. 8th, 2016

[Ruby Sahota, Liberal, Brampton North, ON]

Usually they're going at the end of question period.

[David Graham, Liberal, Laurentides—Labelle, QC]

—at the end of question period, just watch from about five to three, if there's a big group there, and you'll see security quietly going through and kicking everybody out—

[Ruby Sahota, Liberal, Brampton North, ON]

I agree.

[David Graham, Liberal, Laurentides—Labelle, QC]

—and I think that should not happen. I haven't received a good answer on that.

[Ruby Sahota, Liberal, Brampton North, ON]

It's only at the end of question period that they're usually—

[David Graham, Liberal, Laurentides—Labelle, QC]

Yes. So I want that addressed.

[The Chair, Liberal, Larry Bagnell]

Okay, we have lots of champions for that, and we'll discuss it. We'll get Ruby in there. She doesn't have her name in yet.

Topic 8, independent senators on interparliamentary associations: review procedures to allow independent senators to participate in interparliamentary associations.

Is that up to us?

[An hon. member]

No.

[Arnold Chan, Liberal, Scarborough—Agincourt, ON]

I don't think that would be up to us, but....

[David Graham, Liberal, Laurentides—Labelle, QC]

They're masters of their own....

[Arnold Chan, Liberal, Scarborough—Agincourt, ON]

They're masters of their own destiny. I think it's outside of our mandate.

[Don Davies, NDP, Vancouver Kingsway, BC]

It is.

[The Chair, Liberal, Larry Bagnell]

Okay, so we have no champions because we don't have any authority.

Topic 9, in table 16, indigenous peoples: study functioning of indigenous societies/governments.

[Ruby Sahota, Liberal, Brampton North, ON]

That was a standing order.

[The Chair, Liberal, Larry Bagnell]

That was mine.

[David Graham, Liberal, Laurentides—Labelle, QC]

It's a really big standing order.

[The Chair, Liberal, Larry Bagnell]

It wasn't like a standing order change; it was a suggestion, but that's okay.

Not to bring it on anymore, but the United States constitution is largely based on the Six Nations Confederacy. They got a lot of items from there. In our area, we have traditional first nations modes of governance that we have approved in modern treaties, and I was just suggesting that it's something we could look at in governing of Parliament, but we don't have to discuss it.

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

We can, if you want to.

[The Chair, Liberal, Larry Bagnell]

It's something else. It was just a notice for people to think about.

Topic 10 is joint meal room: create a place where members from all parties can eat meals together.

[Jamie Schmale, Conservative, Haliburton—Kawartha Lakes—Brock, ON]

It's called a cafeteria.

[The Chair, Liberal, Larry Bagnell]

No, but while you are in the House....

[An hon. member]

Is there a dining room there?

[David Graham, Liberal, Laurentides—Labelle, QC]

I'm actually not the sponsor, but I'll just explain where it comes from.

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

This is [Inaudible—Editor].

[David Graham, Liberal, Laurentides—Labelle, QC]

Yes, the idea is that.... It used to be the case that, instead of having our lunches in our own lobbies, there was a lunch room for the two sides to get together, and it created a more collaborative atmosphere. Now it has changed, not that long ago—