Evidence of meeting #45 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 champion.

A recording is available from Parliament.

On the agenda

MPs speaking

Also speaking

Clerk of the Committee  Mr. Andrew Lauzon
Dara Lithwick  Committee Researcher

12:10 p.m.

Conservative

Jamie Schmale Conservative Haliburton—Kawartha Lakes—Brock, ON

Okay.

The Chair Liberal Larry Bagnell

Are you championing that?

David Graham Liberal Laurentides—Labelle, QC

Yes, I'll champion that.

The Chair Liberal Larry Bagnell

Okay. That was topic 16, David.

Topic 17, physical layout of seating in the chamber: consider alternatives to the current adversarial seating arrangement.

In places like Sweden, and the House of Representatives in the United States, the seating is in a semi-circle, so you're all facing the Speaker. You're all attacking the same problem for your country together, as opposed to ours, which is confrontational across the floor.

That's what this topic is about.

David Graham Liberal Laurentides—Labelle, QC

[Inaudible—Editor] because sometimes a party sits on the government side, whereas when it's in the minority, it's the other way around.

Anita Vandenbeld Liberal Ottawa West—Nepean, ON

[Inaudible—Editor] when the new Centre Block is done?

David Graham Liberal Laurentides—Labelle, QC

The new Centre Block is already....

The Chair Liberal Larry Bagnell

[Technical difficulty—Editor]

Mr. Davies. Okay, good.

Remind me, Anita, to make a comment on the new Centre Block when we finish the end of this list.

Anita Vandenbeld Liberal Ottawa West—Nepean, ON

Okay.

The Chair Liberal Larry Bagnell

Topic 18, recognized parties in the House: allow parties with fewer than 12 members to be recognized; increase their resources and allocate them committee seats.

David Graham Liberal Laurentides—Labelle, QC

I wonder where that came from.

Don Davies NDP Vancouver Kingsway, BC

Eleven guesses.

Some hon. members

Oh, oh!

Arnold Chan Liberal Scarborough—Agincourt, ON

Who's doing 19?

The Chair Liberal Larry Bagnell

No one did that one yet.

Topic 19 is seats in the chamber: change the design of the seats in the chamber, e.g. the seats in the chamber have the tendency of ripping suit pockets.

David Graham Liberal Laurentides—Labelle, QC

Having ripped six pockets since the last election, I will defend this.

12:10 p.m.

Conservative

Tom Lukiwski Conservative Moose Jaw—Lake Centre—Lanigan, SK

Are you talking about your suit pockets or your pants pocket?

David Graham Liberal Laurentides—Labelle, QC

The pants.

It has not happened since I gave the speech, so I clearly learned my lesson.

Don Davies NDP Vancouver Kingsway, BC

It may be a causation correlation.

The Chair Liberal Larry Bagnell

Okay, David's championing that.

David Graham Liberal Laurentides—Labelle, QC

I will champion that.

Don Davies NDP Vancouver Kingsway, BC

I'll back you up.

David Graham Liberal Laurentides—Labelle, QC

Thank you, Don.

Everybody except Scott Reid has had it happen once.

The Chair Liberal Larry Bagnell

Topic 20 is Senate during dissolution.

David Graham Liberal Laurentides—Labelle, QC

That's what I was talking about earlier.