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

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

We can put something—

[The Chair, Liberal, Larry Bagnell]

Table 5 is on financial procedures. There's only one item here: ensure consistency between the estimates and the public accounts.

Mr. Davies.

On table 6 with respect to members, there are three topics.

Topic 1 is bribery (process).

[Ruby Sahota, Liberal, Brampton North, ON]

There's a process to...?

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

So much for honourable members.

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

That came from my speech too, because there's a standing order that said that bribery is a crime, but there's no process to deal with it. I thought, why do we have this if there's no process? I want to understand that.

[The Chair, Liberal, Larry Bagnell]

The explanation says to develop a process for the House to deal with a charge of bribery levelled against a member.

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

The standing order is also possible.

[The Chair, Liberal, Larry Bagnell]

Are you championing that?

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

I'll leave it alone.

[The Chair, Liberal, Larry Bagnell]

We're letting that one go. There's no champion.

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

Yes, I'll let it go.

[Ruby Sahota, Liberal, Brampton North, ON]

It's a criminal matter.

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

I know, but that's the point. Why is it in the Standing Orders if it's a criminal matter?

[The Chair, Liberal, Larry Bagnell]

Order. We've passed that. It's gone. It's dropped.

Topic 2 is rising to be recognized: allow party leadership to speak from any seat in the Chamber belonging to their party.

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

How do you define “leadership”?

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

That's from my speech. I said anybody from the House leadership teams.

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

So would that be House leaders, whips, party leaders?

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

House leaders, whips, deputy House leaders, deputy whips, because they're often moving around in the chamber, all parties. It's to allow them to speak from any spot. It's too complicated to have everybody do that, but if they're at the other end of the room and they need to speak, they need to be able to get up to speak. That would apply for every party.

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

Are you talking to the House teams?

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

The House teams, the House leaders, and deputy leaders.

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

The designated officers of the House.

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

The House officers, yes.

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

If you want to champion it, then champion it.

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

Yes, I'll champion it.

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

What would be so important that they have to rise to speak?