Procedure and House Affairs Committee on Nov. 28th, 2017

Evidence of meeting #81 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 debates.

A recording is available from Parliament.

On the agenda

Creation of an Independent Commissioner Responsible for Leaders’ Debates

MPs speaking

David Christopherson

Also speaking

Clerk of the Committee Mr. Andrew Lauzon

Paul Wells Senior Writer, Maclean's, As an Individual

Vincent Raynauld Assistant Professor, Emerson College; Affiliate Professor, Université du Québec à Trois-Rivières, As an Individual

Thierry Giasson Full Professor, Département de science politique, Université Laval, As an Individual

Alex Marland Professor, Department of Political Science, Memorial University of Newfoundland, As an Individual

Maxwell A. Cameron Professor, Department of Political Science, University of British Columbia, As an Individual

Conservative

Scott Reid Conservative Lanark—Frontenac—Kingston, ON

Can I suggest an alternative here? I'm actually going to propose it as an amendment just so we have a formal way of either agreeing to it or dismissing it and moving back to what's being suggested here. The amendment I propose is that a comma be added to the end of what's written here and these words added: “provided that the meeting be extended by an additional five minutes for each panel of witnesses”.

NDP

David Christopherson NDP Hamilton Centre, ON

That would be the easiest. I would prefer that.

Conservative

Scott Reid Conservative Lanark—Frontenac—Kingston, ON

Would that be okay with people?

NDP

David Christopherson NDP Hamilton Centre, ON

That way nobody loses anything and colleagues are gaining for the price of five minutes.

Liberal

Chris Bittle Liberal St. Catharines, ON

Is that per panel?

Conservative

Scott Reid Conservative Lanark—Frontenac—Kingston, ON

Yes, it's per panel.

Liberal

David Graham Liberal Laurentides—Labelle, QC

So if there are two panels, it would be extended by 10 minutes.

Conservative

Scott Reid Conservative Lanark—Frontenac—Kingston, ON

Should I read it again, Chris?

November 28th, 2017 / 1:15 p.m.

Liberal

Chris Bittle Liberal St. Catharines, ON

No, I heard it. I just wanted to know—

Conservative

Scott Reid Conservative Lanark—Frontenac—Kingston, ON

It's per panel, yes. We would be wrapping up five or 10 minutes later.

Liberal

David Graham Liberal Laurentides—Labelle, QC

This all only applies if they actually come. Is that right?

Liberal

The Chair Liberal Larry Bagnell

That's true.

With that amendment, is there any further discussion?

(Amendment agreed to [See Minutes of Proceedings])

(Motion as amended agreed to [See Minutes of Proceedings])

The independents will have to sort out amongst themselves who comes or who's allowed to come.

The Clerk

So I'll write to them all?

Liberal

The Chair Liberal Larry Bagnell

Okay. Will you explain that to them?

The Clerk

Yes.

Liberal

The Chair Liberal Larry Bagnell

We'll bring back, where we can, the Board of Internal Economy rules on those other questions. If there are ones, we'll use them.

Is there anything else for the good of the nation?

Conservative

Scott Reid Conservative Lanark—Frontenac—Kingston, ON

No, thank you, Mr. Chair.

I appreciate how you always look over at me before you hit the gavel.

Voices

Oh, oh!

Liberal

The Chair Liberal Larry Bagnell

The meeting is adjourned.