Evidence of meeting #3 for Procedure and House Affairs in the 43rd Parliament, 1st session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was amendment.
A recording is available from Parliament.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Ruby Sahota
Yes, we're on other business...actually, hold on. Just before we get there, I want to clear up one more thing. It's just an announcement, really.
From time to time in the previous Parliament, Mr. Bagnell used to host delegates or MPs from other countries, other PROC committees or equivalents, that would like to meet with our committee and share ideas. Currently, there has been a request from British MP Harriet Harman to meet with the committee on February 20. They're here for a conference or some business. Generally, in the past Parliament—but that doesn't matter, because we can decide here what we'd like to do—we held those meetings at a time other than the committee time. It was an informal meeting. It was not mandatory.
Would anyone on the committee, any of the members, be interested in meeting with the British MP on the 20th of February? That's a Thursday.
Conservative
Blake Richards Conservative Banff—Airdrie, AB
First of all, is there any indication as to how long a time this MP is seeking?
Conservative
Blake Richards Conservative Banff—Airdrie, AB
“Up to two hours”...? Let's not even get into that debate again.
Conservative
Blake Richards Conservative Banff—Airdrie, AB
I guess what I'm thinking is that we don't have a huge agenda at this point. The only thing that would be still ahead of us would be the minister. Obviously, one would hope that she will choose to come for the two hours. I think we've had it sort of telegraphed by the government that this won't be the case. We're hoping that it's not, in fact, what happens, and that there will be two hours, because I think we do need it. I want to make it quite clear that it would be disappointing if the minister chose not to come for two hours.
Having said that, I think we should leave a two-hour slot available for the minister. That may not be what the minister chooses to do, but we shouldn't make it not possible for her to come for two hours. We as a committee should be making two hours available. We should do that at a meeting where we have two hours available, which wouldn't be the case on Thursday, obviously. Maybe what we do, in case we don't have.... Until the steering committee meets, we wouldn't really have any other business items. Maybe we offer....
Conservative
Blake Richards Conservative Banff—Airdrie, AB
It's normal practice. We've often done these things outside of committee meetings. That's only because we generally don't have the time for it. We maybe do have time on Thursday. We could then have it during the regular committee time and have the steering committee thereafter. That leaves a two-hour spot available for the minister. If the minister chooses not to do that, I guess that's her choice, but we shouldn't, as a committee, be doing something that would not give that opportunity to the minister.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Ruby Sahota
Mr. Richards is suggesting a more formal meeting during our regular committee time, during I guess the first—
Conservative
Liberal
Conservative
Blake Richards Conservative Banff—Airdrie, AB
It's whatever the committee decides, but we could do it during our time, yes.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Ruby Sahota
It wouldn't be a formal meeting. It would be a very informal meet.
Yes, Ms. Blaney.
NDP
Rachel Blaney NDP North Island—Powell River, BC
I'm trying to understand this. Of course, as a new member of the procedure and House affairs committee, I'm not aware of how things have been done historically, so I appreciate your bringing this to our attention.
I'm wondering if I could get clarity around the usual practice. If we invite someone to participate in a meeting, will it set a standard that other people from other countries who come feel concerned that they weren't invited to a formal meeting of the committee?
I would just like—
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Ruby Sahota
During the committee time, it won't be a formal meeting. It will be an informal meeting. It could be around a committee table in a committee room, but it wouldn't have the formal setting.
The clerk will go ahead and organize that and send out the invitations. If you can come, that would be greatly appreciated.
That's all for the announcements.
Mr. Richards.
Conservative
Blake Richards Conservative Banff—Airdrie, AB
I want to again bring forward the item of business we were dealing with at the last meeting.
As I recall, where we finished up was that Mr. Therrien had indicated he believed he would be in a conflict of interest by participating in that debate and voting on that motion. Ms. Blaney then indicated she wasn't certain, but it seemed she was concerned that she may be in a conflict of interest.
I believe we made a decision to adjourn the debate at that time to allow some time for her and others to determine whether in fact that conflict of interest exists.
I just thought I'd bring this forward to see if there has been any update that can be provided on where we stand with that, and where members stand in terms of their potential conflicts of interest.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Ruby Sahota
The formal procedure to do this would be for you to move the motion to bring consideration of your amendment back on the table.
Conservative
Blake Richards Conservative Banff—Airdrie, AB
I'll move that the consideration of this be continued.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Ruby Sahota
We have to formally find out if the committee is in favour of continuing debate on this amendment.
