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.
11:35 a.m.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Ruby Sahota
We have a steering committee almost set up. We have the names of the members. We can slot in a time for that committee to meet.
Would you like for the steering committee to meet? How about meeting before or after next Tuesday's meeting for however long? I mean, it could take just half an hour or....
It wouldn't work for your schedule? Okay.
11:35 a.m.
Conservative
Blake Richards Conservative Banff—Airdrie, AB
If we're going to do a Tuesday meeting, then maybe we would have to do the steering committee when we have Thursday's meeting. I don't know.
11:40 a.m.
Conservative
Blake Richards Conservative Banff—Airdrie, AB
I think that would probably be ideal. It makes it easier for everybody. They already have that time planned in their schedule. We all know how our schedules can be around here. Sometimes we may have to decide to do it outside of those times, but I don't think we're at that spot right now. We're not seeing a huge agenda here.
11:40 a.m.
Liberal
Ryan Turnbull Liberal Whitby, ON
I just want to clarify. Bear with me here; I'm relatively new.
I just want to understand the role and the function of a steering committee. I know the role of a steering committee quite well in other contexts. Is it primarily to form agendas and prepare those for this group? If so, these are very short meetings. From time to time, could they happen by conference call if members are busy? This is just a thought.
11:40 a.m.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Ruby Sahota
To the first part, yes, the steering committee would be setting the agenda, maybe deciding on witnesses at times. However, we would not be able to do it via conference call. It would have to be in a formal setting, with the translation and everything provided.
11:40 a.m.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Ruby Sahota
Of course, at the meeting after, where the full committee would meet, the steering committee would be bringing their recommendations to the full committee.
11:40 a.m.
Liberal
11:40 a.m.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Ruby Sahota
Yes.
Tentatively, since at this time the agenda is not that full, we can set it up for the next Thursday meeting. If we find that we want to call some other witnesses on Thursday, we could have the steering committee sit for one hour and the witnesses brought in during the second hour, or however we wish to do it.
11:40 a.m.
Liberal
Mark Gerretsen Liberal Kingston and the Islands, ON
Do we need that much time for the steering committee?
11:40 a.m.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Ruby Sahota
The clerk says that the amount of time the steering committee needs can be unpredictable. He's even hesitant to slot them in for only an hour.
It's up to the committee. At this time, I personally don't foresee that the committee would take that long, but it's hard to say.
11:40 a.m.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Ruby Sahota
Do you mean the hour after committee, or are you saying during the second hour of committee?
11:40 a.m.
Liberal
Mark Gerretsen Liberal Kingston and the Islands, ON
Were you going to make it the first hour of committee?
11:40 a.m.
Liberal
11:40 a.m.
Liberal
Mark Gerretsen Liberal Kingston and the Islands, ON
If it only takes 10 minutes, and you've done it before, then you've potentially....
11:40 a.m.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Ruby Sahota
There's a gap. That's a good point.
We could slot it in for the second hour of Thursday's meeting.
Is that okay? All right.
11:40 a.m.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Ruby Sahota
The full committee would be here for only the first hour. After that, we would adjourn the formal committee. Only the members of the steering committee would remain for the second hour of Thursday.
11:40 a.m.
Liberal
Mark Gerretsen Liberal Kingston and the Islands, ON
Are the steering committee meetings all in camera?