Human Resources Committee on May 4th, 2006

[Denis Coderre, Liberal, Bourassa, QC]

Mr. Chair, I disagree with that. I believe we should have a first and second series, such as seven minutes and five minutes. We have plenty of questions all the time for witnesses. You should add a third series where you alternate between the opposition and government.

I think it's important that all representatives of the opposition can have a second slot, to make sure everybody has equal time. It's just for the sake of equity.

During the first round of questions where members would have seven minutes, we should proceed in the manner suggested. For the second round, each opposition representative would have five minutes. Subsequently, for the third round, questions would alternate between the government and the opposition. This approach would be conducive to the smooth running of the committee. We're capable of weeding through all of the questions. However, all political party representatives, whether from the opposition or from the government, need to have their formal say during the first two rounds of questions.

[The Chair, Conservative, Dean Allison]

I want to point out again that in the second round, the government will not get a chance to have all their members heard. If we don't go to what was proposed in the 38th Parliament, I am suggesting that if we go to a third round, then we should be able to alternate back and forth.

Go ahead with your comments.

[Carolyn Bennett, Liberal, St. Paul's, ON]

From my experience, the government doesn't always get all their members anyway. I think the alternating approach was based on a majority government where there were more government members than opposition. I think it's going to be very important that all parties be represented in the second round. Alternating in the second round really isn't a fair picture of the country after this election.

I support Monsieur Lessard.

[The Chair, Conservative, Dean Allison]

But it was fair in the 38th Parliament?

[Carolyn Bennett, Liberal, St. Paul's, ON]

I wasn't on the committee.

[The Chair, Conservative, Dean Allison]

This is the same procedure as the 38th Parliament.

Mrs. Yelich.

[Lynne Yelich, Conservative, Blackstrap, SK]

Yes, exactly. It does reflect the House better if we do it the way we did it in the previous Parliament.

So the second round is Liberal, Conservative, Bloc, and the third round is Liberal, Conservative, and then Bloc, NDP, if time allows.

That's more in tune with what is reflected in the House. It's not necessarily what was done in the last Parliament but how the House is reflected. Unfortunately, the second round doesn't reflect that if we include the third party of the House.

[Denis Coderre, Liberal, Bourassa, QC]

Mr. Chair, welcome to politics.

[The Chair, Conservative, Dean Allison]

Yes.

[Denis Coderre, Liberal, Bourassa, QC]

I will make a formal amendment.

I second my Bloc Québécois colleague's motion calling on us to keep to the same order for both the first and second rounds of questions. The only difference is that seven minutes would be allocated in the first round for questions and five minutes in the second round, with representatives of all political parties present allowed to ask questions. With this amendment, I move that the Chair allow, at its discretion, a third round of questions during which opposition parties and the government would take turns asking questions. I 'd like to make this a formal motion.

[The Chair, Conservative, Dean Allison]

Thank you, Mr. Coderre. Let me just recap that.

We would look at round one and two exactly the way it is laid out, but in the third round, at the discretion of the chair, we go back and forth between the government and the opposition. Correct?

[Denis Coderre, Liberal, Bourassa, QC]

And series number one is seven minutes and series number two is five minutes.

[The Chair, Conservative, Dean Allison]

And number three would be five minutes as well.

[Denis Coderre, Liberal, Bourassa, QC]

Alternatively, at your discretion.

[The Chair, Conservative, Dean Allison]

Mr. Lake.

[Mike Lake, Conservative, Edmonton—Mill Woods—Beaumont, AB]

I'd just like to ask a question, based on the fact that I haven't been through this before. That would leave the member from the NDP having 12 minutes, whereas I would, for example, have just over two. Is that a reasonable approach?

[An hon. member]

You're not alone.

[Mike Lake, Conservative, Edmonton—Mill Woods—Beaumont, AB]

No, I know, but if you look at Parliament the way it's represented right now, does that seem reasonable? Does it seem reasonable that that party would get the same amount of time as the government party? I don't think so. Clearly it doesn't make any sense.

[Jean-Claude D'Amours, Liberal, Madawaska—Restigouche, NB]

I request a vote on the motion. I'm referring to both the proposal and to the amendment.

[The Chair, Conservative, Dean Allison]

Okay.

Mr. Coderre has proposed that in the first and second rounds we have the Liberal Party, the Bloc, the NDP, and the Conservatives, at seven minutes each; the second round would follow in exactly the same way, with only five minutes; and the third round would be opposition, government, opposition, government, five minutes, at the discretion of the chair.

That is the proposal we have out there. Is there any more discussion on that proposal?

I'll call the vote then.

(Motion agreed to)

[The Chair, Conservative, Dean Allison]

I believe we have another motion that should be before you. It's from Mrs. Yelich. I'll just read it out to you:

I, Lynne Yelich, Member of Parliament for Blackstrap, move that the following two motions be added to the Routine Motions of the Standing Committee on Standing Committee on Human Resources, Social Development and the Status of Persons with Disabilities:

1. That whenever the Main Estimates or the Supplementary Estimates are tabled in the House, the Committee invite the Minister and any relevant Senior Officials of a Department to appear at a meeting of the Committee, which is televised if possible.

2. That whenever a Chapter of a Report of the Auditor General refers to a subject under the mandate of the Committee, the Committee invite the Office of the Auditor General of Canada and any relevant Senior Officials of a Department to appear at a meeting of the Committee, which is televised if possible.

That's the proposal. Do we have any discussion on that?

(Motion agreed to)

[The Chair, Conservative, Dean Allison]

Do we have any additional business for today? Good.

The meeting is adjourned.