Evidence of meeting #1 for Human Resources, Skills and Social Development and the Status of Persons with Disabilities in the 40th Parliament, 2nd session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was chair.
A recording is available from Parliament.
The Clerk of the Committee Ms. Christine Holke David
Honourable members of the committee, I see there is a quorum.
Welcome to the committee. My name is Christine Holke David. I am the clerk of the committee. I am accompanied today by my colleague Michelle Tittley, who is also a clerk.
We can now proceed to the election of the chair.
Pursuant to Standing Order 106(2), the chair must be a member of the government party. I am ready to receive motions to that effect.
The Clerk
It has been moved by Mr. Cannan that Mr. Allison be elected as chair of the committee.
Liberal
Michael Savage Liberal Dartmouth—Cole Harbour, NS
I'd be honoured and delighted to second the nomination of Dean Allison to be our very adequate chair.
The Clerk
Are there any further motions?
Is it the pleasure of the committee to adopt the motion?
The Clerk
I declare the motion carried and Mr. Allison duly elected chair of the committee.
Before inviting Mr. Allison to take the chair, we will proceed to the election of vice-chairs.
Pursuant to Standing Order 106(2), the first vice-chair must be a member of the official opposition.
I am ready to receive motions for the positions of first vice-chair.
Liberal
Michael Savage Liberal Dartmouth—Cole Harbour, NS
It is my pleasure and honour to nominate Madame Raymonde Folco as first vice-chair.
The Clerk
It has been moved by Mr. Savage that Madame Folco be elected as first vice-chair of the committee.
Mr. Martin.
The Clerk
Thank you.
Are there any other motions? Is it the pleasure of the committee to adopt the motion?
(Motion agreed to)
I declare the motion carried and Ms. Folco duly elected first vice-chair of the committee.
Pursuant to Standing Order 106(2), the second vice-chair must be a member of an opposition party other than the official opposition.
I am now prepared to receive motions for second vice-chair.
The Clerk
It is moved by Mrs. Beaudin that Mr. Lessard be elected second vice-chair of the committee.
Are there any other motions?
The Clerk
I declare the motion carried and Monsieur Lessard duly elected as second vice-chair of the committee.
I now invite Mr. Allison to take the chair.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Dean Allison
We're going to make sure that everyone has the list of routine motions we adopted from the previous Parliament, as well as a standard list of routine motions, so we can make sure we're working off the same sheet.
I would like to welcome everyone to the human resources committee. I know that this committee has worked fairly well in the past, and certainly during the 39th Parliament. I'm looking forward to working with everyone as we move forward.
You have before you two lists of routine motions. Right now I will focus on the list that was passed by the 39th Parliament so individuals are not confused by two different lists. We'll move forward. They're numbered 1 through 14. If there's anything we feel is missing, by all means we can look at that.
In previous committees in which I was involved, this has taken from two to three hours. Maybe we can make it happen a little quicker today, but I won't make any promises. If we can do that, it would be great.
The first motion I have states that the subcommittee on agenda and procedure be composed of the chair, the two vice-chairs and one member of the New Democratic Party.
It is a motion we worked with before on the subcommittee on agenda. Do we have anyone to move that motion?
Mr. Komarnicki.
Conservative
Ed Komarnicki Conservative Souris—Moose Mountain, SK
I was on the immigration committee prior to being on the HUMA committee, and we started out along these lines. Our group and I suggested that the PS also be placed on the subcommittee's agenda. It seemed to work well and was helpful, in the sense that when it came back to the main body we didn't rehash a lot of the stuff, because we had indicated what the minister would like, what our group would like, and so on. It seemed to work well. Many committees don't have parliamentary secretaries--some do--but in immigration it worked. I would ask this group to consider it, and if you feel otherwise that's fine too.
The other thing I want to raise is that I'm not sure how it has worked in the past, but having each member of the opposition and no government member puts the chair in an awkward spot because he is the chair. I would say it should be a PS or one member of the present party. So I move an amendment that the parliamentary secretary be one of the parties added, or another government member. That's the only change I would make.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Dean Allison
I want someone to first make the motion. I apologize.
Mr. Savage is going to move the motion.
We'll go back to you, Mr. Komarnicki, if you would like to make it an amendment that the PS be added--
Conservative
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Dean Allison
Okay. I just came from the international trade committee, and it was recommended there by the NDP that a government member also be on the subcommittee on agenda. That is your proposed amendment. That's what we're discussing on the floor.
We'll take a list. I have Mr. Savage next, followed by Madame Folco.
Liberal
Michael Savage Liberal Dartmouth—Cole Harbour, NS
Thank you, Mr. Chair.
Let me offer my congratulations on your reappointment as chair. For you to do it on a voluntary basis is really very noble. Thank you for that.
I will oppose the amendment. This committee always worked before, when I was on the subcommittee, with a member from the Liberal Party, a member from the Bloc, Mr. Martin, and you as chair. It's not as if committee chairs aren't part of the governing party. They go to caucus meetings and have as much input as anybody else. I think you've always represented your party very well at those meetings, so I don't think there needs to be an extra member of this committee on the subcommittee.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Dean Allison
We'll go down the list right now. I have Madame Folco and then Mr. Vellacott.
Madame Folco.
Liberal
Raymonde Folco Liberal Laval—Les Îles, QC
Thank you, Mr. Chair. I too would like to congratulate you on your election. We have not worked together in the past, but I have heard a lot of very good things about you.
I am opposed to Mr. Komarnicki's motion. His argument has to do with the importance of having the parliamentary secretary present, because he has access to some information that could be useful to the steering committee. I found that interesting in some respects. However, he added that this individual could also be another government representative, not the parliamentary secretary. I do not find this logical at all. All he is really calling for is to have another government member on the steering committee.
I am therefore opposed to this motion, Mr. Chair.
