Evidence of meeting #1 for Citizenship and Immigration 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.
Bloc
Thierry St-Cyr Bloc Jeanne-Le Ber, QC
In all sincerity, I do not see the relevance of this either. If the chair and the vice-chairs are away, how can the chair name a replacement? I do not see that the motion is relevant.
Liberal
Maurizio Bevilacqua Liberal Vaughan, ON
Actually, Mr. Chairman, there may be an occasion where you could leave the chair halfway through a meeting.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative David Tilson
Exactly. You've raised a good point. If I'm not here and the vice-chairs aren't here, I guess we don't meet.
The issue has been raised. It is possible that I might have to leave partway through the meeting for some reason and the two vice-chairs are not present. I don't know. Dotting is and crossing ts, I think the motion is in order.
(Motion negatived)
Conservative
Rick Dykstra Conservative St. Catharines, ON
The next motion, Mr. Chair, is that the witnesses from any one organization shall be allowed ten minutes to make their opening statement. During the questioning of witnesses, there shall be allocated seven minutes for the first round of questioning, and thereafter five minutes shall be allocated to each questioner in the second and subsequent rounds of questioning.
Liberal
Jim Karygiannis Liberal Scarborough—Agincourt, ON
Mr. Tilson, I think we need to talk about the rounds. Last time around, what we had was a special formula whereby every member was able to speak. I was wondering if the clerk has that motion from the last Parliament.
Conservative
Conservative
Rick Dykstra Conservative St. Catharines, ON
I have one on the floor already. This is for when we have witnesses.
Liberal
Jim Karygiannis Liberal Scarborough—Agincourt, ON
But you're saying seven minutes. That should be part and parcel of it.
Conservative
Rick Dykstra Conservative St. Catharines, ON
No. What I am moving is what the witness time allocation will be. This is what this motion is about. Then it's the subsequent questioning of the witnesses. The next motion I have is with respect to the direct order of questioning under normal circumstances.
Liberal
Jim Karygiannis Liberal Scarborough—Agincourt, ON
I'm sorry, Mr. Chair. Can we have that read again for the record?
Conservative
Rick Dykstra Conservative St. Catharines, ON
It is that the witnesses from any one organization shall be allowed ten minutes to make their opening statement. During the questioning of witnesses, there shall be allocated seven minutes for the first round of questioning, and thereafter five minutes shall be allocated to each questioner in the second and subsequent rounds of questioning.
Liberal
Jim Karygiannis Liberal Scarborough—Agincourt, ON
Mr. Chair, is there any possibility that we can add the order that the questions flow in? If we go Conservative, Liberal--
Conservative
Rick Dykstra Conservative St. Catharines, ON
I'm sorry, I think I can handle this. I'll put this motion aside. I'll move the order of questioning first. As a motion, I think that'll help in terms of understanding it.
I'll withdraw that motion and move that the order of questions for the first round of questioning shall be as follows: Liberal, Bloc, NDP, Conservative. Questioning during the second round shall alternate between the opposition members and government members in the following fashion: Liberal, Conservative, Bloc, Conservative, Liberal, Conservative, Conservative, based on the principle that each committee member should have a full opportunity to question the witness or witnesses. If time permits, further rounds shall repeat the pattern of the first two at the discretion of the chair.
Bloc
Thierry St-Cyr Bloc Jeanne-Le Ber, QC
I would like to move an amendment. At this committee, the second round has always traditionally gone like this: the Liberals, the Bloc and the Conservatives. That is what we did last year. It allows us to keep our forum interesting and balanced.
Conservative
Rick Dykstra Conservative St. Catharines, ON
Mr. St-Cyr may want to live in the past of the 39th Parliament. There are actually more members for the Conservative Party sitting at committee; therefore, we do get an additional question. That's the reason for this motion. I'll leave it as stands.
Bloc
Thierry St-Cyr Bloc Jeanne-Le Ber, QC
I am not suggesting taking a round away from the Conservatives, just changing the order so that it is similar to the first round. On the first round, the order would be: Liberals, Bloc, NDP and Conservatives. On the second round, it would be Liberals, Bloc, Conservatives, then Liberals, then Conservatives. The Conservatives would still have one more chance to speak. It is just about the order.
Conservative