I raised the same questions to the clerk. I've chaired a few meetings in this place, and I don't recall this happening either.
The clerk has directed me to some broadcasting guidelines, which are directed for the media, and these came through a Standing Committee on Procedure and House Affairs report, the 40th report, adopted by the committee on March 29, 2007. The report was then presented to the House on March 30, 2007, and concurred in at the House on March 30, 2007. The clerk has given me a copy of the broadcasting guidelines. I don't imagine anyone else has them. If anyone has any questions....
Clearly, Monsieur St-Cyr, there is a guideline that mentions: “Where the notice for the meeting is either issued or amended during the 24 hour period prior to the meeting, the clerk must be notified at least two hours in advance of the meeting.”
As I understand it, this is CTV that is with us, and they have complied with those guidelines.
There are other guidelines, such as the cameras must be in fixed positions, they can't move around; only the individual recognized by the chair is to be filmed; close-up shots of people or documents, or reaction shots among others, are not permitted; and it goes on.
I suppose at a later date we could ask the clerk, or maybe I can tell her now, to send copies of these guidelines in French and English to all members of the committee. But we are bound by an order of the House of Commons, and CTV is quite properly here. I'm sure they know the guidelines, and we'll be watching that the guidelines are followed.
So your point of order is well taken, but quite frankly, pursuant to the order of the House of Commons, I have no problem with them being here.