Evidence of meeting #1 for Indigenous and Northern Affairs in the 39th 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.
3:35 p.m.
The Clerk of the Committee Ms. Bonnie Charron
Honourable members of the committee, I see a quorum.
So we can proceed to the election of the chair.
I am ready to receive motions to that effect.
3:35 p.m.
Conservative
Rod Bruinooge Conservative Winnipeg South, MB
I would like to move a motion that Mr. Barry Devolin become the chair of this committee.
3:35 p.m.
The Clerk
There is a motion by Mr. Rod Bruinooge that Mr. Devolin be chair of the committee.
Are there any other nominating motions?
Is it the pleasure of the committee to adopt the motion?
(Motion agreed to)
3:35 p.m.
The Clerk
Mr. Devolin is duly elected as chair of the committee.
Before inviting you to take the chair, we will now proceed to the election of the 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 position of first vice-chair.
3:35 p.m.
Liberal
Anita Neville Liberal Winnipeg South Centre, MB
Thank you.
I would like to put forward the name of Nancy Karetak-Lindell as a vice-chair, please.
3:35 p.m.
The Clerk
We have a motion by Madam Neville that Madam Nancy Karetak-Lindell be elected as first vice-chair of the committee.
Are there any other motions?
Is it the pleasure of the committee to adopt that motion?
(Motion agreed to)
3:35 p.m.
The Clerk
Madam Nancy Karetak-Lindell is duly elected first vice-chair of the committee.
I am now prepared to receive motions for second vice-chair. The second vice-chair must be a member of an opposition party other than the official opposition.
We'll go to Monsieur Lemay.
3:35 p.m.
Bloc
Marc Lemay Bloc Abitibi—Témiscamingue, QC
Madam Clerk, I nominate Ms. Jean Crowder for the position of second vice-chair.
3:35 p.m.
The Clerk
Mr. Lemay nominates Ms. Crowder for the position of second vice-chair of the committee.
Are there any other motions?
Is it the pleasure of the committee to adopt that motion?
(Motion agreed to)
3:35 p.m.
The Clerk
Madam Crowder is duly elected second vice-chair of the committee.
I now invite Mr. Devolin to take the chair.
3:35 p.m.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Barry Devolin
Thank you.
I just wanted to say thank you to the committee and introduce myself to some of you who I don't know. Most people pronounce my name by saying DEV-olin, so I won't hold that against Rod. But it's actually de-VOL-in.
As you know, I am new to this committee, but I look forward to working with you and to learning more about these issues. This is also the first time I have chaired a parliamentary committee, so I encourage you to be gentle with me, and if I move a little slowly at first on some of the rulings, I ask your indulgence.
It's my understanding that our next order of business is to consider a set of routine motions that has been distributed. Rather than going through each, if anyone has any concerns about these motions or would like to propose any changes, we would consider those.
Does anyone want to...?
3:35 p.m.
Conservative
Rod Bruinooge Conservative Winnipeg South, MB
Actually, Mr. Chair, we would like to put forward a recommendation, and that is in relation to the subcommittee makeup. I felt, and I think other members of our party felt, that we put our chair in a difficult position to maintain his role as—
3:35 p.m.
NDP
Jean Crowder NDP Nanaimo—Cowichan, BC
My understanding is that the agenda for this meeting was simply to elect the chair and the vice-chairs and that we would not be considering any other business at this committee meeting.
3:35 p.m.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Barry Devolin
Sorry, it was my understanding that we would be electing the chairs and dealing with the routine motions. Was that correct?
Is there a concern about dealing with the routine motions today?
3:35 p.m.
NDP
Jean Crowder NDP Nanaimo—Cowichan, BC
Normally we would have notice of what was going to be on an agenda, so it's highly unusual for us to consider something that's actually not on the agenda without giving all committee members ample time to prepare for it.
3:35 p.m.
Conservative
Brian Storseth Conservative Westlock—St. Paul, AB
Thank you, Mr. Chair.
It's been my understanding that this is a fairly routine procedure that's been going on all day today with the new committees and that the routine motions are simply some of the housekeeping that we need to get done as a committee. There are no rookies here any more. We should all be prepared to deal with some of these most basic items, I would think.
3:35 p.m.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Barry Devolin
I know that the routine proceedings were in the briefing binder that was distributed. I know they were in the one that I got, but I don't know about it going to all committee members.
Ms. Crowder.
3:35 p.m.
NDP
Jean Crowder NDP Nanaimo—Cowichan, BC
My understanding is that the parliamentary secretary is now proposing changes. When the routine proceedings were simply a rollover of what we had in the past, it was a simple matter. I understand from what the parliamentary secretary is saying that he wants to introduce some changes. I think it should be a notice on the agenda and that perhaps it would be helpful to have some of those suggested changes in advance so we could review and consider them.
3:35 p.m.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Barry Devolin
It has been brought to my attention that one of the routine motions that we could be considering today is the notice of motion provision that determines how many hours notice is necessary. Until that is passed, there actually is no requirement that there be a period of time until we consider this business.
I would prefer to go ahead with this today. I'm in the hands of the committee. I'm looking for more input here. Basically we have two options. We can defer the consideration of routine motions until the next meeting, or we can deal with them today and then be ready to move on with more business. It is my understanding that other committees do deal with this. It is also my understanding that these have in fact been distributed to all members of the committee through the briefing book.
3:40 p.m.
NDP
Jean Crowder NDP Nanaimo—Cowichan, BC
Mr. Chair, could I have a clarification, then? If we're being presented with this and just asked to consider what's before us, I think many of us probably wouldn't have any problems with this, but I understood the parliamentary secretary to introduce a change.
3:40 p.m.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Barry Devolin
That is correct, that is exactly what happened.
Maybe, Mr. Bruinooge, you could quickly explain what your proposed change is, and then we can make a determination whether people may need time to consider it or not.
3:40 p.m.
Conservative
Rod Bruinooge Conservative Winnipeg South, MB
The change that I wanted to propose was simply to add a Conservative member to the subcommittee, so that the chair isn't required to represent the government's position at the subcommittee and can remain the non-partisan entity on that subcommittee. This was the proposal that I wanted to make.
3:40 p.m.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Barry Devolin
I understand that before the summer, in this committee, the subcommittee was comprised of four members--one from each of the caucuses. I do know that on the immigration and citizenship committee on which I sat, there was the chair plus one member from each caucus, the notion being that one of the caucus members could represent their agenda and it precluded the chair from having to act in a partisan fashion while in subcommittee, but to be non-partisan and neutral in the committee. So we did it in that committee in deference to the chair, not to put him in an awkward situation.
Monsieur Lemay.