Indigenous and Northern Affairs Committee on Sept. 27th, 2011

[The Chair, Conservative, Chris Warkentin]

Mr. Masse.

[Brian Masse, NDP, Windsor West, ON]

I appreciate that, and you're right. The only thing is that this committee reports back to the main committee, which has ultimate authority. That's the only reason I suggested that as a compromise, and I understand your counter-argument. That was a concern when I was proposing it, but I'm trying to find some common ground.

[The Chair, Conservative, Chris Warkentin]

Are committee members ready for a vote on the amendment to the main motion?

Mr. Rickford.

[Greg Rickford, Conservative, Kenora, ON]

Just to be clear, Mr. Chair, I take it the subamendments include those other administrative pieces, including the quorum mechanism that permits each member to have an assistant at the meeting and the permission for each party to have one staff member from a House officer attend a subcommittee meeting?

[The Chair, Conservative, Chris Warkentin]

That is the way it has been documented.

Ms. Duncan.

[Linda Duncan, NDP, Edmonton Strathcona, AB]

I have a few questions on that before we vote.

I guess we're going to have to amend the motion after, to vote on whether or not we will add my recommendation that the subcommittee pursue its decisions based on consensus.

[The Chair, Conservative, Chris Warkentin]

We're speaking only to the amendment to the motion at this point in time.

Can we go to the vote?

[Linda Duncan, NDP, Edmonton Strathcona, AB]

We don't usually do the subamendment of the amendment before the amendment?

[The Chair, Conservative, Chris Warkentin]

Apparently I was mistaken. There was not a subamendment to the amendment. It was simply the amendment.

[Linda Duncan, NDP, Edmonton Strathcona, AB]

Well, there was, but I made it, so one of my colleagues could make it instead--

[The Chair, Conservative, Chris Warkentin]

Pardon me. Was that a—

[Linda Duncan, NDP, Edmonton Strathcona, AB]

I was putting it forward as a change, but it's probably more appropriate under the rules that one of my colleagues....

[The Chair, Conservative, Chris Warkentin]

It's totally within the scope of your role.

[Linda Duncan, NDP, Edmonton Strathcona, AB]

I can amend my own motion...? It seems a little odd to me.

[Some hon. members]

Oh, oh!

[The Chair, Conservative, Chris Warkentin]

Give me one second here. My understanding is that you would be amending the amendment, but if you're going to amend the main motion, then I think it's better that we deal with the amendment first.

[Linda Duncan, NDP, Edmonton Strathcona, AB]

I can amend the amendment. It doesn't make any difference to me--

[The Chair, Conservative, Chris Warkentin]

Okay. If you're fine to make it to the main motion, we will wait until we're back to the main motion.

All those in favour of the amendment to the main motion?

[Greg Rickford, Conservative, Kenora, ON]

Mr. Chair, if I may just caution...I think it's worth, as the clerk understands it, reading what—

[The Chair, Conservative, Chris Warkentin]

Yes, absolutely. Let's read it.

[The Clerk of the Committee, Mr. Jean-Marie David]

The motion may be somewhat modified grammatically, but right now what I have is that the subcommittee on agenda and procedure be established and be composed of five members, including the chair, the two vice-chairs, the parliamentary secretary, and another government member, quorum consisting of three members. Each member is allowed one staffer and one representative for each party.

[The Chair, Conservative, Chris Warkentin]

Can we go to the vote?

Mr. Payne.

[LaVar Payne, Conservative, Medicine Hat, AB]

Thank you, Chair.

I have a question in terms of the vote for the PS. That should be included in your amendment. I think that's what your amendment included: a vote for the PS--

[Greg Rickford, Conservative, Kenora, ON]

It's the exclusion of that line as it reads in the previous session of Parliament. In other words, that's a good point, Mr. Chair: that the parliamentary secretary will have a vote.

[The Chair, Conservative, Chris Warkentin]

I think that's clear from the way it was read.

(Amendment agreed to [See Minutes of Proceedings])

That motion is carried, so we're back to the main motion as it now reads. Is there any discussion on the main motion?

Ms. Duncan.