Evidence of meeting #1 for Industry, Science and Technology in the 39th Parliament, 1st Session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was mcteague.
11:05 a.m.
The Clerk of the Committee Mr. Richard Dupuis
Good morning. I see there is quorum. As clerk, I am going to proceed to the election of a chair and the two vice-chairs. I am going to begin with the election of a chair. I am ready for motions to that effect.
Mr. Crête.
11:05 a.m.
Bloc
Paul Crête Bloc Montmagny—L'Islet—Kamouraska—Rivière-du-Loup, QC
I move that Mr. Rajotte be elected chair.
11:05 a.m.
The Clerk
Moved by Mr. Crête that Mr. James Rajotte be elected chair of the committee. Are there any other motions to that effect? No.
I declare Mr. Rajotte duly elected chair of the Standing Committee on Industry, Science and Technology.
(Motion agreed to.)
I am now going to proceed to the election of the first vice-chair, who must, according to the Standing Orders, come from the official opposition. I am ready for motions to that effect.
11:05 a.m.
The Clerk
Moved by Mr. Holland that Mr. McTeague be elected vice-chair of the committee. Are there any other motions to that effect? No.
I declare Mr. McTeague duly elected vice-chair of the Standing Committee on Industry, Science and Technology.
(Motion agreed to.)
11:05 a.m.
The Clerk
I am now going to proceed to the election of the second vice-chair.
Mr. Masse.
11:05 a.m.
The Clerk
Moved by Mr. Masse that Mr. Crête be elected vice-chair of the committee.
There being no other nominations, I declare Mr. Paul Crête duly elected vice-chair of the Standing Committee on Industry, Science and Technology.
(Motion agreed to.)
11:05 a.m.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative James Rajotte
Thank you very much, everyone, for that unanimous vote of confidence. I think that's the only time I've been unanimously elected to anything.
We are going to proceed right into the agenda, but at the opening I just want to make a few comments.
I've served on this committee, formally and informally, since I was elected in 2000, and I think this committee, since that time, has had a reputation for being very substantive and hard-working, with members who exchanged views very passionately but always respectfully. This committee has also shown a very good working relationship in terms of tackling some very tough issues, but in doing so, always keeping in mind that we're representing all our people here, in Parliament and in the committee. So I hope we would certainly continue that.
I know many of you working on this committee have sat here for some time, so I look forward to continuing to work with you. To the new members, I look forward to getting to know you and working with you as well.
I would just encourage you, especially the members who have served on this committee before, to mentor those who are new members, but also to reach across party lines and start forming friendships and relationships so that when we do discuss some tough issues and have disagreements, we can always do so respectfully.
I want to congratulate the two vice-chairs, Mr. McTeague and Monsieur Crête, for their election. I would just remind Mr. McTeague that now that I'm the chair of the committee, it means that at the annual hockey game tonight he has to let me score at least one goal on him--easier said than done.
At this point, perhaps we could have the clerk, Richard Dupuis, explain his role and Alexandre Roger's role.
11:05 a.m.
The Clerk
I'm going to be the main clerk. Alexandre is beginning with us and we are going to share some files, but I will be the main clerk. So if there are problems, you come to me.
11:05 a.m.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative James Rajotte
Also, I think we should at this point introduce our two main researchers, Dan and Lalita, who have been on the industry committee for as long as I can remember. Dan comes from an economics background and Lalita more from a science and technology background. I think I can fairly state that they are two of the best researchers we have here on Parliament Hill and two of the best researchers the Library of Parliament has to offer. Please, all parties, utilize them to the fullest extent possible.
I believe you all have the agenda in front of you. At this point, we should go through the routine motions. The first is for the services of analysts from the Library of Parliament.
It is moved by Mr. Holland. All in favour, please signify.
(Motion agreed to [See Minutes of Proceedings])
11:05 a.m.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative James Rajotte
The second motion is a motion establishing a subcommittee on agenda and procedure. At this point I'd like to have a discussion.
In the industry committee in the past we have had a subcommittee, but we often found that the subcommittee would propose something for the agenda, but then the larger committee would propose something else for the agenda.
So one option is to have a subcommittee. A second option is to have all members present and be part of a steering committee, so that the steering committee would in effect be the entire industry committee. That way, if any of you had any issues, you could bring them forward and we could discuss them.
I'm open to comments and suggestions as to which option members prefer.
Mr. McTeague.
11:10 a.m.
Liberal
Dan McTeague Liberal Pickering—Scarborough East, ON
Chair, congratulations.
I have not canvassed our members on this issue, but I believe there was a time, certainly when I was on this committee, when there was a steering committee. That's not to take away from the advice and input of various members.
We note the presence of Mr. Arthur, who is an independent member. As an independent, he may not be able to sit on a steering committee.
I am of two minds. I think we should maybe have a steering committee that would bring various circumstances and situations to the committee's attention, instead of having a larger committee.
I would suggest it might be better for us to go the route of a steering committee for now. Considering the probability that Mr. Arthur might not be allowed any input—I'm not sure what mechanism is available to him—the steering committee could be modified to allow him to sit on that committee in this case.
11:10 a.m.
NDP
Brian Masse NDP Windsor West, ON
Traditionally we haven't had the steering committee; however, given that last session we had one occasion where I thought it might have been helpful, when we did a study that was far too cumbersome and didn't really result in the work I think we set out to do, I'm not fixed on either situation.
Mr. McTeague raises some very valid concerns, and we'd have to address them specifically I think with some type of input process or availability. But I caution the members who were part of this committee last time, when the study we spent a lot of time on didn't really have a result at the end of the day, that a steering committee might have actually progressed it to some type of fruition, because we spent a lot of time and didn't really get into any answers on anything.
11:10 a.m.
Bloc
Paul Crête Bloc Montmagny—L'Islet—Kamouraska—Rivière-du-Loup, QC
I think we should formally strike the steering committee, as planned. However, I would follow the same practice as in the past, i.e., it would only be used in an emergency or in very specific circumstances, for example, when we need to settle a technical issue very quickly. Let us pass the motion as is.
As for future business, we should do that all together. If that is done only by the steering committee, when it comes back to the full committee, people have additional arguments to raise, and, at any rate, it gets discussed at the full committee. However, if there are any practical or technical decisions to be made from time to time, we have to have a tool like the steering committee to avoid paralysis.
11:10 a.m.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative James Rajotte
The suggestion is to have the full committee address future business, but then to establish a subcommittee, as Mr. Crête outlined. Is that agreeable?
Do you want to move the motion, Paul?
11:10 a.m.
NDP
Brian Masse NDP Windsor West, ON
I'd add a minor amendment, just to add “the NDP” instead of “the other opposition party”.
11:10 a.m.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative James Rajotte
Well, now that we have the two vice-chairs who are from opposition parties, we would have to add a member of the governing party as well. The vice-chairs are typically a government member and an opposition member. In this case, the committee has decided to elect two vice-chairs who are opposition members.
11:10 a.m.
NDP
Brian Masse NDP Windsor West, ON
I would add the amendment. There are lots of steering committees that include New Democrats. It's common practice.
11:10 a.m.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative James Rajotte
Just to be clear, then, it would be myself, Mr. McTeague, Monsieur Crête, Mr. Masse, and one member of the Conservative Party.
Do we have a volunteer on the Conservative side?
11:10 a.m.
Conservative
11:10 a.m.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative James Rajotte
Okay.
(Motion agreed to [See Minutes of Proceedings])
The motion to receive and publish evidence in the absence of a quorum is moved by Monsieur Lapierre.
(Motion agreed to [See Minutes of Proceedings])
The motion for designating an acting chair is moved by Monsieur Crête.
(Motion agreed to [See Minutes of Proceedings])
The motion for distribution of documents with translation is moved by Mr. Holland.
(Motion agreed to [See Minutes of Proceedings])
Concerning working meals, especially because this committee will typically be sitting from 11 a.m. until 1 p.m., at least up until the end of June....
Do we have a mover? Mr. Holland again moves the motion.
(Motion agreed to [See Minutes of Proceedings])
Concerning staff attending in camera meetings, for those of you who are new members, these are meetings in which we decide we're discussing such important business that we have to have our friendly folks in the media outside the room--and anyone else. We have traditionally allowed for one staff person per member in the room.
Mr. Crête.
11:15 a.m.
Bloc
Paul Crête Bloc Montmagny—L'Islet—Kamouraska—Rivière-du-Loup, QC
I think there is a problem with the translation. The English “one staff person” is fine, but the French should say “un membre du personnel”.
Currently, it says that only one member of the MP's staff may be present. Traditionally, it has not been exclusively one MP's staff member. A member of a party's research team should also be allowed to be present.
