Industry Committee on Nov. 15th, 2007

[The Chair, Conservative, James Rajotte]

If I can say from the chair's perspective, the issue here in the last session was exactly as has been pointed out, that, especially if we had an hour session, we typically got through maybe half of the second round or perhaps even to the bottom of the second round, and Monsieur Arthur is at the last spot in the third round so he would never get a question.

What happened was the Conservatives would very often take two of the three spots and would allow one of their spots to be taken by Monsieur Arthur. This was objected to by other members of the committee. My view was that if a person of one party chose to give his spot to another, as the Conservatives did with Monsieur Arthur, to accommodate the one-hour session, or, as happened in Windsor, where Mr. McTeague gave his time to Mr. Masse, I think that's gracious of the member and I would allow that. I think perhaps if the committee gives the chair direction and says, yes, members can give their time to another member, then that may solve the problem and we may in fact be able to adopt the speaking order of the last session.

If that clear direction.... It was at the discretion of the chair last time, and my view was that if Mr. Van Kesteren says “Mr. Chair, my time will be used by Monsieur Arthur”, as the chair, I will recognize Monsieur Arthur.

[Dan McTeague, Liberal, Pickering—Scarborough East, ON]

That's fine.

[The Chair, Conservative, James Rajotte]

And if we do that, that's fine, and if that is accepted, then I want the committee to clearly state that to the chair, and I think then the Conservatives and Monsieur Arthur may accept the first....

Mr. McTeague.

[Dan McTeague, Liberal, Pickering—Scarborough East, ON]

Mr. Chair, that makes a lot of sense, and I would certainly take that up as a proposal, that in fact the discretion be given to the chair to recognize the independent and that we keep the original rotation. I should also point out for my Conservative colleagues that in the scenario of the one hour, they get three rounds of which they can give one to Mr. Arthur. The official opposition only gets two rounds. So I just want to make that abundantly clear. It's not like we're getting anything out of this that would create a.... It's again an accommodation and flexibility, which I think is probably rarely demonstrated in other committees, but it is here. So I would follow up on the wisdom of the chair and accept that as a motion, that the discretion be given to the Conservative Party, to the chair, or to any party to allow a turn to Monsieur Arthur if they so choose, prior to the time that he is normally assigned as an independent.

[The Chair, Conservative, James Rajotte]

For example, in Windsor when you gave your time to Mr. Masse...if you choose to say “My time will be used by Mr. Masse”--

[Dan McTeague, Liberal, Pickering—Scarborough East, ON]

Chair, as long as we understand that Mr. Van Kesteren will, from this day forward, give me all of his time, I'm on board.

[Some hon. members]

Oh, oh!

[Dan McTeague, Liberal, Pickering—Scarborough East, ON]

Chair, thank you.

[The Chair, Conservative, James Rajotte]

Thank you.

Mr. Stanton, and then Mr. Vincent.

[Bruce Stanton, Conservative, Simcoe North, ON]

Mr. Chair, seeing that you're looking at the existing or the previous session's motions, I note that there already is discretion for the chair, so I don't know why that would have been a problem. It says “that, at the discretion of the Chair, during the questioning of witnesses, time and sequence be allocated as follows”. It would seem to me that the chair has the ability to allow changes to that allocation. Or does that need to be clearer?

[The Chair, Conservative, James Rajotte]

The reason for that, Mr. Stanton, was that I was challenged and it was a source of friction.

[Bruce Stanton, Conservative, Simcoe North, ON]

That's been added since the previous session then?

[The Chair, Conservative, James Rajotte]

No, no. Even though we adopted this, it was a source of friction, which is why I'm clarifying now so that there's no confusion as to what I will be doing if, for instance, Mr. Van Kesteren offers his time to Mr. Arthur.

[Bruce Stanton, Conservative, Simcoe North, ON]

Is the proposal then to amend this by adding clarification in regard to allowing the parties to assign their allotted spot if they so choose?

What are we proposing?

[The Chair, Conservative, James Rajotte]

I don't know whether we need to add anything formal. I just want to make it very clear that this is what this wording means. I agree with you that this wording does allow the chair to do that, but I just want to make it clear with all members of this committee at the outset that this is what that wording means.

[Bruce Stanton, Conservative, Simcoe North, ON]

Might I suggest that if it's not clear, then let's put the words in the motion that make it clear, so that we don't have to waste time at some point in the future having that debate.

[The Chair, Conservative, James Rajotte]

Okay.

I have Monsieur Vincent.

[Robert Vincent, Bloc, Shefford, QC]

Thank you, Mr. Chairman.

During the last session, I was a fierce opponent of the speaking order, but we were able to come to an agreement on this issue. I think that the status quo, that also prevailed during the previous session, was perfect. I agree that we should make reasonable accommodation and that we should give the chair the right to give the floor to Mr. Arthur, in this case. I will not oppose that and I think it is reasonable under the circumstances.

[The Chair, Conservative, James Rajotte]

Mr. McTeague is next, and then Monsieur Arthur.

[Dan McTeague, Liberal, Pickering—Scarborough East, ON]

Just for greater clarity, Chair, what we're proposing and what I accepted from you--which I hope is acceptable to members--is to not deal with Mr. Carrie's motions here but to leave the existing routine motion in place with the following words, more or less.

So on the allocation for time of questioning:

That the witnesses be given up to ten (10) minutes for their opening statement and that, at the discretion of the Chair, a member may yield their time to another, and that during the questioning of witnesses, time and sequence be allocated as follows:

We would maintain the rotation we've always had but give the chair the discretion, not just in terms of sequence but in recognizing a member who may be yielded. So it's there in writing if a member like Mr. Arthur...or if I decide to give my time to Ms. Nash, or Mr. Brison, or whatever the case may be.

[The Chair, Conservative, James Rajotte]

Would it make sense to put it at the very end?

[Dan McTeague, Liberal, Pickering—Scarborough East, ON]

As you wish, Chair.

[The Chair, Conservative, James Rajotte]

It would say that “during the questioning of witnesses, time and sequence be allocated as follows, and that a member may yield their time to another”:

[Dan McTeague, Liberal, Pickering—Scarborough East, ON]

I will leave that to the discretion of the chair.

[The Chair, Conservative, James Rajotte]

Thank you.

Monsieur Arthur.