Industry Committee on June 15th, 2011

[The Chair, Conservative, David Sweet]

The clerk didn't kick me under the table, so I think I'm right.

Is there any discussion on Mr. Julian's amendment?

We'll vote on the amendment, which adds to the end of the sentence that Mr. Lake had “and a member of the official opposition”.

(Amendment negatived)

[The Chair, Conservative, David Sweet]

We'll go to the main motion.

Mr. Lake, would you reread your motion, please?

[Mike Lake, Conservative, Edmonton—Mill Woods—Beaumont, AB]

I would move that the subcommittee on agenda and procedure be composed of five members, including the chair, the two vice-chairs, the parliamentary secretary, and a member of the Conservative Party; that quorum of the subcommittee shall consist of at least three members; that each member of the subcommittee shall be permitted to have one assistant attend any meetings of the subcommittee on agenda and procedure; and in addition that each party shall be permitted to have one staff member from a House officer attend any meetings.

[The Chair, Conservative, David Sweet]

Mr. Masse.

[Brian Masse, NDP, Windsor West, ON]

I'd like to offer a friendly amendment, because it is consistent with what we did last time, Mr. Lake. We had at the end of our previous motions “including one member of the opposition”. If you want to have quorum with three, then as long as that includes one member of the opposition, I think that would at least allay some of our concerns, and is also consistent with what we've done in the past on this committee, because we've never had that exception.

I'm hoping that's a friendly amendment.

[The Chair, Conservative, David Sweet]

Mr. Lake.

[An hon. member]

I'm liking it better.

[Mike Lake, Conservative, Edmonton—Mill Woods—Beaumont, AB]

Actually we don't.

Could you propose the amendment as it would be reworded?

[Brian Masse, NDP, Windsor West, ON]

I don't have your thing in front of me.

[The Chair, Conservative, David Sweet]

Would you like me to read it as you said it?

[Brian Masse, NDP, Windsor West, ON]

Yes, thank you, Mr. Chair.

[The Chair, Conservative, David Sweet]

It's that quorum of the subcommittee shall consist of at least three members, at least one being from the official opposition.

[Brian Masse, NDP, Windsor West, ON]

I'd like to speak to that. It has been a healthy environment here, and I hate to set this off to the wrong start. If there is a vote at steering committee, the votes are going to be there for the government no matter what. I hope there won't be, because there hasn't been in the past, and we've actually been able to set that without.... But at the same time, this just provides the assurance that there's going to be no quick meeting held and something taking place you're not in favour of.

[Mike Lake, Conservative, Edmonton—Mill Woods—Beaumont, AB]

We're good. Okay.

[The Chair, Conservative, David Sweet]

It seems as though there's some consensus.

(Motion as amended agreed to) [See Minutes of Proceedings]

[The Chair, Conservative, David Sweet]

Next would be that the chair be authorized to hold meetings and to receive and publish evidence when a quorum is not present, provided that at least three members are present, including one member of the opposition.

Mr. Lake.

[Mike Lake, Conservative, Edmonton—Mill Woods—Beaumont, AB]

I'll move it with different wording: that the chair be authorized to hold meetings to receive evidence and to have that evidence printed when a quorum is not present, provided that at least four members are present, including one member of each recognized party; in the case of previously scheduled meetings taking place outside the parliamentary precinct, the committee members in attendance shall only be required to wait for 15 minutes following the designated start of the meeting before they may proceed to hear witnesses and receive evidence, regardless of whether opposition or government members are present.

[The Chair, Conservative, David Sweet]

Is there any conversation on this?

Mr. Masse and then Mr. Julian.

[Brian Masse, NDP, Windsor West, ON]

Can we get a copy of that? That's a very extensive change. It might be fine, but at the same time, we need to see a copy of it.

[Mike Lake, Conservative, Edmonton—Mill Woods—Beaumont, AB]

Well, we have it in English, so I can't—

[The Chair, Conservative, David Sweet]

Yes, that's right.

[Mike Lake, Conservative, Edmonton—Mill Woods—Beaumont, AB]

Under the rules of the House, I can't distribute it. It's not in both official languages.

[Peter Julian, NDP, Burnaby—New Westminster, BC]

Mr. Chair, through you to Mr. Lake, does this mean that unless we have a member of the Liberal Party present the meeting can't proceed?

[Mike Lake, Conservative, Edmonton—Mill Woods—Beaumont, AB]

That's right.

[Peter Julian, NDP, Burnaby—New Westminster, BC]

Well, I certainly like my colleagues in the Liberal Party, but that does make it much more difficult practically to achieve quorum.