Industry Committee on June 15th, 2011

[The Chair, Conservative, David Sweet]

Right. Yes.

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

What typically triggers the 48 hours?

[The Clerk]

For the 48 hours, it's like it is in the House of Commons. It's basically two nights.

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

Yes, but what triggers it? What is the start of the 48 hours?

[The Clerk]

Well, the 48 hours could be 5 p.m.

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

Okay.

[The Clerk]

Okay? But for us to respect the time, it would be better if 5 p.m. would be applied to the 48 hours. If I have it by 5 p.m. today, Wednesday, it could be taken on Friday morning. It's two nights.

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

Yes, two sleeps.

[The Clerk]

I need to have it by 5 p.m. with that wording. If I have it by 5 p.m. today, it's going to be translated and distributed to all members during the night, early in the evening, depending on the length of the motion and if it's not already translated. If it's already translated and I have it by 5 p.m., you'll have it by 5:10.

[The Chair, Conservative, David Sweet]

Mr. Julian.

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

Mr. Chair, I have a question for the clerk.

Translation is not done automatically. Are you saying that, if you receive something that is written only in English or in French at 5 p.m., it could still be translated and distributed within a few hours?

[The Clerk]

Yes.

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

Do such cases require overtime and result in additional costs?

[The Clerk]

When the House is sitting, translation service staff is always available.

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

Would it not be better to set the deadline for 4 p.m.?

[The Clerk]

For example, my colleague the Clerk of the Standing Committee on Government Operations and Estimates decided on a 4 p.m. deadline. Other committees did not specify. If a deadline has not been set, it is assumed to be 6 p.m. If it is 6 p.m., the clerk must always ensure that staff is available. In fact, 6 p.m. may be a little late. If the deadline were 5 p.m., it would be workable, but 4 p.m. would be even better.

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

I think that the 4 p.m. deadline is more practical for Mr. Lake.

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

I've been thinking about the way the days work here, and 4 p.m. is an hour after QP, so I think 5 p.m. is what we're looking at here now. Of course, when we're talking about “completed”, maybe it isn't explained enough, but that's completed and translated: the motion is complete and it's ready to go out to members.

[The Chair, Conservative, David Sweet]

Mr. Roy.

[The Clerk]

Yes, but completed by whom? When I receive it from the members or when I receive it from translation? Normally, let's say, I receive it at 5 o'clock from a member in one language. Then it's translated and delivered to all members--

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

Yes, by the end of the day.

[The Clerk]

--at 6, 6:30, or 7 o'clock.

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

Okay. That's good.

[The Chair, Conservative, David Sweet]

So we might want to take “completed” out of there, just so we don't get confused, and say that motions received by 5 p.m. shall be distributed to the members the same day.

[The Clerk]

Yes.