International Trade Committee on Nov. 15th, 2007

[Serge Cardin, Bloc, Sherbrooke, QC]

At first glance, I have no objections. However, I would like to say one thing. When committees make arrangements to travel to certain regions of Quebec or Canada to hear from witnesses, I would hope that, out of respect for the witnesses, there would always be at least a few members on hand to hear their testimony. If only half of the members of the committee travel, then that represents a sizeable number of people. I can't imagine a situation where fewer than three members of the committee would travel to a community to hear from witnesses. That's all I wanted to say. I can't imagine that there would ever be a shortage of members at these meetings.

[The Chair, Conservative, Lee Richardson]

I think there may have been experiences where a meeting started and someone was delayed in getting to the meeting or something. Maybe they slept in. I think that's one of the problems you get on the road.

Mr. Miller.

[Larry Miller, Conservative, Bruce—Grey—Owen Sound, ON]

I just want to point out that Mr. Cardin was there, and I'm sure it was just an honest mistake, but he said Quebec or Canada. Quebec is part of Canada, so I presume he meant anywhere in Canada that we're at a meeting. I'm sure that's what he meant.

[The Chair, Conservative, Lee Richardson]

I'm sure Mr. Cardin knows what he's talking about.

Okay, with that amendment from Mr. Allison, the amendment as I've just read, I'll call the vote.

(Amendment agreed to)

(Motion as amended agreed to)

[The Chair, Conservative, Lee Richardson]

On the distribution of documents, the motion is that only the clerk of the committee be authorized to distribute to the members of the committee documents, and only when they exist in both official languages, and that witnesses be advised accordingly.

It is moved by Mr. Cannan.

(Motion agreed to)

[The Chair, Conservative, Lee Richardson]

On working meals, the motion is that the clerk of the committee be authorized to make the necessary arrangements to provide working meals for the committee and its subcommittees.

It is moved by Mr. Bains.

(Motion agreed to)

[The Chair, Conservative, Lee Richardson]

We're moving to witnesses' expenses, and again, this is pretty routine: that, if requested, reasonable travel, accommodation, and living expenses be reimbursed to witnesses not exceeding two representatives per organization; and that, in exceptional circumstances, payment for more representatives be made at the discretion of the chair.

It is moved by Mr. Miller.

Am I correct—I just want to clarify this with the clerk—that there is a format and agreed upon amounts for reimbursement of flights, meals, that sort of thing? Okay. And those are statutory?

[The Clerk]

They're established by the liaison committee.

[The Chair, Conservative, Lee Richardson]

Okay.

Is everyone clear on the motion?

(Motion agreed to)

[The Chair, Conservative, Lee Richardson]

Concerning staff at in camera meetings, the motion is that, unless otherwise ordered, each committee member be allowed to be accompanied by one staff person at an in camera meeting.

It is moved by Mr. Maloney.

Did you have some discussion?

[Larry Miller, Conservative, Bruce—Grey—Owen Sound, ON]

Yes, I did.

I'd like to propose an amendment to it and speak a little bit on it beforehand.

I'd like to add in there that a member of the whip's office of any party be allowed to have a representative included in that. You'd want to wordsmith that better than I just said it, but I think you get the intent of where I'm coming from.

It's just a suggestion, because at regular meetings I believe each leader's office usually does have a representative here, and that would cover that. That's all.

[The Chair, Conservative, Lee Richardson]

Okay. We're speaking specifically in this regard to in camera meetings. Had you understood that?

[Larry Miller, Conservative, Bruce—Grey—Owen Sound, ON]

Yes.

[The Chair, Conservative, Lee Richardson]

Okay.

So Mr. Miller would like an amendment to include one member of the whip's office from each of the official parties.

Is there discussion on that?

[Larry Miller, Conservative, Bruce—Grey—Owen Sound, ON]

It would just save the staff who's sitting in on a regular meeting from having to leave the room when you go in camera.

[The Chair, Conservative, Lee Richardson]

Okay. I think we get the point.

Because it's in camera, it's presumed that everybody else would leave, including those other than the staff members.

(Amendment agreed to)

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

[The Chair, Conservative, Lee Richardson]

Next we have transcripts of in camera meetings: that one copy of the transcript of each in camera meeting be kept in the committee clerk’s office for consultation by members of the committee.

Mr. Bains moves that.

I want to ask about that one copy that would be retained in the clerk's office. If you wanted to visit it, you would do it in the clerk's office and it wouldn't leave the clerk's office. Copies couldn't be taken from the clerk's office.

[The Clerk]

Right.

[The Chair, Conservative, Lee Richardson]

Okay, now I'm clear. Is everybody else clear?

(Motion agreed to)

[The Chair, Conservative, Lee Richardson]

Now we'll go to the notice of motions: that 48 hours’ notice be required for any substantive motion to be considered by the committee, unless the substantive motion relates directly to business then under consideration; and that the notice of motion be filed with the clerk of the committee and distributed to members in both official languages.

It's moved by Mr. Masse.

(Motion agreed to)

[The Chair, Conservative, Lee Richardson]

Now we'll consider time limits for witness statements and questioning. I won't go through it; everybody has it in front of them. Is there a mover to that motion?

Mr. Masse moves that motion.

The motion is that at the discretion of the chair, the witnesses be given up to ten minutes for their opening statement; that during the questioning of witnesses, the time allocated to each questioner be as follows: on the first round of questioning, up to seven minutes for the first questioner of each party. So on the first round of questions, seven minutes, beginning with the Liberal Party, followed by the Bloc Québécois for seven minutes, the Conservative Party for seven minutes, and the New Democratic Party for seven minutes. In subsequent rounds of five minutes, the sequence of round one will apply.

Okay, so that's pretty straightforward.

Mr. Miller.

[Larry Miller, Conservative, Bruce—Grey—Owen Sound, ON]

I have a question first, and I may have an amendment, depending on what the answer is. I'd ask the clerk: what exactly is the sequence of speakers in the second, third, and fourth round?

The reason I'd ask that is in any other committee I've sat on, no member of the committee gets a chance to ask questions a second time until every member has asked one.

I'll just give you an example of what was in this motion yesterday at agriculture committee. It was exactly like the chair just read, the first four in round two: it would be the Liberal, the Bloc, and a Conservative member. In the third round, it would be Liberal, Conservative, and so on, and then you start all over. Is that the intent of this, and the way it was in previous trade committee meetings?

[The Chair, Conservative, Lee Richardson]

That's not the way it is here. I share your experience with previous committees, so I would welcome some discussion on this.

[Larry Miller, Conservative, Bruce—Grey—Owen Sound, ON]

I'm going to move an amendment, then, Mr. Chairman.

[The Chair, Conservative, Lee Richardson]

All right. Well, let's start the ball rolling with an amendment to that.