International Trade Committee on Oct. 24th, 2013

[The Clerk of the Committee, Mr. Paul Cardegna]

Honourable members of the committee, I see a quorum.

We can now proceed to the election of the chair. Pursuant to Standing Order 106(2), the chair must be a member of the governing party. I'm now prepared to take nominations for the position of chair.

[Don Davies, NDP, Vancouver Kingsway, BC]

Mr. Clerk, it's my honour and privilege to nominate the Honourable Rob Merrifield as chair of this committee.

[The Clerk]

Mr. Davies nominates Mr. Merrifield as chair of the committee.

Are there any other nominations for the position of chair?

(Motion agreed to)

Before inviting the chair to come here and take the chair, I want to know if the committee wishes to proceed to the election of the vice-chairs. Is it the will of the committee to do so?

[Some hon. members]

Agreed.

[The Clerk]

I will preside over the election of the vice-chairs.

Pursuant to Standing Order 106(2),

the first vice-chair must be a member of the official opposition.

I am now ready to receive motions for the position of first vice-chair.

[Erin O'Toole, Conservative, Durham, ON]

I nominate Don Davies as vice-chair.

[The Clerk]

Mr. O'Toole has nominated Don Davies as first vice-chair.

Are there any other nominations for the position?

[Don Davies, NDP, Vancouver Kingsway, BC]

It's also my privilege and honour to nominate Mr. Massimo Pacetti as second vice-chair.

[The Clerk]

All right, I'm going to proceed with the first vice-chair and we'll just take care of that. If I have no more nominations for the position of first vice-chair, Mr. O'Toole has nominated Mr. Davies.

Is it the pleasure of the committee to adopt that motion?

(Motion agreed to)

Mr. Davies has already nominated Mr. Pacetti as second vice-chair.

There's only one possible person, so is it the pleasure of the committee to adopt the motion that Mr. Pacetti be elected second vice-chair of the committee?

(Motion agreed to)

I will now invite Mr. Merrifield to take the chair.

[The Chair, Conservative, Rob Merrifield]

Thank you very much for your confidence. It looks like we're getting off on the right foot. Everyone's getting along well. We will actually look at routine proceedings, I think, next time.

Don.

[Don Davies, NDP, Vancouver Kingsway, BC]

Thank you, Mr. Chairman.

First of all, I just want to take the opportunity to congratulate you on your election as chair and to express, on behalf of the official opposition, our best wishes for working as collegially as possible on these important issues.

I also want to take the opportunity to congratulate Erin O'Toole on his appointment as parliamentary secretary.

I did have a chance to talk briefly with Mr. O'Toole before the meeting. I understand we're going to be dealing with routine proceedings next week. We have just one issue we want to raise today, if we can. The New Democrats are here. We're prepared to work, and we're mindful of the many statements of the minister and the government that they are committed to transparency and accountability on the trade file.

I would like to move one motion right now, which is:

That the Committee may meet in camera only for the purpose of discussing: (a) wages, salaries and other employee benefits; (b) contracts and contract negotiations; (c) labour relations and personnel matters; (d) draft reports; (e) briefings concerning national security; and That all votes taken in camera be recorded in the Minutes of Proceedings, including how each member voted when recorded votes are requested.

Those, Mr. Chair, are proceedings that are currently rules in the Senate. We would like to move that one motion today and then deal with the rest of routine proceedings next week.

[The Chair, Conservative, Rob Merrifield]

We have a motion on the floor.

We have Mr. O'Toole, and then we'll go to Mr. Holder.

[Erin O'Toole, Conservative, Durham, ON]

Mr. Chair, I'd like to echo Mr. Davies' congratulations. I think we'll be in good hands with your stewardship.

I would also, as per the intention this morning, move to adjourn at this time.

[The Chair, Conservative, Rob Merrifield]

A motion to adjourn is non-debatable, so we'll go with that motion first.

[Brian Masse, NDP, Windsor West, ON]

I would call for a recorded vote, please.

[The Chair, Conservative, Rob Merrifield]

We can do that. I'll ask the clerk to do the recorded vote.

I don't even think there is a point of order. I think it's non-debatable, and I've very seldom seen a real point of order, so....

[Some hon. members]

Oh, oh!

[Ed Holder, Conservative, London West, ON]

Do you think you could give us a point of clarification, Mr. Chair? Someone called for a roll call vote after the motion's been put.

[Russ Hiebert, Conservative, South Surrey—White Rock—Cloverdale, BC]

Right after the vote's been called.

[Ed Holder, Conservative, London West, ON]

After the vote's been called.

[The Chair, Conservative, Rob Merrifield]

We'll start this with a recorded vote.

(Motion agreed to: yeas 6; nays 5)

The meeting is adjourned.