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.