Liaison Committee on Feb. 12th, 2009

Evidence of meeting #1 for Liaison in the 40th Parliament, 2nd session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was vice-chair.

A recording is available from Parliament.

On the agenda

Committee Business

Election of Chair

Members speaking

1:05 p.m.

The Clerk of the Committee Mr. André Gagnon

Honourable members, I think we have a quorum. Pursuant to Standing Order 107, we will proceed with the election of a chair.

Good afternoon to all.

I am now open to take motions for the chair.

1:05 p.m.

Conservative

James Bezan Conservative Selkirk—Interlake, MB

I'd like to nominate Dean Allison.

1:05 p.m.

The Clerk

Mr. Bezan proposes Dean Allison as the chair. There are a lot of seconders.

Are there any other motions?

1:05 p.m.

An hon. member

I move that nominations cease.

1:05 p.m.

The Clerk

It seems there are no further nominations.

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

(Motion agreed to)

1:05 p.m.

The Clerk

Congratulations, Mr. Allison.

1:05 p.m.

Some hon. members

Hear, hear!

1:05 p.m.

The Clerk

It is also my duty to proceed to the election of the vice-chair. I'm open for motions for the vice-chair.

1:05 p.m.

An hon. member

Who was the vice-chair last year?

1:05 p.m.

The Clerk

Ms. Ratansi was the vice-chair.

1:05 p.m.

Liberal

Paul Szabo Liberal Mississauga South, ON

I'd like to nominate Mr. Murphy.

1:05 p.m.

The Clerk

Mr. Szabo proposes Mr. Murphy as vice-chair. Are there any other motions?

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

(Motion agreed to)

1:05 p.m.

The Clerk

Congratulations, Mr. Murphy.

I now invite the chair of the committee to take his place.

Thank you.

1:05 p.m.

Conservative

The Chair Conservative Dean Allison

Okay. We don't have a heavy agenda today. We have a couple of requests and budgets we need to look over. We do need to look at striking the Subcommittee on Committee Budgets, so we're going to need five other members for that. I'm going to take names from the floor for that.

I have a proposal from Mr. Preston to be on the Subcommittee on Committee Budgets. What we have is a chair, vice-chair, and five other members. I have Mr. Preston.

Go ahead, Mr. Szabo.

1:05 p.m.

Liberal

Paul Szabo Liberal Mississauga South, ON

Are there no guidelines regarding party distribution on the members? We do have a Bloc member and an NDP member who are on this committee, are they not?

1:05 p.m.

Conservative

The Chair Conservative Dean Allison

Not on the subcommittee. They are members of the whole; they're not voting members.

I have one name there.

Mr. Rajotte.

1:05 p.m.

Conservative

James Rajotte Conservative Edmonton—Leduc, AB

I'd like to propose Mr. Tweed for the subcommittee.

1:05 p.m.

Conservative

The Chair Conservative Dean Allison

Okay, Mr. Tweed and Mr. Benoit.

Mr. Lee.

1:05 p.m.

Liberal

Derek Lee Liberal Scarborough—Rouge River, ON

I propose Mr. Szabo for the subcommittee.

1:05 p.m.

Conservative

The Chair Conservative Dean Allison

It looks like we need one more.

Mr. Tweed.

1:05 p.m.

Conservative

Merv Tweed Conservative Brandon—Souris, MB

I nominate David Sweet.

1:05 p.m.

Conservative

The Chair Conservative Dean Allison

Okay, sweet David. All right.

That's five members. I'm going to put the motion forward then:

That pursuant to Standing Order 108(6), the Subcommittee on Committee Budgets be established to approve committees' budget requests, and that the subcommittee be composed of the chair, the vice-chair, and five other members being Mr. Joe Preston, Mr. Merv Tweed, Mr. Leon Benoit, Mr. Paul Szabo, and Mr. David Sweet.

Can I ask someone to move that? Mr. Bezan, okay.

(Motion agreed to)

1:10 p.m.

Conservative

The Chair Conservative Dean Allison

Let's move to working meals, “That the clerk of the committee be authorized to make the necessary--”

1:10 p.m.

Liberal

Derek Lee Liberal Scarborough—Rouge River, ON

So moved.

1:10 p.m.

Conservative