Evidence of meeting #1 for Library of Parliament in the 42nd Parliament, 1st session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was agreed.
A recording is available from Parliament.
The Joint Clerk of the Committee Mr. Adam Thompson
Honourable senators and honourable members of the House of Commons, I see a quorum. As the Senate joint clerk of your committee, it is my duty to preside over the election of the Senate joint chair, and I am now prepared to receive nominations to that effect.
Are there any nominations?
Senator Duffy.
Michael Duffy Senator, Prince Edward Island (Cavendish), ISG
Colleagues, I'd like to put in a nomination for Senator Lucie Moncion from North Bay.
The Joint Clerk Mr. Adam Thompson
Are there any other nominations? I'm seeing none, and I will put the question.
The Honourable Senator Michael Duffy moved that the Honourable Senator Lucie Moncion be chair of this committee.
Is it your pleasure, honourable members, to adopt the motion?
(Motion agreed to)
I declare the motion carried and invite Senator Moncion to take the chair.
The Joint Clerk of the Committee Mr. Paul Cardegna
Honourable members of the committee, I see a quorum.
I must inform the members of the committee that the Joint Clerk of the Committee can receive motions only for the election of the chair.
The co-clerk cannot receive other types of motions, nor entertain points of order, nor participate in debate. We can now proceed to the election of the joint chair of the House of Commons.
Pursuant to Standing Order 106(2), the joint chair must be a member of the government party.
I am now ready to receive motions for the position of joint chair of the House of Commons.
Sir.
Liberal
The Joint Clerk Mr. Paul Cardegna
Mr. Levitt has nominated Mr. Sikand.
Are there any other nominations?
Is it the pleasure of the committee to adopt the motion?
(Motion agreed to)
I declare Mr. Sikand duly elected joint chair of the House of Commons, and I would invite him to take his seat.
Liberal
The Joint Chair Liberal Gagan Sikand
I'm going to proceed.
If the committee is in agreement, I invite the joint clerk to proceed with the elections of the vice-chairs.
The Joint Clerk Mr. Paul Cardegna
Pursuant to Standing Order 106(2), the first vice-chair of the committee must be a member of the official opposition from the House of Commons.
I'm now prepared to receive motions for the first vice-chair.
Conservative
The Joint Clerk Mr. Paul Cardegna
Mr. Lauzon has nominated Mr. Van Kesteren. Are there any other nominations?
Is it the pleasure of the committee to adopt the motion?
(Motion agreed to)
I declare Mr. Van Kesteren duly elected first vice-chair of the committee.
Pursuant to Standing Order 106(2), the second vice-chair must be a member of an opposition party other than the official opposition in the House of Commons.
I am now prepared to receive motions for the second vice-chair.
Liberal
The Joint Clerk Mr. Paul Cardegna
Mr. Ouellette has nominated Madam Quach to the position of second vice-chair.
Is it the pleasure of the committee to adopt the motion?
(Motion agreed to)
I declare Madam Quach duly elected.
The Joint Chair Hon. Lucie Moncion (Ontario, ISG)
Senator Mercer, you wanted to speak to us.
Terry M. Mercer Senator, Nova Scotia (Northend Halifax), Lib.
Yes. I want to welcome everybody to the committee. We'll see you next year when we have the next meeting.
I did want to put a motion before the committee to invite the Parliamentary Budget Officer to appear before the committee to review the expense with respect to government spending that relates to the Library of Parliament.
Liberal
Senator, Prince Edward Island (Cavendish), ISG
I have a question for Senator Mercer.
How does this fit with the motion that was in the Senate yesterday related to the budget of the Library of Parliament? Would you elaborate a bit on what you expect the PBO to do?
Senator, Nova Scotia (Northend Halifax), Lib.
Historically, the Parliamentary Budget Officer reported to Parliament via this committee. That has changed, and he no longer does that. We have not had the Parliamentary Budget Officer before this committee in about five years, and it's about time that we did. In my discussions with him, he said he would pleased to come and enlighten us about government spending on this. As we will be going through so many changes over the next few years, it would be interesting to find out how the Library of Parliament fits into these changes on an ongoing basis. Plus, I'm sure he will have other things to say about government expenditures that might be of interest to all members.
The Joint Chair Hon. Lucie Moncion
Is there other discussion on the matter?
Are we in agreement with the proposition?
Yes? Thank you.
We will be going through the routine motions. Would anyone like to speak on these motions?
Liberal
Michael Levitt Liberal York Centre, ON
Yes, I would like to move that we review the routine motions now.
The first is on analysts services. It states:
That the Committee retain, as needed and at the discretion of the Joint Chairs, the services of one or more analysts from the Library of Parliament to assist it in its work.
Next is time for opening remarks and questioning of witnesses. Do we need to...?
The Joint Chair Hon. Lucie Moncion
It won't hurt if we do, and it won't hurt if we don't.
Liberal
Michael Levitt Liberal York Centre, ON
Do you want to just go through them all, and then we can do it at the end?
Let's do that.
