Evidence of meeting #1 for National Defence in the 39th Parliament, 2nd Session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was chair.
A recording is available from Parliament.
11:05 a.m.
The Clerk of the Committee Mr. Samy Agha
Honourable members of the committee, I see we have a quorum, so we can proceed to the election of the chair.
I'm now ready to receive motions to that effect.
11:05 a.m.
NDP
11:05 a.m.
The Clerk
Mr. Casson is the duly elected chair of the committee.
Before Mr. Casson presides over the meeting, I'll proceed to the election of the vice-chairs.
11:05 a.m.
The Clerk
Are there any further motions?
(Motion agreed to)
I declare Mr. Cannis duly elected first vice-chair.
For the second vice-chair--
11:05 a.m.
The Clerk
Are there any further motions?
(Motion agreed to)
I declare Mr. Bachand duly elected second vice-chair of the committee.
11:05 a.m.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Rick Casson
Is that it? Is it my turn?
Well, thank you very much, committee, for that vote of confidence. You had to deal with me in the last session, and you're going to have to deal with me again. But I do look forward to it.
I think that of all the committees in the House of Commons at this present time in the history of this country, this is a very important committee to be involved in. We have a lot of issues facing our good, brave men and women, and I think it's great.
I look around the table, and I welcome back the ones that were here before and welcome new ones. Anthony, it's good to have you back, and James, welcome. I guess the other two on your.... It's Cannis and McGuire, is it? Okay.
We welcome the researchers back. How do you guys get nominated for this job?
11:05 a.m.
A voice
It's a prize.
11:05 a.m.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Rick Casson
And of course we have a new clerk, Mr. Agha. Welcome. Hopefully we will work well together and get some things accomplished.
Those are the only two items we had on the agenda. Should we adjourn, or do you guys want to do some more work while we're all here?
Let's go to routine motions, then.
Go ahead, Mr. Coderre.
11:05 a.m.
Liberal
Denis Coderre Liberal Bourassa, QC
Perhaps for the next meeting, we could discuss amongst ourselves. A lot of work was done beforehand and I think that there are still things to finish, specifically the matter of procurements etc. So we could have that on the agenda for the next meeting, so that we can discuss it at the committee in the days to come.
11:05 a.m.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Rick Casson
Good. I appreciate that.
I believe that the next meeting will be a meeting of the steering committee to establish the agenda. So I think we can certainly deal with all the issues we have ahead of us.
Okay, is it all right if we move into routine proceedings? All right, we'll do that.
Now, the first item is on the services of an analyst from the Library of Parliament. It is that the committee retain, as needed, at the discretion of the chair, the services of one or more analysts from the Library of Parliament to assist in its work. Is there a discussion on that?
11:05 a.m.
Some hon. members
Agreed.
11:05 a.m.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Rick Casson
Second is that the subcommittee on agenda and procedure be established and be composed of the chair, the two vice-chairs, and a member of the other opposition party.
Is there any discussion?
Go ahead, Mr. Hawn.
11:10 a.m.
Conservative
Laurie Hawn Conservative Edmonton Centre, AB
Mr. Chair, I do have a suggestion for an amendment to that: that the subcommittee on agenda and procedure be composed of the chair, the two vice-chairs, the parliamentary secretary, the second member for the Liberal Party, and a member from the other opposition party.
11:10 a.m.
Conservative
Laurie Hawn Conservative Edmonton Centre, AB
It's an amendment effectively adding the parliamentary secretary and another member from the Liberal Party to the subcommittee.
11:10 a.m.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Rick Casson
Okay, you've heard that amendment. Is there any discussion?
Yes, Ms. Black.
11:10 a.m.
NDP
Dawn Black NDP New Westminster—Coquitlam, BC
Well, we went through this last time around, when the parliamentary secretary was asking to become part of the subcommittee on agenda, and it was turned down because they felt, and I continue to feel, that the government side has good representation on the committee, and it's not necessary to add the parliamentary secretary to that subcommittee.
11:10 a.m.
Conservative
Laurie Hawn Conservative Edmonton Centre, AB
I understand that, and of course I was here for it.
Part of the rationale behind this is so that we don't put the chair into a particular situation where.... He can participate in the subcommittee in a less directorial, less partisan way than he possibly might be able to do now. It just broadens the subcommittee to allow a little more non-partisan representation on the part of the chair.
11:10 a.m.
Liberal
Denis Coderre Liberal Bourassa, QC
It is my understanding that it was exactly the same before prorogation. That was exactly how it worked at the last committee. Since it worked then, I do not see why we would change it.
The only thing I wonder about is when the vice-chairs or their representatives are not present. So, if Claude were not there, Robert would replace him, and if John Cannis were not there, one of the Liberal representatives would replace him. That would all ensure that the committee's work was not held up. If a vice-chair could not attend, a representative of the same party could replace him. This is a point of information.
11:10 a.m.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Rick Casson
I'm assuming that's exactly what it would be. If the vice-chair could not be at the steering committee, then his designated replacement would have the full voting rights and privileges of that person.
Mr. Hawn.
11:10 a.m.
Conservative
Laurie Hawn Conservative Edmonton Centre, AB
I'll just point out one thing: this is not without precedent. The aboriginal affairs committee operates this way for reasons similar to those proposed—i.e., with the parliamentary secretary and an additional member from the Liberal Party—for what that's worth.
I'll also point out that as parliamentary secretary I can attend the meeting as an observer, a non-voting member, should this go the other way.
11:10 a.m.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Rick Casson
Is there any further discussion?
We'll deal with the proposed amendment first, as it's been proposed by Mr. Hawn: that the position of parliamentary secretary plus one more Liberal position be added to the subcommittee on agenda and procedure.
(Amendment negatived)
