National Defence Committee on Feb. 4th, 2009

[Dawn Black, NDP, New Westminster—Coquitlam, BC]

So you're taking out a Liberal there.

[Laurie Hawn, Conservative, Edmonton Centre, AB]

Well, it's because they don't exist....

[Dawn Black, NDP, New Westminster—Coquitlam, BC]

No, I understand; I'm just asking if you're changing that.

[Laurie Hawn, Conservative, Edmonton Centre, AB]

Yes. I'm just changing it to reflect the makeup.

So everybody will then have spoken at the end of the second round. My suggestion for the third round, if we ever get to a third round, is that we just go back to the order of the first round--Liberal, Bloc, NDP, Conservative.

[Steven Blaney, Conservative, Lévis—Bellechasse, QC]

That's good for you.

[Laurie Hawn, Conservative, Edmonton Centre, AB]

Yes, if we ever get there, it's good for you.

[Claude Bachand, Bloc, Saint-Jean, QC]

It's very, very generous.

[Dawn Black, NDP, New Westminster—Coquitlam, BC]

Yeah, right.

[Some hon. members]

Oh, oh!

[Dawn Black, NDP, New Westminster—Coquitlam, BC]

So you're saying it's seven minutes of questioning in the first round, and when it's a minister it's ten. In the second round, it's five minutes, and the third round, five minutes. And you would add a Conservative at the bottom of the second round and drop a Liberal. Is that right?

[Laurie Hawn, Conservative, Edmonton Centre, AB]

Yes.

[Dawn Black, NDP, New Westminster—Coquitlam, BC]

What would be the order in the third round?

[Laurie Hawn, Conservative, Edmonton Centre, AB]

It would go back to how it is in the first round--Liberal, Bloc, NDP, Conservative. So that gives the opposition more kicks at the cat. We don't normally get to a third round anyway, I agree, but....

[The Chair, Conservative, Rick Casson]

Everybody clear?

[Dawn Black, NDP, New Westminster—Coquitlam, BC]

That's fine.

[The Chair, Conservative, Rick Casson]

Any discussion?

Mr. Coderre.

[Denis Coderre, Liberal, Bourassa, QC]

We can always split during the first round so that people can have more time.

I don't see any problem with how it is. I think we should stick to that and move on.

[Laurie Hawn, Conservative, Edmonton Centre, AB]

Except we do have to take out a Liberal for a Conservative.

[Denis Coderre, Liberal, Bourassa, QC]

Why?

[Laurie Hawn, Conservative, Edmonton Centre, AB]

So that every member of the committee gets to ask questions before anybody asks twice.

[Denis Coderre, Liberal, Bourassa, QC]

So you split your time.

[Laurie Hawn, Conservative, Edmonton Centre, AB]

No, no--

[Denis Coderre, Liberal, Bourassa, QC]

Frankly, I believe it's going well that way. We want to keep it as is.

[An hon. member]

He wants double time.

[The Chair, Conservative, Rick Casson]

Mr. Hawn.