National Defence Committee on Oct. 7th, 2014

[The Chair, Conservative, Rick Norlock]

The chair would like to officially welcome back one of our members, Peter Kent.

Peter, the chair entertained taking on this job with the permission of this committee pending your return. We are all most happy to see you here.

The chair at this point strongly endorses the adoption of any motion that might signal the resumption of your being chair, Peter. We want to thank you very much for being victorious over that battle you just fought. We are so happy to see you back here.

At this point I would respectfully tender my resignation as chair and recommend the election of Peter Kent as chair.

I just got the boot.

[Some hon. members]

Oh, oh!

[Jack Harris, NDP, St. John's East, NL]

I'm not going to make a motion. Perhaps Mr. Bezan has one. I'll leave it to somebody else.

I would like to join Mr. Norlock in welcoming Mr. Kent back to our committee.

I understand you've been through a difficult personal circumstance. We're grateful to see you back in good health and welcome you back.

As for whatever it is we're going to do now, and to the resignation of Mr. Bezan, I don't know—

[James Bezan, Conservative, Selkirk—Interlake, MB]

I resigned?

[Jack Harris, NDP, St. John's East, NL]

I'm sorry. Mr. Norlock.

[Some hon. members]

Oh, oh!

[Jack Harris, NDP, St. John's East, NL]

Well, there you go. I guess that's a Freudian slip of some kind.

[James Bezan, Conservative, Selkirk—Interlake, MB]

You might wish that I'd resign.

[Jack Harris, NDP, St. John's East, NL]

I know that there are some procedural issues that I don't know much about. I think the procedure and House affairs committee has something that will be passed or be brought to the House on Thursday, so we may have to do this again next week. I don't know. But if there are any irregularities involved in whatever we're doing today, we're certainly prepared to waive them. We're not going to object to any irregularities. I think it's our first opportunity to welcome Mr. Kent back, and then whatever we have to do next we can do as well.

I'd be happy to hear a motion.

[The Clerk of the Committee, Ms. Evelyn Lukyniuk]

I see a quorum.

I must inform members that the clerk of the committee can only receive motions for the election of chair. The clerk cannot receive any other type of motions, cannot entertain points of order, nor participate in debate.

We can now proceed to the election of the chair.

Pursuant to Standing Order 106(2), the chair must be a member of the government's party.

I am now ready to receive motions for the chair.

[Rick Norlock, Conservative, Northumberland—Quinte West, ON]

I'd like to nominate Peter Kent.

[John Williamson, Conservative, New Brunswick Southwest, NB]

I'll second that.

[The Clerk]

It has been moved by Mr. Norlock, and seconded by Mr. Williamson, that Mr. Peter Kent be elected as chair of the committee.

[John Williamson, Conservative, New Brunswick Southwest, NB]

Are there any further motions?

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

(Motion agreed to)

[The Clerk]

I declare the motion carried, and Mr. Peter Kent duly elected chair of the committee.

[Some hon. members]

Hear, hear!

[The Chair, Conservative, Peter Kent]

Thank you very much.

As I said in the House a couple of weeks ago, thank you for the kind words and the prayers and the messages during my medical misadventure.

I did follow very closely the proceedings of the committee during those few months I was absent. I read with great interest the report on the care of ill and injured Forces members as it was concluded. I also enjoyed the quite substantial body of evidence and testimony during the study of the defence of North America. It was a fairly productive series of meetings, given the longer than some expected session of the House. I think that I'm up-to-date.

Thanks very much, Rick, for leaping into the breach and so capably fulfilling the duties of chair. I really look forward to working again with all of you in the months ahead on both the motions before us that we've accepted today and moving ahead.

Mr. Bezan.

[James Bezan, Conservative, Selkirk—Interlake, MB]

Mr. Chair, I want to welcome you back. I can attest to the fact that you were following all the proceedings, because after every committee meeting you sent me an e-mail and let me know what you thought of the witnesses and how the committee was doing. I appreciate that you stayed informed and I want to congratulate you on your victory. I want to thank Rick for his chairmanship over that time. We're looking forward to a productive fall session.

With that, Mr. Chair, I'd like to move a motion to adjourn.

[Jack Harris, NDP, St. John's East, NL]

I know it's not today [Inaudible--Editor], but I may offer my comments.

[The Chair, Conservative, Peter Kent]

Would you stand down for the vice-chair, please?

Mr. Harris.

[Jack Harris, NDP, St. John's East, NL]

Thank you.

I would just like to add my words to James's in welcoming you back as chair. I know you've had a tough time. Your voice seems to have gotten back its on-air quality.

[Some hon. members]

Oh, oh!

[Jack Harris, NDP, St. John's East, NL]

It must be the rest.

[An hon. member]

It's more of a baritone.

[The Chair, Conservative, Peter Kent]

I was told there was a risk that I would lose it entirely.