Evidence of meeting #1 for National Defence in the 42nd Parliament, 1st Session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was chair.
A recording is available from Parliament.
9:15 a.m.
Liberal
9:15 a.m.
Conservative
James Bezan Conservative Selkirk—Interlake—Eastman, MB
I think it doesn't respect the principle that all of us get a chance to speak once, and I don't think it's very fair to all of you as members.
9:15 a.m.
Liberal
Mark Gerretsen Liberal Kingston and the Islands, ON
Can we just get clarification on it again? I know you've just read it out, Mr. Chair.
9:15 a.m.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Stephen Fuhr
Okay.
The first round is for seven minutes, starting with Liberals, seven; Conservatives, seven; NDP, seven; Liberals, seven.
9:15 a.m.
Liberal
9:15 a.m.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Stephen Fuhr
Yes, for round one. Then round two is a little bit different, with a third option for Liberals speaking. I'll read it.
Round two would be Liberals, five; Conservatives, five; Liberals, five; Conservatives, five; Liberals five; and NDP, three.
Then I would also recommend that we repeat this until we run out of time, meaning that when we're done with round two, we go back to the speaking order of round one until we're out of time.
9:15 a.m.
Liberal
Darren Fisher Liberal Dartmouth—Cole Harbour, NS
What are the numbers for round three, then? Is it the same speaking order, but for three minutes?
9:15 a.m.
Liberal
9:15 a.m.
Conservative
James Bezan Conservative Selkirk—Interlake—Eastman, MB
Just as a suggestion, Mr. Chair, in the past, round three always depended on time, and we divided that time evenly as best we could among the three parties until we ran out of time. If there were 15 minutes left, it would be five minutes each, and if there were 12 minutes, it would be four minutes each, but we left it to the discretion of the chair to determine what the third round would be.
9:15 a.m.
Liberal
Darren Fisher Liberal Dartmouth—Cole Harbour, NS
Couldn't we just leave the third round to the discretion of the chair on an ongoing basis and not have it in print?
9:15 a.m.
Conservative
9:15 a.m.
Liberal
9:15 a.m.
NDP
Randall Garrison NDP Esquimalt—Saanich—Sooke, BC
I'm going to make the obvious point for the grace of the electors that we're establishing the precedent of giving one member of the committee less time, and any of you could end up in that position. I think we're establishing a bad precedent for the future by having a different amount of time per party in the round.
I obviously can't carry the day, but I can't support the motion as it's written.
9:15 a.m.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Stephen Fuhr
As was mentioned earlier, this is still much more generous than it was last time around.
9:15 a.m.
Conservative
9:15 a.m.
NDP
Randall Garrison NDP Esquimalt—Saanich—Sooke, BC
With respect, the third party is larger than it was the last time around—
9:15 a.m.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Stephen Fuhr
My point is, we're trying to be cordial and give everybody an opportunity. I think this is a great first step forward.
