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.

On the agenda

MPs speaking

Also speaking

Clerk of the Committee  Mr. Philippe Grenier-Michaud
Martin Auger  Committee Researcher
James Lee  Committee Researcher

9:15 a.m.

NDP

Randall Garrison NDP Esquimalt—Saanich—Sooke, BC

All I'm saying is that in the past, in the rounds, parties have had equal speaking time, and it's something we're changing. In the future, as I said, any of you may end up sitting in this spot, and we have a new precedent.

9:15 a.m.

Liberal

The Chair Liberal Stephen Fuhr

Okay. That's noted.

Go ahead, James.

9:15 a.m.

Conservative

James Bezan Conservative Selkirk—Interlake—Eastman, MB

With all due respect to my friend, Randall, you already have seven minutes in the first round and three in the second, so you already have 10 versus everybody else getting seven or five. Then you get to go again in the second round, or rather in the third round, time permitting, so you're going to have a lot more time than most other members.

9:20 a.m.

Liberal

The Chair Liberal Stephen Fuhr

I think we're getting close here, as far as getting through the order of first and second round is concerned. Is it agreeable that if we go into a third round, we will cut that wood when we get there?

9:20 a.m.

Liberal

Mark Gerretsen Liberal Kingston and the Islands, ON

It would be at the discretion of the chair.

9:20 a.m.

Liberal

The Chair Liberal Stephen Fuhr

Okay, and I can divide up the time we have left. All right.

Is there any more discussion on this?

Mr. Fisher.

9:20 a.m.

Liberal

Darren Fisher Liberal Dartmouth—Cole Harbour, NS

No, it's not real discussion, Mr. Chair, just clarity.

We have a motion on the floor from member Bezan, and we have a point made by member Romanado that we would amend the PROC rules, as discussed.

What motion is actually on the floor that we will be...?

9:20 a.m.

Liberal

The Chair Liberal Stephen Fuhr

Procedurally, it sounds like it's an amendment to PROC by Mr. Bezan.

9:20 a.m.

Liberal

Darren Fisher Liberal Dartmouth—Cole Harbour, NS

Do we want to have clarity from the clerk on exactly what we're voting on now, and then have a vote?

9:20 a.m.

Liberal

The Chair Liberal Stephen Fuhr

I'll read it out now that it sounds like the discussion has wound down, and we'll go from there.

9:20 a.m.

Liberal

Darren Fisher Liberal Dartmouth—Cole Harbour, NS

Thank you, Chair.

9:20 a.m.

Liberal

The Chair Liberal Stephen Fuhr

This is an amendment to PROC regarding speaking rotation, as moved by Mr. Bezan, and it is as follows:

Round one: Liberals seven (7), Conservatives seven (7), NDP seven (7), Liberals seven (7). Round two: Liberals five (5), Conservatives five (5), Liberals five (5), Conservatives five (5), Liberals five (5), NDP three (3).

9:20 a.m.

Liberal

Darren Fisher Liberal Dartmouth—Cole Harbour, NS

As well, there would be a third round at the discretion of the chair.

9:20 a.m.

Liberal

The Chair Liberal Stephen Fuhr

I think that has to be separate.

9:20 a.m.

Liberal

Darren Fisher Liberal Dartmouth—Cole Harbour, NS

Do we want to include this in the amendment?

9:20 a.m.

Conservative

James Bezan Conservative Selkirk—Interlake—Eastman, MB

All right.

9:20 a.m.

Liberal

The Chair Liberal Stephen Fuhr

Okay, then we'll put it in the same thing. If we go to a third round and subsequent rounds, it will be determined by the chair, based on the time remaining.

9:20 a.m.

Conservative

James Bezan Conservative Selkirk—Interlake—Eastman, MB

That's perfect. I move, then, the amendment, as follows:

That the motion be amended by replacing the words ''six (6) minutes be allocated to each party in the first round in the following order: Conservative Party, Liberal Party, New Democratic Party, Liberal Party; and that for the second round the time be allocated as follows: Liberal Party six (6) minutes, Conservative Party six (6) minutes, Liberal Party six (6) minutes, Conservative Party five (5) minutes and New Democratic Party three (3) minutes'' with the words ''seven (7) minutes be allocated to each party in the first round in the following order: Liberal Party, Conservative Party, New Democratic Party, Liberal Party; that for the second round the time be allocated as follows: Liberal Party five (5) minutes, Conservative Party five (5) minutes, Liberal Party five (5) minutes, Conservative Party five (5) minutes, Liberal Party five (5) minutes and New Democratic Party three (3) minutes; and that, if time permits, further rounds be at the discretion of the Chair''

9:20 a.m.

Liberal

The Chair Liberal Stephen Fuhr

Are we all in agreement?

(Amendment agreed to: yeas, 8; nays, 1)

The Chair:

Are we all in favour of the motion as amended?

(Motion as amended agreed to [See Minutes of Proceedings])

Moving on to the fifth motion, I don't think we'll have too much of a problem with this one.

Ms. Romanado, can you please work us through this motion?

9:20 a.m.

Liberal

Sherry Romanado Liberal Longueuil—Charles-LeMoyne, QC

Certainly. It is:

That only the Clerk of the Committee be authorized to distribute documents to members and only when such documents exist in both official languages; and that the Clerk inform the witnesses of this requirement at the time of the invitation to appear.

9:20 a.m.

Liberal

Mark Gerretsen Liberal Kingston and the Islands, ON

Is that incorrectly numbered?

9:20 a.m.

Liberal

The Chair Liberal Stephen Fuhr

That didn't look like motion number five to me. In mine, motion five is on working meals. That was distribution of documents, and it's not numbered in mine.

Is there discussion on the motion for distribution of documents?

(Motion agreed to)

Motion number five is on working meals.

Mr. Gerretsen.

9:20 a.m.

Liberal

Mark Gerretsen Liberal Kingston and the Islands, ON

Mr. Chair, it's my pleasure to move what is arguably the most important procedural matter of this committee.

9:20 a.m.

Some hon. members

Oh, oh!

9:20 a.m.

Liberal

Mark Gerretsen Liberal Kingston and the Islands, ON

It is:

That the Clerk of the Committee be authorized to make the necessary arrangements to provide working meals for the Committee and its subcommittees.