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.
9:20 a.m.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Stephen Fuhr
Is there discussion?
(Motion agreed to)
Mr. Spengemann, would you present motion number six, please?
9:20 a.m.
Liberal
Sven Spengemann Liberal Mississauga—Lakeshore, ON
Mr. Chair, I move:
That, if requested, reasonable travel, accommodation, childcare, attendant care and living expenses be reimbursed to witnesses, not exceeding two (2) representatives per organization; and that, in exceptional circumstances, payment for more representatives be made at the discretion of the Chair.
9:20 a.m.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Stephen Fuhr
Is there discussion?
(Motion agreed to)
Mr. Fisher, would you do motion number seven?
9:20 a.m.
Liberal
Darren Fisher Liberal Dartmouth—Cole Harbour, NS
Thank you, Mr. Chair. I move:
That, unless otherwise ordered, each Committee member be allowed to be accompanied by one (1) staff person at an in camera meetings and Whip staff.
9:20 a.m.
NDP
Randall Garrison NDP Esquimalt—Saanich—Sooke, BC
I guess I find the wording a bit unclear. It might be better to say “and one whip staff person from each party”. I think that has been the practice.
9:20 a.m.
Liberal
Darren Fisher Liberal Dartmouth—Cole Harbour, NS
I don't think it needs to say “one”. I'd be fine with the change if it just said “and whip staff”. I see what you're saying, though.
How about saying “and staff from the whip's office for each party”? I agree with the intent.
9:25 a.m.
Liberal
9:25 a.m.
Liberal
Mark Gerretsen Liberal Kingston and the Islands, ON
I'm just trying to understand Mr. Garrison's point.
Are you trying to limit it to one, or are you just trying to add clarity to the wording that's there?
9:25 a.m.
Liberal
Darren Fisher Liberal Dartmouth—Cole Harbour, NS
As the mover of the motion, I'm fine with the clarity, but I'm not fine with numbering the whip staff. If you want to have more whip staff here on your behalf, I'm fine with that.
9:25 a.m.
Conservative
Pierre Paul-Hus Conservative Charlesbourg—Haute-Saint-Charles, QC
Perhaps we should make sure that we do not have interns, but only official members of staff.
I will repeat it for my friend James. I suggest that this not include interns, but only official staff.
9:25 a.m.
Liberal
Darren Fisher Liberal Dartmouth—Cole Harbour, NS
I'm fine with Mr. Garrison's amendment. We can stick with “one whip staff per party”.
9:25 a.m.
NDP
Randall Garrison NDP Esquimalt—Saanich—Sooke, BC
Mr. Chair, I would move that the motion on staff at in camera meetings be amended by replacing the words “and whip staff” with “and one Whip staff from each party”.
9:25 a.m.
Liberal
9:25 a.m.
Conservative
Pierre Paul-Hus Conservative Charlesbourg—Haute-Saint-Charles, QC
In my opinion, it is important that staff be hired in accordance with House of Commons contracts. Interns may have divergent political affinities. In committees, I think it is important that we have official staff who have signed a work contract. That is what I want to ensure.
9:25 a.m.
Liberal
Mark Gerretsen Liberal Kingston and the Islands, ON
Sorry, Mr. Chair, are we voting to amend the motion to put the word “one” in there?
9:25 a.m.
Liberal
Sherry Romanado Liberal Longueuil—Charles-LeMoyne, QC
What about instead of being accompanied by one staff member, maybe it could be one “official” staff, meaning it can't be an intern?
9:25 a.m.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Stephen Fuhr
I'm going to check to see what was done previously. I don't think it was defined.
I think they're going to decide who is value-added here and who is not. I'm not particularly concerned about who they send. It hasn't been defined before. The number was defined, yes, and we've already passed that. I think those people can manage their staff accordingly, and I think we should just leave it.
Can we move on? We're going to vote on the motion as amended. It now reads:
That, unless otherwise ordered, each Committee member be allowed to be accompanied by one (1) staff person at in camera meetings and one (1) Whip staff from each party.
(Motion as amended agreed to [See Minutes of Proceedings])
Mr. Rioux, could you move number eight, please?
9:25 a.m.
Liberal
Jean Rioux Liberal Saint-Jean, QC
The next motion deals with in camera meeting transcripts, and reads as follows:That one copy of the transcript of each in camera meeting be kept in the committee clerk's office for consultation by members of the committee.
9:25 a.m.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Stephen Fuhr
Is there any discussion?
(Motion agreed to)
Ms. Romanado, could you move the next motion, please?