Evidence of meeting #1 for Natural Resources in the 39th Parliament, 2nd session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was motions.
A recording is available from Parliament.
NDP
Catherine Bell NDP Vancouver Island North, BC
I'm curious. Doesn't saying “including two members of the opposition” automatically mean that the other two members would be the government?
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Leon Benoit
Not necessarily. The way I, at least, would interpret that—not for the chair, though—would be that at least two members, but all three members, could be from the opposition.
Now, you can't start a committee meeting without a chair, and the chair in this case is a government member.
NDP
Catherine Bell NDP Vancouver Island North, BC
Yes, but it doesn't say “at least two members”, it says, “including two members of the opposition”.
Liberal
Ken Boshcoff Liberal Thunder Bay—Rainy River, ON
Thank you, Mr. Chair.
I believe the wording we have agreed to is clear and I would not want to change it at this time.
Thank you.
Conservative
David Anderson Conservative Cypress Hills—Grasslands, SK
I would just make the point that we had a committee yesterday that approved the change to include one member of the government. I don't think it's implicit in this, so I think it would be good if we did it. But it will be the will of the committee, I guess.
Liberal
Conservative
David Anderson Conservative Cypress Hills—Grasslands, SK
We did it in the agriculture committee. Pat Martin suggested it, and it was passed at the committee.
Do you remember that he made the amendment, Ken?
Bloc
Claude DeBellefeuille Bloc Beauharnois—Salaberry, QC
Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
I support Mr. Boshcoff's motion. The wording of the motion on reduced quorum, that four members of the committee including two members of the opposition be present is fair and correct. I think that the rule should remain the same and that is the responsibility of each of the committee's members to be present at the time determined for meetings, both members of the opposition as well as those of the government. This wording poses no problem for me. During the last session, we never had any difficulty and I do not see how the clarification suggested by Mr. Trost would be of assistance.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Leon Benoit
Okay, we have an amendment proposed by Mr. Trost, which adds to the motion from the last committee, “and one member of the government”.
We've had some discussion. Is there any further discussion on that motion?
(Amendment negatived)
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Leon Benoit
Shall we now go with the original motion? Is it agreed?
(Motion agreed to [See Minutes of Proceedings])
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Leon Benoit
On distribution of documents, does anyone want to move a motion?
Yes, Mr. Boshcoff.
Liberal
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Leon Benoit
Is there any discussion?
(Motion agreed to [See Minutes of Proceedings])
Working meals. Would you like to keep it the same as it was at the last meeting?
We need a mover on that. Sorry, I'm rushing.
Monsieur St. Amand.
Liberal
Lloyd St. Amand Liberal Brant, ON
I move the motion on working meals, as set out in the distributed document.
(Motion agreed to [See Minutes of Proceedings])
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Leon Benoit
Would someone like to move the motion on witnesses' expenses?
Mr. Trost.
Conservative
