Evidence of meeting #1 for Natural Resources in the 42nd Parliament, 1st Session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was minutes.
A recording is available from Parliament.
3:35 p.m.
The Clerk of the Committee Mr. Michel Marcotte
Honourable members of the committee, I see a quorum.
I must inform members that the clerk of the committee can only receive motions for the election of the chair. The clerk cannot receive other types 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 party.
I am ready to receive motions for the chair.
Mr. Lemieux, you may go ahead.
3:35 p.m.
Liberal
Denis Lemieux Liberal Chicoutimi—Le Fjord, QC
I nominate my colleague James Maloney as chair of the committee.
3:35 p.m.
The Clerk
It has been moved by Mr. Lemieux that Mr. Maloney be elected as chair of the committee.
Are there any further motions?
Is it the pleasure of the committee to adopt the motion?
(Motion agreed to)
3:35 p.m.
Some hon. members
Hear, hear!
3:35 p.m.
The Clerk
Congratulations, Mr. Maloney.
I invite you to come sit at the front with me.
3:35 p.m.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal James Maloney
First, let me say thank you very much. I appreciate the unanimous support. I will do my very best to make sure this committee runs efficiently, smoothly, and in the spirit of co-operation we all want.
If the committee is in agreement, I invite the clerk to proceed with the election of the vice-chairs.
3:35 p.m.
Some hon. members
Agreed.
3:35 p.m.
The Clerk
Thank you.
Pursuant to Standing Order 106(2) the first vice-chair shall be a member of the official opposition. I am now prepared to receive motions for the first vice-chair.
3:35 p.m.
Conservative
3:35 p.m.
The Clerk
It has been moved by Ms. Stubbs that Mr. Barlow be elected first vice-chair of the committee.
Are there any further motions?
Seeing none, is it the pleasure of the committee to adopt the motion?
(Motion agreed to)
Thank you.
Congratulations, Mr. Barlow, on being elected as first vice-chair.
3:35 p.m.
Some hon. members
Hear, hear!
3:35 p.m.
The Clerk
Pursuant to Standing Order 106(2), the second vice-chair shall be a member of an opposition party other than the official opposition party.
I am now prepared to receive motions for the second vice-chair.
3:35 p.m.
The Clerk
It has been moved by Mr. Marc Serré that Mr. Richard Cannings be elected as second vice-chair of the committee.
Is it the pleasure of the committee to adopt the motion?
(Motion agreed to)
Congratulations, Mr. Cannings, on being elected as second vice-chair of the committee.
3:35 p.m.
Some hon. members
Hear, hear!
3:35 p.m.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal James Maloney
If the committee so wishes, we can deal with procedural motions today. There are a number of them. I'm going to distribute a document to make sure everybody is working from the same page.
The first procedural motion deals with analyst services:
That the Committee retain, as needed and at the discretion of the Chair, the services of one or more analysts from the Library of Parliament to assist it in its work.
Mr. Harvey is prepared to move the motion.
(Motion agreed to)
Item number two pertains to the Subcommittee on Agenda and Procedure:
That the Subcommittee on Agenda and Procedure be composed of five (5) members, including the Chair, the two (2) Vice-Chairs and two (2) Government Members and that the quorum of the Subcommittee shall consist of at least three (3) members, including one (1) member of the opposition.
Do I have a mover? Mr. Harvey.
Is there any discussion?
Ms. Bergen.
3:40 p.m.
Conservative
Candice Bergen Conservative Portage—Lisgar, MB
I noticed that there's a Subcommittee on Agenda and Procedure and I would have the same comments for a subcommittee on private members' business.
I've chaired and vice-chaired committees in previous Parliaments, and in some committees we forwent this subcommittee. We always met as a whole to discuss private members' business as well as the agenda. In fact, it was called the steering committee. We didn't have a steering committee. Instead, we met as a whole.
I'm wondering if the committee would consider that. I know my colleague Mr. Barlow is the vice-chair. I'm the critic for natural resources, so I would like to be part of those discussions, or my deputy critic be part of them. I'm wondering if you would consider meeting as a whole committee, rather than having a subcommittee.
3:40 p.m.
Liberal
3:40 p.m.
Conservative
Candice Bergen Conservative Portage—Lisgar, MB
Generally, we'd talk about all of these issues as well.
3:40 p.m.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal James Maloney
Does anybody else have any comments they'd like to make?
Mr. Barlow.
February 17th, 2016 / 3:40 p.m.
Conservative
John Barlow Conservative Foothills, AB
I've had some experience with committees in the past. The other thing with steering committees or subcommittees is that they meet in camera, and I think it's important that we be as open to the public as possible. I think the discussions we have, whether they're on private members' business or with procedures, should be in the open, in the public view.
Any time we can avoid being in camera, I think we should do so.
3:40 p.m.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal James Maloney
Your addendum to Ms. Bergen's proposal is that there be no subcommittee, that the committee as a whole conduct the business of the subcommittee, and that we do so in open session.
Are there any comments?
Mr. McLeod.
3:40 p.m.
Liberal
Michael McLeod Liberal Northwest Territories, NT
Mr. Chairman, the subcommittee structure is intended to provide a committee that is smaller than all of us here, not requiring all of us together to deal with specific issues. I don't know why I would want to be required to sit in on every issue that we have to deal with. I'd prefer a subcommittee structure. That would be the way I'd like to see things go.
3:40 p.m.
Conservative
Candice Bergen Conservative Portage—Lisgar, MB
I think we have to have quorum. That member could always get a substitute. It doesn't mean we will literally, each of us, be at every single meeting. I think there might be times, if you can't make it to a meeting, that you can get a substitute to come in. But it would give us the opportunity and then, if we wanted to be here, we could be here. It gives us flexibility. But you wouldn't have to be here, Mr. McLeod.
