Evidence of meeting #1 for Natural Resources in the 43rd 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.
The Clerk of the Committee Mr. Leif-Erik Aune
Members of the committee, it's past 3:30 and I do see a quorum, but a PROC report changing the membership of committees was adopted just moments ago, so I just need to consult that document and compare it with our membership list. I beg your indulgence for five more minutes.
Thank you.
It is past 3:30 and I see a quorum. I'll speak slowly, perhaps so slowly, in fact, that we'll just give Mr. Cannings one moment to return.
Conservative
The Clerk
Pursuant to Standing Order 106(1), this meeting has been called in order to elect a chair.
I can only receive motions for the election of the chair. I cannot receive other types of motions, entertain points of order, or participate in debate.
Standing Order 106(2) stipulates that at the commencement of every session, each standing committee shall elect a chair and two vice-chairs, of whom the chair shall be a member of the government party, the first vice-chair shall be a member of the official opposition, and the second vice-chair shall be a member of an opposition party other than the official opposition party.
I'm ready to receive motions.
Mr. May.
Liberal
The Clerk
Mr. May moves that James Maloney be elected as chair of the committee.
Are there further motions?
Seeing none, is it the pleasure of the committee to adopt the motion?
(Motion agreed to)
I declare the motion carried. Mr. Maloney is duly elected as chair of the committee.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal James Maloney
First of all, let me say thank you. All kidding aside, it is a great honour to chair this committee. I can say that based on my own experience, having done it in our last session of Parliament.
It's a pleasure for a number of reasons, not the least of which is the continuity factor. Mr. Cannings, Ms. Stubbs and I have been on this committee since day one. I think everybody who ever attended this committee walked away pleased in recognizing that we worked with a great spirit of co-operation. We agreed far more than we disagreed. I'm not optimistic, I'm confident—in fact, I'm sure—that we can continue that. I look forward to working with all of you.
Let's get started on the next item on the agenda, that being the nominations for first vice-chair.
Mrs. McLeod.
Conservative
The Clerk
Thank you, Mrs. McLeod.
Mrs. McLeod nominates Shannon Stubbs as first vice-chair. Pursuant to Standing Order 106(2), the first vice-chair must be a member of the official opposition.
Are there further motions?
Seeing none, is it the pleasure of the committee to adopt the motion?
(Motion agreed to)
Mrs. Stubbs is duly elected first vice-chair of the committee.
The Clerk
Pursuant to Standing Order 106(2), the second vice-chair must be a member of an opposition party other than the official opposition.
I'm prepared to receive motions for the position of second vice-chair.
Mr. Lefebvre.
The Clerk
It's been moved by Paul Lefebvre that Mario Simard be elected as second vice-chair of the committee.
Are there further motions?
Seeing none, is it the pleasure of the committee to adopt the motion?
(Motion agreed to)
I declare the motion carried. Mario Simard is duly elected second vice-chair of the committee.
NDP
Richard Cannings NDP South Okanagan—West Kootenay, BC
Maybe I missed something when I was in the washroom, but was there something from PROC about a third vice-chair, or is that something they're still discussing? If so, is that something that this committee can...? It's my understanding that a committee can elect a third vice-chair, if they so wish.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal James Maloney
The issue that PROC just dealt with was only with respect to the current membership of the committee. Mr. Saini was replaced by Mr. Sidhu.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal James Maloney
The Standing Orders provide for there to be only two vice-chairs, and the committee, I understand, does not have the authority to change that. However, I don't think that precludes PROC from continuing their discussions on the issue, which I believe they are doing.
NDP
Richard Cannings NDP South Okanagan—West Kootenay, BC
I think the Canada-China committee, which might not be a normal committee, has three vice-chairs.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal James Maloney
The third vice-chair was by a special order of the House because that committee was newly constituted.
Mr. Lefebvre, do you have something to add?
Liberal
Paul Lefebvre Liberal Sudbury, ON
What I'm hearing is that they are having those discussions at PROC, and I think we should take the lead from PROC once they've made a decision on the third vice-chair. When that comes up and there's a decision made, then we'll re-entertain that here. That's my proposal.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal James Maloney
Are there any other comments? Okay.
Congratulations, everybody. We're off.
We have some routine motions to deal with first.
Ms. McLeod, is this something other than routine motions?
