Evidence of meeting #1 for Official Languages in the 39th Parliament, 1st Session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was staff.
9:10 a.m.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Guy Lauzon
Welcome.
The second point on the agenda is the appointment of the sub-committee on agenda and procedure. Would someone like to move this motion?
9:10 a.m.
Liberal
Raymonde Folco Liberal Laval—Les Îles, QC
I'm willing to move the motion: that the Subcommittee on Agenda and Procedure be composed of the chair, the two vice-chairs and a member of the other opposition party. That would be a member of the Bloc Québécois, I believe.
9:10 a.m.
Conservative
9:10 a.m.
Liberal
9:10 a.m.
NDP
Yvon Godin NDP Acadie—Bathurst, NB
I'd like to lend some clarity on this motion. Last year, if I'm not mistaken, we agreed to having the standing committee sit as its own steering committee. I move that we proceed in the same way this year. As members of our group generally get along rather well, we could decide on our agenda all together.
If it's all right, I move that the entire committee carry out the duties of the Subcommittee on Agenda and Procedure.
9:15 a.m.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Guy Lauzon
Is everyone in agreement?
Now, with respect to the motion on reduced quorum, the clerk just told me he suggested the same thing as last year.
9:15 a.m.
NDP
9:15 a.m.
NDP
Yvon Godin NDP Acadie—Bathurst, NB
If you withdraw your motion, I will move that the entire committee carry out the duties of the Subcommittee on Agenda and Procedure.
9:15 a.m.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Guy Lauzon
We now move to the motion on reduced quorum.
Once again, the clerk suggested we do the same thing as last year. Would someone like to move the motion?
9:15 a.m.
Liberal
Raymonde Folco Liberal Laval—Les Îles, QC
I'm sorry, I don't understand. Are we discussing the reduced quorum?
9:15 a.m.
Some hon.members
Yes.
9:15 a.m.
An hon.member
It's the same thing as last year.
9:15 a.m.
Liberal
Jean-Claude D'Amours Liberal Madawaska—Restigouche, NB
Mr. Chairman, I would like some clarification. Do the two members on the government side include the chair? I see here you have to have at least two opposition members, but it does not state that there must be government members. You need four members, even if they're all opposition members. Is that correct?
9:15 a.m.
Conservative
Luc Harvey Conservative Louis-Hébert, QC
The motion reads as follows: “ provided at least four members are present including two members of the opposition.” That means that members of the opposition cannot hold a meeting on their own. It is shared. There must be at least two opposition members.
9:15 a.m.
Liberal
Jean-Claude D'Amours Liberal Madawaska—Restigouche, NB
Mr. Chairman, it states: “when a quorum is not present provided at least four members are present.” There must be at least four, and at least two opposition members. So, you could have four opposition members.
9:15 a.m.
Conservative
Luc Harvey Conservative Louis-Hébert, QC
It does not state there needs to be at least two of them; it states “including two members of the opposition.”
9:15 a.m.
Liberal
Jean-Claude D'Amours Liberal Madawaska—Restigouche, NB
It says “provided at least four members are present including two members...” That means at least...