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.
Liberal
Jean-Claude D'Amours Liberal Madawaska—Restigouche, NB
I don't object to our adding that there must be at least four members and that...
Conservative
Luc Harvey Conservative Louis-Hébert, QC
There have to be representatives from at least two parties at a meeting. If four members from the Liberal Party hold a meeting amongst themselves, that won't do.
NDP
Yvon Godin NDP Acadie—Bathurst, NB
It says that the chair be authorized to hold meetings... The chair is a government member. If there is meeting, he's the one that asked for it, and he's a government member. If he doesn't ask for it, there is no meeting.
Liberal
Raymonde Folco Liberal Laval—Les Îles, QC
The two vice-chairs are also entitled to call meetings, and they're both in opposition. I support Mr. Harvey's suggestion according to which there should be four members. Out of these four, at least two must be opposition members, which suggests that the other two must be government members. I agree with this interpretation of reduced quorum.
NDP
Yvon Godin NDP Acadie—Bathurst, NB
I'd like to ask the clerk to clarify this interpretation. What is written is very clear: that the chair be authorized to hold meetings to receive and publish evidence when a quorum is not present provided at least four members are present. We are all members of the committee. Four members of the committee must be present and of these four, two must be opposition members.
Technically speaking, that means that there could be three opposition members and one government member. Four committee members attend the meeting and at least two of them must be from the opposition. It does not state two opposition members and two government members. Four committee members must be present. We are all members. Of these four, two must be from the opposition. Usually, that only applies when there is a reduced quorum. Most of the time, it's to hear testimony.
Let's not forget that we have witnesses coming from as far as Vancouver, Halifax and Montreal. The issue is simply to hear testimony and not to hold votes. We agree to having a reduced quorum to make sure that our witnesses are heard, out of respect for them and for the money we will be spending. There is no debate in the committee. We are there to hear witnesses testify, to ask questions of them and to report back to all committee members.
NDP
Yvon Godin NDP Acadie—Bathurst, NB
The only member who can call a meeting is the chair, and he's on the government's side. So the government is represented. When we refer to a reduced quorum, it does not mean that nine or ten of us cannot attend the meeting. If witnesses testify, we have to make sure we hear their evidence rather than send them home.
It's a good motion. We had adopted it in the past and it had worked very well.
Conservative
Luc Harvey Conservative Louis-Hébert, QC
My question is for the clerk. In referring to the chair, we are not talking about vice-chair, but rather the chair.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Guy Lauzon
It is the chair. Is it agreed?
( Motion agreed to)
We will now deal with the witness expenses.
Liberal
Jean-Claude D'Amours Liberal Madawaska—Restigouche, NB
Mr. Chairman, I move that, if requested, reasonable travel, accommodation and living expenses be reimbursed to witnesses, not exceeding two representatives per organization and that, in exceptional circumstances, payment for more representatives be at the discretion of the chair.
( Motion agreed to)
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Guy Lauzon
With respect to document distribution: I am prepared to entertain a motion.
Liberal
Raymonde Folco Liberal Laval—Les Îles, QC
Mr. Chairman, I move that we distribute committee documents only when they exist in both official languages and that no document provided by a witness be distributed without the clerk's authorization.
(Motion agreed to)
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Guy Lauzon
Things are running smoothly with the new chair. Would someone like to move the motion on working meals?
Conservative
Sylvie Boucher Conservative Beauport—Limoilou, QC
I will move the motion on working meals: that the clerk of the committee be authorized to make the necessary arrangements to provide for the working meals of the committee.
(Motion agreed to)
Conservative
Bloc
Vivian Barbot Bloc Papineau, QC
I suggest that we add the words “party” before the word “staff” so that not only our assistants may attend the meetings but party members as well.
Conservative
Sylvie Boucher Conservative Beauport—Limoilou, QC
If there is someone from my party who is not necessarily...
Conservative
Sylvie Boucher Conservative Beauport—Limoilou, QC
The whip's office, all right, but it would have to be Hill staff, otherwise, I could bring my director from Beauport—Limoilou along with me when he's in town. It could be too wide open.