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.

staffmoveoppositionwhip's officereduced quorummeetingfourin-camera meetingsroutine motionssomeonenameprovided at leastagenda and procedure

On the agenda

MPs speaking

Also speaking

Jean-Rodrigue Paré  Analyst, Library of Parliament

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?

Translated

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.

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9:10 a.m.

Conservative

The Chair Conservative Guy Lauzon

No, no.

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Raymonde Folco Liberal Laval—Les Îles, QC

Oh! Sorry. I forgot, there was...

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9:10 a.m.

Conservative

The Chair Conservative Guy Lauzon

No. There is the chair, one vice-chair and...

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Raymonde Folco Liberal Laval—Les Îles, QC

No, there are two vice-chairs. That's what I said.

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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.

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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.

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Yvon Godin NDP Acadie—Bathurst, NB

I'm sorry, were you all in favour of the previous motion?

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Raymonde Folco Liberal Laval—Les Îles, QC

I will withdraw my motion.

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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.

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9:15 a.m.

Conservative

The Chair Conservative Guy Lauzon

This motion was agreed to.

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Yvon Godin NDP Acadie—Bathurst, NB

We have to put the question.

(Motion carried)

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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?

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Raymonde Folco Liberal Laval—Les Îles, QC

I'm sorry, I don't understand. Are we discussing the reduced quorum?

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Some hon.members

Yes.

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Raymonde Folco Liberal Laval—Les Îles, QC

Is it exactly as worded, or different?

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An hon.member

It's the same thing as last year.

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Raymonde Folco Liberal Laval—Les Îles, QC

Very well.

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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?

Translated

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.

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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.

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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.”

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Jean-Claude D'Amours Liberal Madawaska—Restigouche, NB

It says “provided at least four members are present including two members...” That means at least...

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9:15 a.m.

Conservative

Luc Harvey Conservative Louis-Hébert, QC

There's a comma there.

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