Official Languages Committee on May 9th, 2006

[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?

[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.

[The Chair, Conservative, Guy Lauzon]

No, no.

[Raymonde Folco, Liberal, Laval—Les Îles, QC]

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

[The Chair, Conservative, Guy Lauzon]

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

[Raymonde Folco, Liberal, Laval—Les Îles, QC]

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

[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.

[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.

[Yvon Godin, NDP, Acadie—Bathurst, NB]

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

[Raymonde Folco, Liberal, Laval—Les Îles, QC]

I will withdraw my motion.

[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.

[The Chair, Conservative, Guy Lauzon]

This motion was agreed to.

[Yvon Godin, NDP, Acadie—Bathurst, NB]

We have to put the question.

(Motion carried)

[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?

[Raymonde Folco, Liberal, Laval—Les Îles, QC]

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

[Some hon.members]

Yes.

[Raymonde Folco, Liberal, Laval—Les Îles, QC]

Is it exactly as worded, or different?

[An hon.member]

It's the same thing as last year.

[Raymonde Folco, Liberal, Laval—Les Îles, QC]

Very well.

[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?

[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.

[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.

[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.”

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

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

[Luc Harvey, Conservative, Louis-Hébert, QC]

There's a comma there.