Official Languages Committee on Nov. 13th, 2007

[The Chair, Conservative, Steven Blaney]

Ms. Folco.

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

I would like to add “including one staff member from the whip's office” to this paragraph.

[The Chair, Conservative, Steven Blaney]

“including...”

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

“... one staff person from the whip's office.”

[The Chair, Conservative, Steven Blaney]

“... from the whip's office...”

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

“... of each party.”

[The Chair, Conservative, Steven Blaney]

“... from the whip's office of each party.”

Is that right?

We have an amendment on the floor. Are there any comments? Do you have any comments, Ms. Folco?

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

Non, I believe that is all.

[The Chair, Conservative, Steven Blaney]

Mr. Rodriguez.

[Pablo Rodriguez, Liberal, Honoré-Mercier, QC]

When Ms. Folco says “including”, does that mean that as well as one staff person, you would also have someone from the office...

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

“... be accompanied by one staff person at meetings and including...” We would add that here.

[Pablo Rodriguez, Liberal, Honoré-Mercier, QC]

If not, I could decide to replace the staff member by someone from the whip's office.

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

“...including one representative from the whip's office.”

[The Chair, Conservative, Steven Blaney]

For each party?

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

For each party, yes, okay.

[The Chair, Conservative, Steven Blaney]

I am going to re-read your amendment, Ms. Folco: “including one representative from the whip's office from each party.”

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

That is correct.

[The Chair, Conservative, Steven Blaney]

Are there any other comments on Ms. Folco's amendment? I am ready to call the vote on Ms. Folco's amendment. All those in favour? All those opposed?

(Amendment agreed to.)

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

I would like to provide some clarification. We did the same thing at the Standing Committee on Procedure and House Affairs. All members may bring one of their staff if they so desire, but there are always people from the whip's office who come in to see how the meeting is going. And each party does the same thing. That is why this motion was moved by the Liberals at the meeting of the Standing Committee on Procedure and House Affairs. Since we are already doing that, it might as well be put in writing. It is not new. We were doing it, but it was not put in writing.

[The Chair, Conservative, Steven Blaney]

So that allows each political party to have an additional member present.

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

The representative must be from the whip's office.

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

Mr. Chairman, when you talk about an additional staff member, that does not mean that each member is entitled to be accompanied by one of his or her staff in addition to someone from the whip's office. Each party is authorized to be accompanied by a representative from the whip's office. There will not be two people for each member of Parliament.

[The Chair, Conservative, Steven Blaney]

Since each party only has one whip, there can only be one person. In the amendment that has just been adopted, that is a predetermined factor. I am ready to call the vote.

We have voted on the amendment. We are now voting on the motion.

(Motion, as amended, agreed to.)

[The Chair, Conservative, Steven Blaney]

You are very cooperative this morning, Mr. Godin.

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

As regards in camera meetings transcripts, I move the following:

That one copy of the transcript of each in camerameeting be kept in the Committee Clerk's office for consultation by members of the Committee.