Evidence of meeting #1 for Official Languages in the 39th Parliament, 2nd Session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was amendment.
A recording is available from Parliament.
9:50 a.m.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Steven Blaney
Are there any questions or comments? We will proceed with the vote.
(Motion agreed to)
Mr. Godin.
9:50 a.m.
NDP
Yvon Godin NDP Acadie—Bathurst, NB
I move the following for notices of motions:
That 48 hours' notice be required for any substantive motion to be considered by the Committee, unless the substantive motion does not relate directly to the business under consideration; and that the notice of motion be filed with the clerk of the committee and distributed to members in both official languages.
9:50 a.m.
Liberal
Raymonde Folco Liberal Laval—Les Îles, QC
To the best of your knowledge, colleagues, is this exactly what we have always done? It says here “[...] unless the substantive motion does not relate directly to the business under consideration;”. It seems to me — but correct me if I am wrong — that all motions require 48 hours notice. Am I mistaken, Mr. Godin?
9:50 a.m.
NDP
Yvon Godin NDP Acadie—Bathurst, NB
When we are working on a given issue, motions do come to us directly. I think that you yourself have presented several of them. So we do amend motions when we are working on an issue. However, if it is a new issue, the motion requires 48 hours notice, so that no one is caught off guard. These are the same rules.
9:50 a.m.
Liberal
Pablo Rodriguez Liberal Honoré-Mercier, QC
I would like some clarification. What do you mean by 48 hours? We have discussed this matter many times. I have seen motions come in at 6 or 7:00 p.m. two days before. Do you see what I mean?
9:50 a.m.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Steven Blaney
In the case you are referring to, the motion comes in about 36 hours ahead of time. Suppose the meeting were scheduled for Thursday and the notice of motion is received at 6:00 p.m. on Tuesday.
If the motion is submitted before 6:00 p.m. that day, it is considered to be the first 24-hour period. That is precisely how it works. According to our procedures, if a committee member were to submit a motion that does not deal with business under consideration and if the member were to submit it before 6:00 p.m. on the Tuesday, we could debate it on Thursday.
9:50 a.m.
Liberal
Mauril Bélanger Liberal Ottawa—Vanier, ON
I fully agree with that, Mr. Chairman, but perhaps the motion should say that. If we talk about 48 hours' notice for a motion submitted on a Tuesday at 6:00 p.m. for a meeting on the following Thursday at 9:00 a.m., that does not equal 48 hours. It should either say 48 hours, or two sleeps.
9:50 a.m.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Steven Blaney
Mr. Bélanger, the Clerk informs me that the usual rule applies in this case.
9:50 a.m.
Liberal
Mauril Bélanger Liberal Ottawa—Vanier, ON
Since we sit on Tuesdays and Thursdays, the matter must be clarified so that everyone understands. For example, as part of this morning's meeting, someone might want to give notice for next Thursday, but we need to ensure we do not encounter this problem on Thursday.
9:50 a.m.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Steven Blaney
If I understand correctly, Mr. Bélanger, you are saying that it is important for all committee members to understand the rule as interpreted by the chair and the clerk.
9:55 a.m.
Liberal
Mauril Bélanger Liberal Ottawa—Vanier, ON
Questions have already arisen. If the clerk receives a notice of motion before 6:00 p.m. today, the motion will be in order for Thursday. Does everyone understand? Does everyone agree? No?
To be in order for Tuesday, does a notice have to be submitted by 2:30 p.m. or 6:00 p.m. the Friday or during the day on Sunday?
9:55 a.m.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Steven Blaney
We work seven days a week.
Mr. Bélanger, do you have a question?
9:55 a.m.
Liberal
Mauril Bélanger Liberal Ottawa—Vanier, ON
What is the minimum deadline for a notice to be in order for Tuesday morning at 9:00 a.m.?
9:55 a.m.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Steven Blaney
The clerk informs me that since he is not normally here on Sunday to receive notices, according to the procedures, it must be submitted on the Friday at 6:00 p.m. That means we are talking about working days.
9:55 a.m.
Liberal
9:55 a.m.
Conservative
Pierre Lemieux Conservative Glengarry—Prescott—Russell, ON
That is a good question, because it is not explained very well here.
9:55 a.m.
Liberal
Raymonde Folco Liberal Laval—Les Îles, QC
Mr. Chairman, I would like to move an amendment in accordance with this very discussion. Why could we not add, somewhere in the paragraph, that for the Tuesday meeting, the notice must be submitted by 6:00 p.m. the previous Friday and that for the meeting on Thursday, it must be submitted by 6:00 p.m. the previous Tuesday. That way it would be clear for everyone.
9:55 a.m.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Steven Blaney
It is an amendment moved by Ms. Folco?.
Would you like to raise a point of information as well?
Ms. Folco, I would like to draw your attention to a provision in the House of Commons Standing Orders. It is on page 37. It says that such notice shall be filed with the clerk before 6:00 p.m., or 2:00 p.m. on a Friday. This is from chapter VIII, section 54, which deals with committee motions. It is for the House.
9:55 a.m.
Liberal
Raymonde Folco Liberal Laval—Les Îles, QC
In that case, if everyone agrees, I would propose changing my amendment so that for meetings on Tuesdays, the notice must be tabled on Friday by 2:00 p.m. and for meetings on Thursday, it must be tabled on Tuesday before 6:00 p.m. That would be consistent with what you just clarified.
9:55 a.m.
NDP
Yvon Godin NDP Acadie—Bathurst, NB
That causes a problem for me, and I will tell you why.
Ms. Folco, I would prefer referring to this paragraph and following the Standing Orders for the 48-hour notice. We are talking about meetings on Tuesdays and Thursdays, but if we decide to hold a special meeting on Wednesday, all we have here are two specific examples applying solely to meetings on Tuesdays and Thursdays. Nothing is set out for Wednesdays. I think the Standing Orders are clear: they refer to 48 hours' notice.
9:55 a.m.
Liberal
9:55 a.m.
NDP
Yvon Godin NDP Acadie—Bathurst, NB
No, you specifically said Tuesday and Thursday. You would have to strike that.
9:55 a.m.
Liberal
Raymonde Folco Liberal Laval—Les Îles, QC
I was simply attempting to respond to questions raised around the table. The motion starts with: “That 48 hours' notice be required [...]. That is the general rule. There are two possibilities.
If everyone agrees, I will withdraw my amendment, I do not mind at all. But last year, I remember that we had some problems with that. So it must be clear in everyone's mind.