Evidence of meeting #1 for Official Languages in the 40th 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.
The Clerk
It was understood that it was by the end of the work day. Forty-eight hours, the way the House counts, means two sleeps.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Steven Blaney
Does that answer your question, Mr. Nadeau? If I understand correctly, we're the only committee dealing with this.
Mr. D'Amours.
Liberal
Jean-Claude D'Amours Liberal Madawaska—Restigouche, NB
The clerk probably answered the question, but I would like clarification for greater certainty. I believe the term you used was sleeps. Two nights' sleep for the House; the House goes through two sleeps and then it's okay. It's not a matter of counting out 48 hours.
Liberal
Conservative
Sylvie Boucher Conservative Beauport—Limoilou, QC
I sit on other committees. We didn't use to have this problem because the meetings were on Wednesdays, but does 48 hours mean two work days?
Conservative
Sylvie Boucher Conservative Beauport—Limoilou, QC
So that means that if I decide to submit a motion today, it won't be considered before Tuesday because there have to be two sleeps. People sleep on the weekend, but so does the House, so you don't count the weekend.
Conservative
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Steven Blaney
If there are no other comments, we can go ahead and vote on notices of motion.
Bloc
Richard Nadeau Bloc Gatineau, QC
I think Jean-Rodrigue has a very good understanding of sleeps; he spends all of his time doing it.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Steven Blaney
Let's vote. The motion reads as follows:
That 48 hours' notice be required for any substantive motion to be considered by the committee, unless the substantive motion relates directly to business [...]
(Motion agreed to)
We now come to the motion on questioning witnesses. This motion varies from one committee to another. You can see the original motion that was proposed. Basically, the motion has to do with how the committee works.
Is there someone who would like to move the motion?
Mr. Godin.
NDP
Yvon Godin NDP Acadie—Bathurst, NB
I move that we adopt the status quo, that we follow the same procedure we followed at our last meeting.
Yvon Godin NDP Acadie—Bathurst, NB
The one that was agreed to in the second session of the 39th Parliament.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Steven Blaney
I will read it out in full:
That witnesses be given ten (10) minutes for their opening statement; that during the questioning of witnesses, there be allocated: for the first round, seven (7) minutes for the first questioner of each party in the following order: Official Opposition, Bloc Québécois, New Democratic Party, government; for the second round, five (5) minutes be allocated to each subsequent questioner from each party in the following order: Official Opposition, government, Bloc Québécois, New Democratic Party; for the third round, five (5) minutes be allocated to each subsequent questioner of each party in the following order: Official Opposition, Bloc Québécois, government, New Democratic Party; for the fourth round, five (5) minutes be allocated to each subsequent questioner of each party in the following order: Official Opposition, government, Bloc Québécois, New Democratic Party.
Mrs. Glover.
Conservative
Conservative
Shelly Glover Conservative Saint Boniface, MB
Good. Personally, I took a very close look at this. I really like everyone to have a chance to participate and to speak. I was wondering how this could be changed to give everyone a chance to speak. I know that other committees have chosen other ways of questioning witnesses. So I have a proposal to submit; I'd like everyone to be given a copy so that we can discuss it.
Conservative
Shelly Glover Conservative Saint Boniface, MB
It would not be a complete amendment, but if you want to call it an amendment, that's fine.