Evidence of meeting #2 for Official Languages in the 41st Parliament, 2nd session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was meeting.
A recording is available from Parliament.
NDP
Jamie Nicholls NDP Vaudreuil—Soulanges, QC
The parliamentary secretary said that being able to read the minutes is more dangerous to in camera than being able to hear them when they're present.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Michael Chong
You're going to have to review the blues. I don't know exactly what he said.
NDP
Pierre Dionne Labelle NDP Rivière-du-Nord, QC
Mr. Chair, according to my understanding of the discussion, Mr. Gourde wants the motion to be set aside until we receive an official notice confirming that the motion as read before our amendment would enable the committee members' staff to consult the transcript—if that is indeed a common practice. That's what I heard. I think we could set the motion aside and wait to see what the situation is.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Michael Chong
If the motion is adopted, I have already instructed the clerk to seek advice from his colleagues as to the interpretation of this motion with respect to staff members accessing and looking at the transcript of in camera meetings. At the next meeting I will endeavour to clarify the interpretation of this motion.
Madame Bateman.
Conservative
Joyce Bateman Conservative Winnipeg South Centre, MB
Should we get that interpretation before we vote on it?
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Michael Chong
Okay, we can adjourn debate on this and we can continue to debate routine motions at the next meeting on Thursday.
Conservative
Joyce Bateman Conservative Winnipeg South Centre, MB
It's just that you're saying we should vote on something which we don't know the meaning of yet. I'm very uncomfortable doing that because I want to know the meaning.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Michael Chong
My view of the motion as it's currently worded is that staff members, with the express authorization of a member of this committee, are allowed to view the transcript at the clerk's office, in the same way staff members of a member of this committee can review the draft report before it's released, even though they may not be present in the room when that report is being discussed. That's my interpretation of the motion, but I will double-check with senior people in the clerk's office to get an exact interpretation.
Now, if you wish to adjourn debate on this particular motion I'm prepared to do that.
Conservative
Joyce Bateman Conservative Winnipeg South Centre, MB
I just want to make perfectly clear that I don't want to vote on something when we are not clear on the interpretation.
Conservative
Conservative
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Michael Chong
Is it the wish of the committee to adjourn debate on this motion?
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Michael Chong
We'll adjourn debate on this motion until the next meeting. The clerk will get me an answer for clarification.
Are there any routine motions that the committee would like to consider?
Mr. Gourde.
Conservative
Jacques Gourde Conservative Lotbinière—Chutes-de-la-Chaudière, QC
Mr. Chair, this is the last motion, and it 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 then under consideration; and that the notice of motion be filed with the Clerk of the Committee and distributed to members in both official languages.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Michael Chong
Thank you, Mr. Gourde.
We have a motion before us. It concerns notices of motion.
Do we have a debate on the issue?
There's no debate on the motion.
(Motion agreed to)
Are there any other motions for consideration?
Mr. Godin.
NDP
Yvon Godin NDP Acadie—Bathurst, NB
I propose the following:
That whenever a minister is appearing before the Committee, every effort should be made in order for this meeting to be televised.
It's a new one, that when a minister comes to the committee, the meeting be televised.
Conservative
Conservative
John Williamson Conservative New Brunswick Southwest, NB
We have no control of what the media covers or does not cover.
