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.
Conservative
Jacques Gourde Conservative Lotbinière—Chutes-de-la-Chaudière, QC
Thank you, Mr. Chair.
I have sat on the subcommittee before and I think it is best to keep the motion as is. We have been criticized in the past for holding subcommittee meetings when the other members were not aware. The decisions were challenged and we decided to go back to the way we used to do things, meaning that the whole committee would make all decisions regarding future business.
We can try to reduce the quorum, but I do not think it would benefit anyone. Whether we leave things the way they are or we completely eliminate the subcommittee, I don't want three members only making the decisions at the subcommittee, because that is not respectful to the other members of the committee. You need at least five members.
Thank you, Mr. Chair.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Michael Chong
Do any other members wish to speak?
Go ahead, Mr. Dionne Labelle.
NDP
Pierre Dionne Labelle NDP Rivière-du-Nord, QC
Mr. Gourde, I don't think the committee will meet if the five members do not show up.
Conservative
Jacques Gourde Conservative Lotbinière—Chutes-de-la-Chaudière, QC
In that case, there will be no subcommittee meeting. If the members show up, there is a meeting; otherwise, it is simply cancelled.
Conservative
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Michael Chong
He said that, during the first session, the main committee decided how the work was planned and those sorts of things, not the subcommittee.
Mr. Godin, go ahead.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Michael Chong
So we are going to vote on the motion as amended.
All those in favour.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Michael Chong
We will have a recorded vote.
I will pass the floor to the clerk, who will take a recorded vote on the motion from the committee, which is that the Subcommittee on Agenda and Procedure be composed of five members, including the chair, the two vice-chairs, the Parliamentary Secretary for Official Languages and a member of the government party; that quorum be a minimum of three members, one of whom is a member of the government party and another of whom is a member of the official opposition; and that members of the subcommittee be authorized to bring a member of their staff with them to the subcommittee; and that each party be authorized an additional staffer, presumably from the whip's office.
The clerk has the floor and he will take a vote.
(Motion negatived: nays 7; yeas 4 [See Minutes of Proceedings])
Now we're going to consider another motion.
Does anyone have another routine motion they would like to see adopted?
Mr. Godin, go ahead.
NDP
Yvon Godin NDP Acadie—Bathurst, NB
Mr. Chair, could you please read the previous motion from last time?
Conservative
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Michael Chong
Here it is:
That the Subcommittee on Agenda and Procedure be composed of five (5) members including the Chair, the two Vice-Chairs, the Parliamentary Secretary—
NDP
Yvon Godin NDP Acadie—Bathurst, NB
No, no, I am not talking about the previous motion we already voted on. I am talking about the subsequent motion dealing with the reduced quorum.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Michael Chong
Does somebody want to present that?
Do you want to introduce that motion?
NDP
Yvon Godin NDP Acadie—Bathurst, NB
Yes, but I would like to know what the former motion said, because I am not sure I have the right piece of paper.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Michael Chong
Okay. The motion reads:
That the Chair be authorized to hold meetings to receive evidence and to have that evidence printed when a quorum is not present, provided that at least four (4) members are present, including one (1) member of the opposition and one (1) member of the government party.
Would you like to introduce that motion, Mr. Godin?
NDP
Yvon Godin NDP Acadie—Bathurst, NB
Yes, and I would like to add the following: “and that when travelling outside the parliamentary precinct, the meeting begin after fifteen (15) minutes, regardless of members present”.
Conservative
NDP
Yvon Godin NDP Acadie—Bathurst, NB
The entire motion reads as follows:
That the Chair be authorized to hold meetings to receive evidence and to have that evidence printed when a quorum is not present, provided that at least three (3) members are present, including one (1) member of the official opposition...
Or rather:
...four (4) members are present, including one (1) member of the opposition and that when travelling outside the parliamentary precinct, the meeting begin after fifteen (15) minutes, regardless of members present.
Conservative
NDP
Yvon Godin NDP Acadie—Bathurst, NB
Four members, including one member of the official opposition and one member of the government party.