Official Languages Committee on Nov. 6th, 2013

[The Chair, Conservative, Michael Chong]

Welcome to the third meeting of the Standing Committee on Official Languages. The date today is Wednesday, November 6, 2013.

On our agenda today we have committee business. We are going to discuss the routine motions and the planning of our future business.

This is a point of clarification, because members asked me to clarify what the chair's interpretation would be of the following motion if it were to be adopted:

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

The chair will interpret it in a way that most committee chairs interpret that motion, which is to say that it would include both members of the committee and a designated staff person. However, if a designed staff person wishes to see the transcript, the member needs to send an email to the clerk personally authorizing that staff member to take a look at the transcript.

That's clear now, so we'll continue debate on the following motion:

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

Mr. Gourde, the floor is yours.

[Jacques Gourde, Conservative, Lotbinière—Chutes-de-la-Chaudière, QC]

Thank you, Mr. Chair,

If I understand you correctly, even though it says “members of the committee”, it implies that any staff member designated by a member of the committee can go and consult one of those documents in the clerk's office, However, that person cannot take document away. Can he take notes?

[The Chair, Conservative, Michael Chong]

He can take notes, but he cannot copy it word for word.

[Jacques Gourde, Conservative, Lotbinière—Chutes-de-la-Chaudière, QC]

Okay.

[The Chair, Conservative, Michael Chong]

The member also has to send an email to let the clerk know that his assistant is authorized to read the document.

[Jacques Gourde, Conservative, Lotbinière—Chutes-de-la-Chaudière, QC]

So it can be an email or a signed letter. Basically, it is a proxy.

[The Chair, Conservative, Michael Chong]

Exactly.

[Jacques Gourde, Conservative, Lotbinière—Chutes-de-la-Chaudière, QC]

Okay. As long as we understand each other.

This present motion is interpreted that way, even though it is not written that way. Is this the same motion used in other committees?

[The Chair, Conservative, Michael Chong]

Yes, but not in all committees.

On most committees, that's the way the rule is interpreted.

[Jacques Gourde, Conservative, Lotbinière—Chutes-de-la-Chaudière, QC]

Okay. So we are not changing something that has already been established.

[The Chair, Conservative, Michael Chong]

Is there further debate?

[John Williamson, Conservative, New Brunswick Southwest, NB]

I don't have it in front of me. Could you just read it in English, please?

[The Chair, Conservative, Michael Chong]

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

(Motion agreed to)

Do we have any further motions for consideration?

Mr. Gourde.

[Jacques Gourde, Conservative, Lotbinière—Chutes-de-la-Chaudière, QC]

Thank you, Mr. Chair.

I have a motion about the questioning of witnesses. Here it is:

That, at the discretion of the Chair, the witnesses from any one organization shall be allowed ten (10) minutes to make their opening statement. During the questioning of witnesses there shall be allocated seven (7) minutes for the first round of questioning, and thereafter five (5) minutes shall be allocated to each questioner in the second and subsequent rounds of questioning. That the order of questions shall be as follows: for the first round of questioning: Official Opposition, government party, third party, government party; for the second round of questioning, the government party members and Opposition members shall alternate in the following fashion: government party, Official Opposition, government party, Official Opposition, government party, Official Opposition, government party; based on the principle that each committee member should have a full opportunity to question the witness. If time permits, further rounds shall repeat the pattern of the first two at the discretion of the Chair.

[The Chair, Conservative, Michael Chong]

Thank you, Mr. Gourde.

I feel that the motion you have made is exactly the same as the one we passed in the first session of this Parliament.

(Motion agreed to)

The motion is adopted. Are there any further motions?

Monsieur Gourde.

[Jacques Gourde, Conservative, Lotbinière—Chutes-de-la-Chaudière, QC]

If we have to add dissenting or supplementary opinions to committee reports, here is a motion that allows that:That any member of the Committee be entitled to submit a dissenting or supplementary opinion to any Committee report in accordance to the Standing Orders of the House, provided that it is no more than five (5) pages in length and submitted electronically, in both official languages, to the Clerk in the 48 hours following the adoption of a report; and that 48 hours' notice be calculated in the same manner as for the House.

[The Chair, Conservative, Michael Chong]

Thank you.

You have a copy of that motion on the third page of the document that the clerk has distributed.

Is there any debate on this motion?

(Motion agreed to)

Are there any further motions?

Go ahead, Mr. Gourde.

[Jacques Gourde, Conservative, Lotbinière—Chutes-de-la-Chaudière, QC]

I have one last motion, Mr. Chair.

That, in relation to Orders of Reference from the House respecting Bills, (a) that the Clerk of the Committee shall, upon the Committee receiving such an Order of Reference, write to each Member who is not a member of the caucus represented on the Committee to invite those Members to file, in a letter to the Chair of the Committee, in both official languages, any amendments to the Bill, which is the subject of the said Order, which they would suggest that the Committee consider; (b) suggested amendments filed, pursuant to paragraph (a), at least 48 hours prior to the start of clause-by-clause consideration of the Bill to which the amendments relate shall be deemed to be proposed during the said consideration, provided that the Committee may, by motion, vary this deadline in respect of a given bill; and (c) during the clause-by-clause consideration of a Bill, the chair shall allow a Member who filed suggested amendments, pursuant to paragraph (a), an opportunity to make brief representations in support of them.

[The Chair, Conservative, Michael Chong]

Thank you, Mr. Gourde.

Before we discuss this motion, I need to tell you that the clerk has distributed a copy of the motion. It is on the second page and it is in both languages.

Is everybody clear on what the motion is? Are there any questions about the motion?

Madam St-Denis.

[Lise St-Denis, Liberal, Saint-Maurice—Champlain, QC]

I would like to move an amendment to paragraph (c) of the motion.

[The Chair, Conservative, Michael Chong]

Do you have a copy of your amendment?

[Lise St-Denis, Liberal, Saint-Maurice—Champlain, QC]

Yes.

[The Chair, Conservative, Michael Chong]

Thank you. Can you introduce your amendment?

[Lise St-Denis, Liberal, Saint-Maurice—Champlain, QC]

Yes.

Paragraph (c) of the motion should read as follows:

(c) during the clause-by-clause consideration of a Bill, which is to be scheduled so as to ensure that no two clause-by-clause consideration of Bills by a Standing Committee are scheduled concurrently, the Chair shall allow a Member who filed suggested amendments, pursuant to paragraph (a), an opportunity to: participate fully in clause-by-clause consideration of the bill, subject to SO 76(5); make representations in support of the amendments commensurate to speaking privileges enjoyed by full members of the Committee; and participate in any in camera meetings.

[The Chair, Conservative, Michael Chong]

Thank you.

Is there any debate on the amendment?

Mr. Godin, you have the floor.