Subcommittee on Private Members' Business Committee on March 21st, 2013

[Michel Bédard]

When I provide information to you, it is based on the committee's practices. The fact that meetings used to be held in camera must also be taken into account. Obviously, I provide information to you using the tools that are available. As you mentioned, the subcommittee is the master of its own proceedings and is quite free to interpret the criteria as it sees fit. If the subcommittee were to interpret—

[Stéphane Dion, Liberal, Saint-Laurent—Cartierville, QC]

It is not your interpretation that I am calling into question, but rather my vote.

[Philip Toone, NDP, Gaspésie—Îles-de-la-Madeleine, QC]

If you will allow me, I would like to mention that, for the most part, this committee shows good reserve when it comes to private members' bills. We hesitate to make them non-votable. On the face of things, I think that should stay as is and that the advice was good. There wasn't just that point. The analyst raised others.

[Stéphane Dion, Liberal, Saint-Laurent—Cartierville, QC]

Among all of your decisions, it is the most difficult one today.

[The Chair, Conservative, Dave MacKenzie]

I need a couple of motions to be moved, the first that the committee present a report listing those items which it has determined should not be designated non-votable and recommend they be considered by the House.

This means we are presenting the ones that should be votable. The language is backwards.

Will we accept that motion?

[Scott Armstrong, Conservative, Cumberland—Colchester—Musquodoboit Valley, NS]

Can you say that again?

[Voices]

Oh, oh!

[Scott Armstrong, Conservative, Cumberland—Colchester—Musquodoboit Valley, NS]

You confused me with the reverse terminology.

[The Chair, Conservative, Dave MacKenzie]

I know!

There is another motion coming, but the first is that the committee present a report listing those items which it has determined should not be designated non-votable and recommend they be considered by the House.

(Motion agreed to)

The second is that the chair report the subcommittee's findings to the Standing Committee on Procedure and House Affairs as soon as possible.

That covers the non-votable items.

All in favour of that?

(Motion agreed to)

Thank you.

That ends our subcommittee meeting.

The meeting is adjourned.