Evidence of meeting #1 for Public Accounts in the 39th Parliament, 2nd Session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was information.
A recording is available from Parliament.
The Clerk of the Committee Mr. Justin Vaive
Honourable members of the committee, I see a quorum.
We can now proceed to the election of chair. I'm ready to receive motions to that effect.
First, I must inform members that the clerk of the committee can receive motions only for election of the chair. The clerk cannot receive any other types of motions, cannot entertain points of order, nor participate in debate.
Is there a motion?
Mr. Williams.
Conservative
John Williams Conservative Edmonton—St. Albert, AB
Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I know you can't receive anything other than motions. I was going to give you my opinion on a chair, but since I can't do that, I would love to nominate Mr. Murphy as our chair.
The Clerk
It has been moved by Mr. Williams that Shawn Murphy be elected as chair of the committee.
Are there any further motions?
Is it the pleasure of the committee to adopt the motion?
The Clerk
I declare the motion carried and Mr. Murphy duly elected.
Before inviting Mr. Murphy to take the chair, if the committee wishes, we will now proceed to the election of vice-chairs.
I'm now prepared to receive motions for first vice-chair.
Pursuant to Standing Order 106(2), the first vice-chair for this committee must be a member of the government.
Are there any motions?
Liberal
Charles Hubbard Liberal Miramichi, NB
I would nominate David Sweet. I understand he's done a very good job in the past, and he was recommended by Mr. Williams, who was a former chair of this committee. I'm sure he'll do a great job as vice-chair.
The Clerk
It has been moved by Mr. Hubbard that Mr. Sweet be elected as first vice-chair of the committee.
Are there any further motions?
Is it the pleasure of the committee to adopt the motion?
The Clerk
I declare the motion carried and Mr. Sweet duly elected first vice-chair of the committee.
I am now ready to receive motions for the position of second Vice-Chair.
Pursuant to Standing Order 106(2), the second Vice-Chair must be a Member of an opposition party other than the Official Opposition party.
Are there any nominations?
Mr. Lussier.
Bloc
Marcel Lussier Bloc Brossard—La Prairie, QC
Mr. Clerk, I nominate Mr. Jean-Yves Laforest for the position of second Vice-Chair.
The Clerk
Mr. Lussier moves that Mr. Laforest be elected second Vice-Chair of the committee.
Are there any other nominations? Is it the pleasure of the committee to adopt the motion?
The Clerk
I declare the motion carried and Mr. Laforest duly elected second Vice-Chair of the committee.
I now invite Mr. Murphy to take the chair.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Shawn Murphy
First of all, I want to thank my mover and thank the committee members for their support.
Before we go any further, I do want to extend a very warm welcome to three new members of the committee. Mr. Marcel Lussier has joined us from the Bloc Québécois, and we have two new Liberal members, Mr. Charles Hubbard and Mr. Mark Holland.
I want to welcome each of you to the committee. I do hope you find the committee rewarding and enjoyable, as does everyone.
The next item of business, colleagues, is the routine motions. If this committee so wishes, we can start them now. I understand we do them one at a time.
Okay, then, we will proceed in the order that they are in now. We will go over the last routine motions we had.
The first item, colleagues, is the services of analysts from the Library of Parliament. The motion reads:
That the Committee retain, as needed and at the discretion of the Chair, the services of one or more analysts from the Library of Parliament to assist it in its work.
This is a very routine motion. This committee couldn't function without its analysts, so I assume someone's going to move that motion. We would be in deep trouble if we didn't get this one passed.
(Motion agreed to)
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Shawn Murphy
The second one:
That the Subcommittee on Agenda and Procedure be established and composed of the Chair, the two Vice-Chairs and a member of the other opposition party.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Shawn Murphy
Reduced quorum:
That the Chair be authorized to hold meetings to receive evidence and to have that evidence published when a quorum is not present, provided that at least three members are present, including one member of the opposition.
Conservative
David Sweet Conservative Ancaster—Dundas—Flamborough—Westdale, ON
I'd just like to consider an amendment to that motion, which would read:
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 members....
Is that the motion we're on right now?
Conservative
David Sweet Conservative Ancaster—Dundas—Flamborough—Westdale, ON
Yes.
...provided that at least three members are present, including one member of the opposition and one member of the government. In the case of previously scheduled meetings taking place outside the parliamentary precinct, the committee members in attendance shall only be required to wait for 15 minutes following the designated start of the meeting before they may proceed to hear witnesses and receive evidence, regardless of whether opposition or government members are present.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Shawn Murphy
I think this is a fairly significant change. I'll read it:
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 members are present, including one member of the opposition and one member of the government.
Then it goes on:
In the case of previously scheduled meetings taking place outside the parliamentary precinct, the committee members in attendance shall only be required to wait for 15 minutes following the designated start of the meeting before they may proceed to hear witnesses and receive evidence, regardless of whether opposition or government members are present.
I'll ask the clerk to speak to what goes on in other committees.
Justin.
The Clerk
I don't know if we've had examples of this type of motion in other committees up to this point, but obviously in terms of timing for committees, when committees are to adjourn or not continue, that's obviously up to the committee in any instance. If it is the pleasure of the committee to codify it in this form, it would be up to the committee to determine that.
