Agreed.
Evidence of meeting #1 for Public Accounts in the 41st Parliament, 1st Session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was steering.
A recording is available from Parliament.
Evidence of meeting #1 for Public Accounts in the 41st Parliament, 1st Session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was steering.
A recording is available from Parliament.
3:45 p.m.
Some hon. members
Agreed.
3:45 p.m.
NDP
Joe Comartin NDP Windsor—Tecumseh, ON
I was counting up as I was preparing my thoughts on this. I think I've been on six standing committees since I was elected in 2000. With the exception of a short period of time in the public safety committee, all of them had steering committees. They were a major time saver.
I say that because of the one experience I had on public safety when we didn't have a steering committee. It seemed, as you suggested, Mr. Chair, that you ended up with everybody on the main committee putting in their comments. What would take 15 minutes in a steering committee would take an hour in a full committee. It's a major time saver.
I think the point that Mr. Trost raised, though, is a valid one, to this extent. I know there were committees where the division between the members, oftentimes because of personality clashes as opposed to ideological or philosophical ones, was so bad that whatever was determined in the steering committee ended up in full debate when it came for ratification to the full committee. So that was a waste of time, and I think if we had that kind of committee, I'd be on Mr. Trost's side.
The history of this committee, though--and Mr. Kramp has made this point--is just the opposite. The collegiality that has gone on in this committee was the same in the 2000-2004 period when we had a majority government. It was the same at that time.
In those circumstances, the steering committees work very well. They facilitate things. They save a lot of time for the full committee, so it's well worth doing, and I think this is one of the committees where it's appropriate.
3:45 p.m.
Conservative
Andrew Saxton Conservative North Vancouver, BC
Thank you, Mr. Chair.
As has been noted, it's been common practice on this committee to have a steering committee. Now, a past common practice doesn't mean there has to be a future common practice, and we recognize that. We had that discussion earlier today. What we are looking for is best practice.
We want to have this committee run as smoothly and efficiently as possible, and if having a steering committee will assist with that, then we're going to give it a shot. That was our discussion. If it turns out it's not working, then we'll have to address it at that time as well.
I think the comments that have been brought up on this committee so far, both for and against the steering committee, are all valid, but my recommendation is that we give it a shot and hopefully it will turn out to be of benefit to the committee as a whole.
3:45 p.m.
NDP
The Chair NDP David Christopherson
Thank you.
I have no further speakers, but the floor is open if anyone wants it.
Seeing none, I will move to a vote on the motion.
The motion is on the establishment of a subcommittee. We normally call it a steering committee. It would be constituted of the two vice-chairs, one NDP representative, one Conservative member, and the non-voting chair.
That's the motion before you. We've had full debate.
All those in favour?
(Motion agreed to)
The motion is carried, so we will have a steering committee.
The first order of business, I would suggest to the committee, if there is agreement here, is that the rules of our committee be the first matter that the steering committee take a look at next week, to make recommendations on our procedures.
For those of you who have been around for a while, it's the 48-hour rule, hearing information in a secondary quorum if we don't have a quorum--those kinds of things. We'll utilize the steering committee to chew on those and bring a recommendation back, and the committee will decide. Hopefully also at the steering committee we can get some sense of what we want to do when we come back in September so that we can land on our feet running and get to work.
If everybody is in agreement with that, then I will try to call that meeting next week and we'll have at least one steering committee before we rise.
Yes, Mr. Kramp.
3:45 p.m.
Conservative
Daryl Kramp Conservative Prince Edward—Hastings, ON
Mr. Chair, on the composition of the steering committee, are we doing that next week or are we doing that now?
3:45 p.m.
NDP
The Chair NDP David Christopherson
No--thank you for that--we will need to nominate and elect an NDP MP and one more Conservative MP. The two vice-chairs are automatic and I'm automatic.
I will actually take motions now for names from the Conservative side.
3:50 p.m.
Conservative
Daryl Kramp Conservative Prince Edward—Hastings, ON
I would nominate Andrew Saxton from the Conservatives.
3:50 p.m.
NDP
The Chair NDP David Christopherson
Thank you.
Mr. Saxton has been nominated from the Conservative benches. Are there any further nominations?
Mr. Saxton.
3:50 p.m.
Conservative
3:50 p.m.
NDP
The Chair NDP David Christopherson
I was going to try to deal with this in one piece.
Is there any civil war going on over here, any problem? No? Okay.
I'll take your motion now, Mr. Saxton.
3:50 p.m.
Conservative
Andrew Saxton Conservative North Vancouver, BC
I'd like to nominate Mr. Caron as the other member of the steering committee.
3:50 p.m.
NDP
The Chair NDP David Christopherson
Thank you very much.
Are there any further nominations from the NDP benches?
Hearing none, the motion is that Mr. Saxton and Mr. Caron be appointed to the steering committee.
All those in favour of the motion, please indicate.
(Motion agreed to)
There's one last motion we have to do:
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.
That is moved by Mr. Trost.
Is there debate?
Hearing none, all in favour, please indicate.
(Motion agreed to)
Is there any further business, Madam Clerk? Is there anything else I have to do?
All right.
Is there anything else the committee wants to do?
Very good.
With that, I thank all the members. I look forward to our work together. I will do my utmost to call a steering committee for next week so that we can get the process under way.
I thank you all very much, and I look forward to serving with you.
3:50 p.m.
Some hon. members
Hear, hear!