Evidence of meeting #1 for Public Safety and National Security in the 41st Parliament, 1st session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was chair.
A recording is available from Parliament.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Kevin Sorenson
The next one, on the distribution of documents, I think is fairly general: that only the clerk of the committee be authorized to distribute documents to members of the committee and only when such documents exist in both official languages.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Kevin Sorenson
To our clerk, perhaps you want to give us all a reminder here.
Sometimes when witnesses appear here, they have it in one official language. Is there any way that we can be assured, maybe even in the motion here, that in the letter of invitation to witnesses it be spelled out clearly that documentation has to be in two official languages? It happened so many times in the last Parliament. Is there any way in a motion we can kind of give you the directive that each one be notified that it's required?
The Clerk
Yes, it can be done. It already happens. The confirmation of appearance always contains a boilerplate provision, if you will, stipulating that anything to be distributed has to be in both official languages. We offer the translation services and so forth. That is always in what we send out to witnesses.
NDP
Jasbir Sandhu NDP Surrey North, BC
Mr. Chair, I notice that previously in routine motions from the 40th Parliament there was the paragraph, “The clerk shall advise all witnesses appearing before the committee of this requirement.” That has been deleted from the new one.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Kevin Sorenson
Yes. I should have opened my eyes. Do I have a recommendation to include that?
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Kevin Sorenson
Thank you, Mr. Sandhu, for pointing that out. I appreciate that. The old one is in order, that those witnesses do that.
All in favour?
(Motion agreed to)
We will move to the next one. I notice our time on committees is from 11 until 1, so this one becomes very relevant: that the clerk of the committee be authorized to make the necessary arrangements to provide working meals for the committee and its subcommittees.
All in favour?
(Motion agreed to)
On witnesses' expenses: that, if requested, reasonable travel, accommodation, and living expenses be reimbursed to witnesses, not exceeding two representatives per organization; and that in exceptional circumstances payment for more representatives be made at the discretion of the chair.
That is fairly reasonable. All in favour?
(Motion agreed to)
This is an important one for new members: that unless otherwise ordered, each committee member be allowed to be accompanied by one staff person at an in camera meeting.
Ms. Hoeppner.
Conservative
Candice Bergen Conservative Portage—Lisgar, MB
I want to introduce a different motion. I move that each committee member in attendance shall be permitted to have one staff member attend any in camera meeting. In addition, each party shall be permitted to have one staff member from a House officer attend in camera meetings.
Conservative
NDP
Don Davies NDP Vancouver Kingsway, BC
Mr. Chair and Ms. Hoeppner, that language is a little different from the last time. It said “from each party's whip's office”. You would prefer House--
Conservative
Candice Bergen Conservative Portage—Lisgar, MB
We are saying “House officer” just in case it is somebody else, such as the House--
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Kevin Sorenson
All in favour?
(Motion agreed to)
On in camera meeting transcripts: 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. Davies.
NDP
Don Davies NDP Vancouver Kingsway, BC
Mr. Chairman, I would move that the motion be amended similar to the one before that one, to broaden it to members of the committee or by one staff person. Sometimes we would send a member of our staff to review the minutes. You could even have someone from the House committee as well, or whatever Ms. Hoeppner's language was. We're using that language at different committees now.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Kevin Sorenson
That could end up being a different staff member from the one who was at the in camera meeting to begin with, right?
Ms. Hoeppner, then Mr. Rathgeber.
Conservative
Candice Bergen Conservative Portage—Lisgar, MB
I would suggest that it say that in camera meetings be transcribed and that the transcription be kept with the clerk of the committee for later consultation by members of Parliament.
That gives some flexibility.
Conservative
Candice Bergen Conservative Portage—Lisgar, MB
Yes: that in camera meetings be transcribed and that the transcription be kept with the clerk of the committee for later consultation by members of Parliament.
Conservative
Conservative
Brent Rathgeber Conservative Edmonton—St. Albert, AB
I am opposed to both Mr. Davies' and Ms. Hoeppner's suggestions.
The concept of having in camera hearings, as I understand it, Mr. Chair, is so the privacy of the people who were at that meeting is protected. It would be my suggestion the proposal that would be appropriate would be that only members who were at that meeting ought to be able to review those transcripts, and not staff members.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Kevin Sorenson
I'm going to refer to the clerk on this.
How does it work when in camera meetings take place and then members are taken off a committee? Would other people have access?