Thank you very much, Mr. Chair.
The proposed motion would significantly change how the House operates and I think it will certainly have an impact on the rights of MPs. If I may, I will quote from O'Brien and Bosc, which is rather clear. On page 1019, it states:
It is the House, and the House alone, that appoints the members and associate members of its committees, as well as the Members who will represent it on joint committees. The Speaker has ruled that this is a fundamental right of the House. The committees themselves have no powers at all in this regard.
Furthermore, on page 1018, it states: “The Standing Orders specifically exclude a non-member from voting, moving motions or being counted for purposes of a quorum.” In other words, the committee does not have the power to make this type of procedural change by itself. This power belongs to the House and the Speaker.
In my view, that would completely change the legislative procedures in our Parliament. Those changes are too significant to be made in committee. We should deal with this issue in the House. That is partly why we are very much opposed to this motion, Mr. Chair.