Status of Women Committee on Nov. 19th, 2007

[Bruce Stanton, Conservative, Simcoe North, ON]

On the distribution of documents, the one thing I did find out, Madam Chair, in the course of this discussion was that the motions that were circulated by the clerk's office were in fact different from the motions we used in the last session. There were differences. I don't know whether that comes as a surprise or not, but in fact, on the distribution of documents, the one the clerk's office circulated to us finishes with “such documents exist in both official languages”.

I note that in the motion we had last session, some language I thought to be helpful was included. It indicated “and no document provided by a witness distributed without the authorization of the clerk of the committee”. There was some clarification.

To be honest, some of the routine motions we had in the last session are better than what the clerk distributed here at the start. I presumed from the outset that they were the same, but they're not. Without the benefit of some background as to why they're different, we had to proceed that way.

I would simply suggest that what we have proposed here on the distribution of documents assures that the language will be both official languages and that the witnesses be compelled to know that in advance. I think that's a help to the committee.

[The Chair, Liberal, Yasmin Ratansi]

Thank you.

Ms. Mathyssen.

[Irene Mathyssen, NDP, London—Fanshawe, ON]

Thank you, Madam Chair.

Might I suggest, since the routine motions we used for proceedings in the last session were so effective and we did so well with them, why don't we simply adopt those?

[The Chair, Liberal, Yasmin Ratansi]

Okay....

Yes, Mr. Stanton. I'm just going to take the committee's view on this, because they are motions that have been adopted. We've been working with those motions. If you have some real desire to say “No, we absolutely cannot agree with these, but we can accommodate one, two, three, four, five, six”, we can move that way effectively.

Yes?

[Bruce Stanton, Conservative, Simcoe North, ON]

That sounds good. I'll offer two considerations.

The first is on the question of staff at meetings. I wonder whether the committee members might agree to allow for in camera meetings in which, in addition to the one staff person per committee member, there also be consideration to have one from the party; this is typically a person from the whip's office, by chance. That has been proposed in our suggestions here: that in addition to one per person, you could have an additional person. And if you wish, you could even make it specific: from the whip's office.

There are occasions when you may have an additional person; that's the suggestion, and I think it will help. I think it helps serve all parties' interests to have one additional whip's office staff—not per member, but per party—here at the table.

The only other one I would consider to be important of the proposals we put forward is that in regard to the 48-hour notice for motions, time should be measured against when the notice was sent. You'll see in our proposal under motions that the 48 hours of notice shall be required—that's clear, and it's the same as in our previous routine motions—“and that the period of notice be calculated from the time the motion has been distributed to the members of the committee by the clerk”.

[The Chair, Liberal, Yasmin Ratansi]

So you're adding additionally when was this received by the clerk. And for 48 hours, the clock ticks—

[Bruce Stanton, Conservative, Simcoe North, ON]

When it's been sent.

[The Chair, Liberal, Yasmin Ratansi]

—by the committee members.

[Bruce Stanton, Conservative, Simcoe North, ON]

That's it.

[The Chair, Liberal, Yasmin Ratansi]

Are these the two that you—

[Bruce Stanton, Conservative, Simcoe North, ON]

If we could put those two changes into the routine motions that we have—the document I'm holding from session one—I think this would be acceptable.

[The Chair, Liberal, Yasmin Ratansi]

Okay. Mr. Stanton, I will ask the committee whether they have questions.

If I understand you correctly, the routine motions of the previous Parliament dealing with the services of the analysts, reduced quorum, distribution of documents, and working meals are so far so good, except that when you come to staff at in camera meetings and the notice of motions, those are two for which you're very keen to ensure there is clarity.

[Bruce Stanton, Conservative, Simcoe North, ON]

That's correct.

[The Chair, Liberal, Yasmin Ratansi]

Okay. Committee members, I'd like to have....

Yes, Ms. Minna.

[Maria Minna, Liberal, Beaches—East York, ON]

I just want a clarification from Mr. Stanton for the purpose of proceeding. Of the motions that you presented, are you saying now that rather than our voting on all of them, you wish us to vote only on the two? Or am I misunderstanding? I'm sorry.

[Bruce Stanton, Conservative, Simcoe North, ON]

I think what was proposed by I think it was Madame Demers--

[Maria Minna, Liberal, Beaches—East York, ON]

Oh, that we vote as a group.

[Bruce Stanton, Conservative, Simcoe North, ON]

I'm sorry. Ms. Mathyssen. Pardon me, désolé.

Since we worked well with the routine motions in the last session, the two proposals we would make for change on those two documents are simply to add the staff person under staff--

[Maria Minna, Liberal, Beaches—East York, ON]

So we're making only two changes now, as opposed to the whole of them.

[Bruce Stanton, Conservative, Simcoe North, ON]

Correct.

[Maria Minna, Liberal, Beaches—East York, ON]

Okay, got you. Merci.

[The Chair, Liberal, Yasmin Ratansi]

The clarification is the staff will be specified. It will be one per party and it should be from the whip's office or....

[Bruce Stanton, Conservative, Simcoe North, ON]

The wording we used here was, “In addition, each party shall be permitted to have one party staff member attend in camera meetings”. If the committee so chooses, that could read, “to have one whip's office staff member attend in camera meetings”.

[The Chair, Liberal, Yasmin Ratansi]

I think there was confusion. They wanted clarification. So can we specify that it should be...?

Oui, Madame Demers.

[Nicole Demers, Bloc, Laval, QC]

Excuse me, Madam Chair.

Mr. Stanton, are you talking about allowing each member of the committee to have one whip's office staff member attend?