Evidence of meeting #1 for Status of Women in the 40th Parliament, 2nd Session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was chair.
A recording is available from Parliament.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Hedy Fry
--there were another circumstance, the clerk be authorized to provide, I would suppose, the appropriate meal. So let us consider your amendment, which I suppose is on the table.
The amendment reads: “That the committee hereby authorize the clerk of the committee, in consultation with the chair, to make the necessary arrangements to provide for working meals, as may be required, and that the cost of these meals be charged to the committee's budget”.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Hedy Fry
Which they already are. Let's read it as it is here:
Que le Comité autorise, par la présente, le greffier du Comité, en consultation avec le président du Comité, à prendre les dispositions nécessaires pour assurer des repas de travail au besoin et que le coût de ces repas puisse être imputé au budget du comité.
Conservative
Liberal
Conservative
Patricia Davidson Conservative Sarnia—Lambton, ON
I just wanted to agree.
(Motion as amended agreed to)
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Hedy Fry
The next one has to do with witnesses' expenses. Would someone move it?
Madam Neville moves it:
That, if requested, reasonable travel, accommodation and living expenses be reimbursed to witnesses not exceeding one representative per organization; and that, in exceptional circumstances, payment for more representatives be at the discretion of the chair and that, if requested, reasonable child care expenses of witnesses be reimbursed.
Madam Neville.
Liberal
Anita Neville Liberal Winnipeg South Centre, MB
Madam Chair, I moved this motion because it's a formed motion that comes with every committee, but my concern in moving it--and perhaps I should take it out--is with the words “that, if requested”. Many witnesses do not know that the option is there for them to have their expenses covered, and I think it's important, particularly with some of the groups we deal with, that they be advised that these are available. It's not open for unlimited numbers to come, but I do think that people should know that these resources are available.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Hedy Fry
So your amendment will be that the words “if requested”, en font la demande, be removed.
February 5th, 2009 / 11:55 a.m.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Hedy Fry
Is there any discussion on that amendment? No? Agreed? Then I'll call the question.
(Motion as amended agreed to)
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Hedy Fry
Now we have a motion on time limits for witnesses' statements and questioning. Does someone want to move this?
Madam Mathyssen moves it.
That witnesses be given ten minutes to make their opening statement; that during the questioning of witnesses, the time allocated to each questioner be as follows: on the first round of questioning, seven minutes to a representative of each party in the following order: Liberal Party, Bloc Québécois, Conservative Party, New Democratic Party. On the following rounds of questioning, five minutes per party in the following order: Liberal Party, Conservative Party, Bloc Québécois, New Democratic Party, Conservative Party.
This is the one that was adopted the last time.
Conservative
Patricia Davidson Conservative Sarnia—Lambton, ON
Madam Chair, I'd like to propose an amendment to this one, to have the second round alternate between the opposition members and the government members; so it would be Conservative, Liberal, Conservative, Bloc, Conservative, Conservative, so everybody would have an opportunity to speak. With the proposed motion, everyone will never get the opportunity to speak. This way, with the amendment, everyone will have the same opportunity at the table.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Hedy Fry
So your amendment proposes, for the following rounds of questioning, five minutes per party, in this order: Liberal, Conservative, Bloc Québécois, Conservative, New Democratic Party, Conservative.
Conservative
Patricia Davidson Conservative Sarnia—Lambton, ON
No. In the first round, it's Liberal, Bloc, Conservative, NDP. In the second round, it's Conservative, Liberal, Conservative, Bloc, Conservative, Conservative.
That gives everybody at the table an opportunity to speak.
Liberal
NDP
Irene Mathyssen NDP London—Fanshawe, ON
I cannot concur in this amendment, because obviously in the second round “everybody” doesn't include the New Democratic Party. I can't accept that, simply because I very often have many questions and many subsequent questions that I need to ask.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Hedy Fry
I think, Madam Mathyssen, the second round does include the New Democratic Party.
Conservative
Patricia Davidson Conservative Sarnia—Lambton, ON
I did, but I would be willing to put that back in there.
So it would be Conservative, Liberal, Conservative, Bloc, Conservative, NDP, Conservative. Yes; that would include the NDP.
NDP
Irene Mathyssen NDP London—Fanshawe, ON
Well, it seems to me that the Conservative Party in that last round has two opportunities, and they have the final word. I think that's quite sufficient. I like the motion as it stands.
Liberal
Conservative
Candice Bergen Conservative Portage—Lisgar, MB
Thank you, Madam Chair.
I think what we're trying to achieve is to let every person in the committee have an opportunity to speak. If we adopt the motion as it is, there is a chance that this wouldn't happen, whereas if, in the second round, we do alternate it that way, then we are ensuring that every single person here has a chance to speak. And that really would be our goal.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Hedy Fry
Madam McLeod, did you wish to speak? I noticed you nodding at Madam Hoeppner's statement.
