Transport Committee on Nov. 15th, 2007

[Mario Laframboise, Bloc, Argenteuil—Papineau—Mirabel, QC]

I disagree with Mr. Masse. Mr. Chairman, you chaired our meetings in such a way that you allowed members, including those from the NDP, to ask as many questions as possible.

If Mr. Masse insists on that, obviously we are not prepared to give up our turn. If there is a second round, we will start with the Liberals, followed by the Conservatives, then the Bloc, and then the NDP.

If we do that, you will lose out, Mr. Masse. You would be better off accepting the motion before us. We know from experience that when you exercise your discretion, Mr. Chair, you generally give all members an opportunity to speak. Otherwise, if we want to get into games here, we will replay the same scenario as before. I am not sure that that would be in your interest, Mr. Masse.

[The Chair, Conservative, Merv Tweed]

Mr. Jean.

[Brian Jean, Conservative, Fort McMurray—Athabasca, AB]

I was going to say what Mr. Laframboise said.

[Joe Volpe, Liberal, Eglinton—Lawrence, ON]

We have this motion.

[The Chair, Conservative, Merv Tweed]

Yes, simply because we don't have it circulated to you.... I've read it.

[Paul Zed, Liberal, Saint John, NB]

We're ready to vote on the motion.

[The Chair, Conservative, Merv Tweed]

If you're comfortable with that...but I will see that it does get distributed.

(Motion agreed to)

[The Chair, Conservative, Merv Tweed]

Motion 4 is passed.

[Brian Jean, Conservative, Fort McMurray—Athabasca, AB]

As amended.

[The Chair, Conservative, Merv Tweed]

As amended, yes.

Motion 8, and this is the last one.

Mr. Jean.

[Brian Jean, Conservative, Fort McMurray—Athabasca, AB]

I was just suggesting that we should also include the ability to have one staff member from the House officers. I thought that would be reasonable. Everybody is treated fairly. Well, all the parties would be treated the same, and if it's necessary, I thought it would be an advantage.

[The Chair, Conservative, Merv Tweed]

What you're saying is that each official party can have a House officer--

[Brian Jean, Conservative, Fort McMurray—Athabasca, AB]

A staff member.

[The Chair, Conservative, Merv Tweed]

--a staff member if they so choose.

Mr. Laframboise.

[Joe Volpe, Liberal, Eglinton—Lawrence, ON]

As long as they identify who they are, that's all.

[Don Bell, Liberal, North Vancouver, BC]

Are the researchers here included?

[Brian Jean, Conservative, Fort McMurray—Athabasca, AB]

Yes, I just thought it would be one staff member from the party, whoever you wanted. So I would consider a researcher to be a House officer who's there under somebody's allocation.

[The Chair, Conservative, Merv Tweed]

Monsieur Laframboise.

[Mario Laframboise, Bloc, Argenteuil—Papineau—Mirabel, QC]

I may have misunderstood the first time, but does that means we would add a party representative to the staff representatives who can accompany us?

Is that it? Agreed.

[The Chair, Conservative, Merv Tweed]

Is there any other comment?

[Don Bell, Liberal, North Vancouver, BC]

Not from the party.

[Joe Volpe, Liberal, Eglinton—Lawrence, ON]

It's from the House officers.

[The Chair, Conservative, Merv Tweed]

Right.

Maybe I'll get Mr. Jean to read his amendment so that we know exactly.

[Brian Jean, Conservative, Fort McMurray—Athabasca, AB]

Yes. It reads:

That, unless otherwise ordered, each Committee member be allowed to be accompanied by one staff person, and each party be permitted to have one House officer staff person at an in camera meeting.

Do you want me to do that again?

[The Chair, Conservative, Merv Tweed]

I think you should, yes.