Transport Committee on Dec. 7th, 2009

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

My understanding, Mr. Proulx, and other committee members, is that the chair actually has a casting vote, so there would be no need at all for another member. My other understanding, quite frankly, is that when the witnesses were testifying, they also testified that they'd never had a situation where they even came close on a vote. They usually find, for the most part, unanimity in relation to most of their votes. So even if there were a disagreement, the chair would have as a prerogative a casting vote to change that. I just don't see the necessity of it.

[The Chair, Conservative, Merv Tweed]

Monsieur Proulx.

[Marcel Proulx, Liberal, Hull—Aylmer, QC]

To the second excuse of saying that it's never happened that there was a tie, you can't prejudge the future by what has happened in the past as far as the casting vote is concerned. I don't mind if there is a casting vote, except that there's no mention of it anywhere in this particular bill.

[The Chair, Conservative, Merv Tweed]

Mr. Jean.

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

My understanding of it is that it is in the bylaws of the NCC.

Is it not, Mr. Dubé?

[Simon Dubé]

Yes, it is.

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

All right. So it's already entrenched in laws within their own bylaws.

[Marcel Proulx, Liberal, Hull—Aylmer, QC]

How can the bylaw be changed to modify it?

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

My understanding....

[Marcel Proulx, Liberal, Hull—Aylmer, QC]

Therefore, there goes my--

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

But why would they do that?

[Marcel Proulx, Liberal, Hull—Aylmer, QC]

Let's protect ourselves. Either you put the casting vote in the bill or we put in an extra member.

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

Are we going to make it mandatory as well for every member to show up for every meeting, and if they don't show up, they can't--

[Marcel Proulx, Liberal, Hull—Aylmer, QC]

That's another situation altogether, Mr. Jean.

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

No, but to be fair, Mr. Proulx, if seven members show up, or eight members show up, four can vote for one side and four can vote for the other.

[Marcel Proulx, Liberal, Hull—Aylmer, QC]

That was the reason why I asked for the casting vote.

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

So now they have it.

[Marcel Proulx, Liberal, Hull—Aylmer, QC]

Let's put it in the bill.

[The Chair, Conservative, Merv Tweed]

Seeing no further comment, I'll call...

Monsieur Bélanger.

[Mauril Bélanger, Liberal, Ottawa—Vanier, ON]

Could our witnesses explain how this would work? Would this be a casting vote or a situation where the chair would only vote if there is a tie? What is the by-law at the end of the day?

[Simon Dubé]

I'm just checking. I have someone from the NCC. That's a very specific question.

The chair has a vote like any other member of the board, but if there's a tie, then he has a second vote, a casting vote.

[Mauril Bélanger, Liberal, Ottawa—Vanier, ON]

It is a casting vote, that's it. You are sure that the word casting is used in English?

[Simon Dubé]

Casting vote, yes.

[Mauril Bélanger, Liberal, Ottawa—Vanier, ON]

You're sure of that?

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

We have the translation.

Exactly. It is in law in Alberta. That's why they call it a casting vote.