Transport Committee on June 20th, 2011

[The Chair, Conservative, Merv Tweed]

We'll start with the services of analysts from the Library of Parliament.

Mr. Watson.

[Jeff Watson, Conservative, Essex, ON]

Do I need to read it, Mr. Chair?

[The Chair, Conservative, Merv Tweed]

Probably.

[Jeff Watson, Conservative, Essex, ON]

I move that the committee retain the services of one or more analysts from the Library of Parliament as needed to assist the committee in its work. These services may be requested at the discretion of the chair.

[The Chair, Conservative, Merv Tweed]

Comments? It's pretty much the same. The words may be changed a bit, but the implication is the same.

There are no bad questions. If you don't understand, just ask.

Is everybody comfortable with that?

(Motion agreed to)

We'll move on to the second item on the agenda, the subcommittee on agenda and procedure.

Mr. Albas.

[Dan Albas, Conservative, Okanagan—Coquihalla, BC]

Thank you, Mr. Chair.

I move that the subcommittee on agenda and procedure be composed of five members, including the chair, the two vice-chairs, the parliamentary secretary, and a member of the Conservative party. Quorum of the subcommittee shall consist of at least three members, and each member of the subcommittee shall be permitted to have one assistant attend any meetings of the subcommittee on agenda and procedure. In addition, each party shall be permitted to have one staff member from a House officer attend any meeting.

Thank you.

[The Chair, Conservative, Merv Tweed]

This is a little more than what is on your document. I think it should be open for debate.

Monsieur Coderre.

[Denis Coderre, Liberal, Bourassa, QC]

Could I see the French version of that motion, Mr. Chair?

[The Chair, Conservative, Merv Tweed]

We have a standing rule that it is presented in both official languages. It is deemed to be so if it is read into the record, until it can be printed.

[Denis Coderre, Liberal, Bourassa, QC]

I understand, but I didn't read it and I didn't attend any meetings before this one. I want to know what is going on, so I'd like to have a copy in front of me. I really appreciate my colleague's tone, but since I am a visual person, I would like to have the motion in hand to understand what he means.

I remind you that time flies. You'll see, it will be perfect. We're talking about a right.

[The Chair, Conservative, Merv Tweed]

As it has been read into the record, it is deemed to have been interpreted. We would ask that the rules be written and distributed after the meeting, as agreed upon.

I could ask him to read it again.

[Denis Coderre, Liberal, Bourassa, QC]

Mr. Chair, this is my sixth term. This is not the first time I am attending a committee meeting. The right thing to do is to provide us with the opportunity to look over the proposals, whether we're members of the minority or the majority. I have been a member of both the government and the opposition. We need basic decency for things to work. We don't have to play games. You have the majority anyway.

Basic decency requires you to provide us with your proposal or to meet with us first to discuss the matter, as we will have to work together for four years. I would like us to show good faith.

You have the numbers. You don't have to play games; it's okay.

I want to understand, and even the simultaneous interpretation was too fast. Out of respect for our colleagues, the interpreters, I ask that he reread the motion more slowly. However, next time, I would like us all to show good faith and talk to each other differently.

[The Chair, Conservative, Merv Tweed]

I think that's good advice.

Mr. Bevington.

[Dennis Bevington, NDP, Western Arctic, NT]

With respect to the subcommittee, a composition of three Conservatives, one New Democrat, and one Liberal is a little out of my comfort zone. The subcommittee would in most cases act on consensus, but the voices would be better served in a ratio that better reflects the makeup of the committee.

[The Chair, Conservative, Merv Tweed]

Mr. Albas, could I ask you to read it again, please?

[Dan Albas, Conservative, Okanagan—Coquihalla, BC]

Thank you, Mr. Chair.

I would just like to say the point is taken. I'm sure that at some point I will learn to speak a little more slowly.

I move that the subcommittee on agenda and procedure be comprised of five members, including the chair, the two vice-chairs, the parliamentary secretary, and a member of the Conservative Party; quorum of the subcommittee shall consist of at least three members; each member of the subcommittee shall be permitted to have one assistant attend any meetings of the subcommittee on agenda and procedure. In addition, each party shall be permitted to have one staff member from a House officer attend any meeting.

I have one further point, Mr. Chair. I would like to point out to the member's previous statement that all subcommittees do have to be referred back to this committee, so they do get that full view of all the different sides.

[The Chair, Conservative, Merv Tweed]

Is there further comment?

Mr. Bevington.

[Dennis Bevington, NDP, Western Arctic, NT]

First of all, quite clearly, if there's a quorum with three members and you have three Conservatives on that committee, you could have a quorum without any of the opposition there. I don't think that's the way we should be conducting business here.

My feeling about the subcommittee is that it's good to have some voices there, because the discussion is the more important part of the subcommittee. Certainly I would like to see the official opposition have two members on that committee and that the quorum be four members. So we would go to six members with a quorum of four members. I think that would answer the needs of democracy and of fair play.

[The Chair, Conservative, Merv Tweed]

Mr. Poilievre.

[Pierre Poilievre, Conservative, Nepean—Carleton, ON]

It certainly wouldn't be our intention to hold a subcommittee meeting without any opposition representation. As such, I think it's fair to suggest that we can add an amendment to the second sentence of the motion so that it reads, “Quorum of the subcommittee shall consist of at least three members, of which one will be a member of the opposition.”

Does that help?

[The Chair, Conservative, Merv Tweed]

Mr. Bevington.

[Dennis Bevington, NDP, Western Arctic, NT]

But it doesn't deal with the other issue. I think my proposal of increasing the subcommittee to six members would make that much more reasonable and would work in a better fashion.

[The Chair, Conservative, Merv Tweed]

Before I recognize Mr. Albas, for reference, I will let you know that the last subcommittee was made up of four people.

Mr. Albas.

[Dan Albas, Conservative, Okanagan—Coquihalla, BC]

Thank you, Mr. Chair.

I was going to move a very similar amendment to, I hope, help with the concerns from the other side.

[The Chair, Conservative, Merv Tweed]

Mr. Coderre, go ahead.