Mr. Chair, I have one other item of business that I would like to move. We have copies of this in both official languages for the benefit of the committee. It is:
That, in relation to the Orders of Reference from the House respecting Bills,
(a) the Clerk of the Committee shall, upon the Committee receiving such an Order of Reference, write to each Member who is not a member of a caucus represented on the Committee to invite those Members to file, in a letter to the Chair of the Committee, in both official languages, any amendments to the Bill, which is the subject of the said Order, which they would suggest that the Committee consider;
(b) suggested amendments filed, pursuant to paragraph (a), at least 48 hours prior to the start of clause-by-clause consideration of the Bill to which the amendments relate shall be deemed to be proposed during the said consideration, provided that the Committee may, by motion, vary this deadline in respect of a given Bill; and
(c) during the clause-by-clause consideration of a Bill, the Chair shall allow a Member who filed suggested amendments, pursuant to paragraph (a), an opportunity to make brief representations in support of them.
Mr. Chair, I so move.
This is essentially to ensure an orderly manner in which independent MPs who are not a part of a party represented at the table will have an opportunity to move any suggested amendments at this committee and to speak to them briefly. This would allow the committee itself an opportunity to consider those amendments.