Evidence of meeting #21 for Veterans Affairs in the 39th Parliament, 1st Session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was rights.
A recording is available from Parliament.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Rob Anders
We're off to another start of our veterans affairs committee. We are now beginning our investigation of the bill of rights. We just completed our witness testimony and what not, with regard to the—
Bloc
Gilles-A. Perron Bloc Rivière-des-Mille-Îles, QC
I am sorry, Mr. Chairman, if I spoil the party but we are a parliamentary committee made up of elected MPs.
I'm sorry, Mr. Dallaire, but according to our rules you can't sit at this table, even if you're a Senator, because this isn't a joint committee.
Roméo Dallaire As an Individual
According to the rules that we've looked at, I'm entitled to sit at the table but not to ask questions. I don't have the right to participate but I have the right to sit.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Rob Anders
I don't think we're even allowed to turn on the microphone yet for Mr. Dallaire, because he's not actually a member of the committee.
I'd just like to inform the committee how I'd like to proceed on these matters. We do have some witnesses here before us today, and I'd like to hear what they have to say for 10 or 20 minutes. Then, after that, as per usual, we'll have members of the committee ask questions. If somebody wants to raise some points at that time, they can, but until that time I'd like to proceed as we normally do.
Conservative
Bloc
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Rob Anders
Monsieur Perron, I'm about to get to this issue.
He can attend the committee meeting if he likes. Whether or not he sits at the table potentially is a debatable matter. The way I would like to proceed with this is that if we have any questions from committee members, then we would entertain all the questions from committee members. At the point where we have extinguished all questions from committee members, if Mr. Dallaire would like to ask questions and we still have time, I'm not opposed to that. I would in the future, because I'm a chivalrous fellow, appreciate that I'm notified more than an hour and a half before somebody wants to attend the committee.
That's the way I wish to proceed.
Ms. Hinton.
Conservative
Betty Hinton Conservative Kamloops—Thompson—Cariboo, BC
I realize that this is a bit of a surprise here, but I understand, if I'm correct, from previous committees that I sat on, that the inclusion of Senator Dallaire would require unanimous consent of the committee, and it's apparent to me that this is not going to occur. So perhaps we could save some time for the senator if he knew that at the beginning.
As I just look around this table, I can already tell there's not going to be unanimous consent.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Rob Anders
I understand. All right.
I apologize to our witnesses for how these things sometimes go in committee.
Mr. St. Denis.
Liberal
Brent St. Denis Liberal Algoma—Manitoulin—Kapuskasing, ON
It's simply part of the adventure of being a chair.
Certainly—and I'm speaking for my colleague Mr. Cuzner—there would be no objections on our part. I agree with Betty that it does require unanimous consent. It's not something that we see every day, but considering the subject matter and the experience of the parliamentarian in question, it would be quite appropriate, as far as I'm concerned. But we'll go with whatever you say, Mr. Chair.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Rob Anders
I thought somebody would be amenable to his appearance, Mr. St. Denis, and I suspected it would be you or one of the Liberals.
Mrs. Hinton, again.
Conservative
Betty Hinton Conservative Kamloops—Thompson—Cariboo, BC
Just so we can get a chance to listen to our witnesses, maybe I, or someone, could put forward a motion, because it requires unanimous consent.
Conservative
Betty Hinton Conservative Kamloops—Thompson—Cariboo, BC
Is there unanimous consent among the members of this committee to have Senator Dallaire sit at the table?
Conservative
Conservative
Bev Shipley Conservative Lambton—Kent—Middlesex, ON
In all fairness, I agree, but the committee should be made aware, and the chair should be, that as we make all our witnesses line up to come and be a part of it, that is part of the procedure that we want to continue to follow. That's all.
It's nothing against the senator. We want to hear his comments. I think if he wants to come on with his comments, he should come on as a witness, as do others, so that they can be prepared and we can be prepared.
Conservative
Liberal
Rodger Cuzner Liberal Cape Breton—Canso, NS
Very briefly, my understanding of the procedure is exactly the same. Usually what transpires is that the senator would be invited to sit at the table first, and then if they wanted to proceed afterward....
But I'm sure drawing from the senator's experience would be great, and I think that's a great suggestion by Mr. Shipley, for him to come and even present to the committee. I think that would be a tremendous opportunity.
I'm sure the chairman will extend an invitation for you to stay today and listen to the presentation by the witnesses and join us here. I'm sure that would be worthwhile. But we would love to have you back here as a witness, Senator.
As an Individual
Thank you.
I'm not here to cause a problem. The clerk said I could come. So I'm not here to embarrass anybody. I didn't invent the rules. We'll have to just recheck that and make sure we're—