Evidence of meeting #1 for Veterans Affairs in the 40th Parliament, 2nd Session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was stoffer.
A recording is available from Parliament.
3:35 p.m.
The Clerk of the Committee Ms. Erica Pereira
Honourable members of the committee, I see a quorum. We can now proceed to the election of the chair. I'm ready to receive motions to that effect.
Mr. Stoffer.
3:35 p.m.
NDP
3:35 p.m.
The Clerk
It has been moved by Mr. Peter Stoffer that David Sweet be elected chair of the committee.
Are there any further motions?
Is it the pleasure of the committee to adopt the motion?
(Motion agreed to)
I declare the motion carried and David Sweet duly elected chair of the committee.
Before inviting Mr. Sweet to take the chair, if the committee wishes, we will now proceed to the election of vice-chairs.
I am now prepared to receive motions for first vice-chair.
Mr. Stoffer.
3:35 p.m.
NDP
3:35 p.m.
The Clerk
It has been moved by Mr. Stoffer that Ms. Judy Sgro be elected as first vice-chair of the committee.
Are there any further motions?
Is it the pleasure of the committee to adopt the motion?
(Motion agreed to)
3:35 p.m.
The Clerk
I am now ready to receive motions for the second vice-chair.
Madam Sgro.
3:35 p.m.
The Clerk
It has been moved by Madam Sgro that Mr. Peter Stoffer be elected as second vice-chair of the committee.
Is it the pleasure of the committee to adopt the motion?
(Motion agreed to)
3:35 p.m.
The Clerk
I now invite Mr. David Sweet to take the chair.
3:35 p.m.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative David Sweet
Thank you very much, colleagues. I appreciate the trust and confidence—however, the word “confidence” sometimes is bantered around here in interesting ways—that you have put in me as chair.
I'll just speak about the history of this committee. Of course, Mr. Stoffer is quite a longstanding veteran, and we have some recent veterans like Rob Clarke. I understand that Roger Gaudet is going to be joining us as well, and he's one of the veterans of the last committee. In the 39th Parliament, we had quite a good working relationship and a number of reports with unanimous consent. I hope we can carry on that tradition. I know that our veterans of all ages are expecting that, and I look forward to working with all of you.
If it pleases the committee, we can move on to routine motions, and we can finish that off in this meeting as well as the elections. Would that please the committee?
Does everybody have a copy of the routine motions? We'll use those that were adopted in the 39th Parliament as models.
We'll begin with services of analysts from the Library of Parliament. We'll go through them paragraph by paragraph.
The motion is that the committee retain, as needed and at the discretion of the chair, the services of one or more analysts from the Library of Parliament to assist it in its work.
(Motion agreed to)
Subcommittee on agenda and procedure: that the subcommittee on agenda and procedure be composed of the chair, the two vice-chairs and a member of the other opposition party.
(Motion agreed to)
3:35 p.m.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative David Sweet
Reduced quorum: that the chair be authorized to hold meetings to receive evidence and to have that evidence printed when a quorum is not present, provided that at least three members are present, including one member of the opposition.
(Motion agreed to)
3:35 p.m.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative David Sweet
Distribution of documents: that the clerk of the committee be authorized to distribute to the members of the committee only documents that are available in both official languages.
(Motion agreed to)
3:35 p.m.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative David Sweet
Working meals: that the clerk of the committee be authorized to make the necessary arrangements to provide working meals for the committee and its subcommittees.
Is everybody agreed on that?
3:35 p.m.
Conservative
3:40 p.m.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative David Sweet
Notice of motions: that 48 hours' notice be required for any substantive motion to be considered by the committee, unless the substantive motion relates directly to the business then under consideration; and that the notice of motion be filed with the clerk of the committee and distributed to members in both official languages.
(Motion agreed to)
3:40 p.m.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative David Sweet
Witnesses' expenses: that if requested, reasonable travel, accommodation, and living expenses be reimbursed to witnesses, not exceeding two representatives per organization; and that in exceptional circumstances, payment for more representatives be made at the discretion of the chair.
(Motion agreed to)
3:40 p.m.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative David Sweet
Allocation of time for questioning: that during the questioning of witnesses the time allocated to each questioner be as follows: on the first round of questioning in the following order: Liberal seven minutes, Bloc Québécois seven minutes, NDP five minutes, and Conservative seven minutes; and on the second round of questioning, five minutes per party in the following order: Liberal, Bloc Québécois, Conservative, Liberal, Conservative, NDP, Conservative, Bloc Québécois, Liberal, Conservative, Liberal, Conservative, Liberal, and Conservative.
Mr. Kerr.
3:40 p.m.
Conservative
Greg Kerr Conservative West Nova, NS
Mr. Chair, I would like to move an amendment to that, given the redistribution of the committee makeup. Would this be an appropriate time to do that?
3:40 p.m.
Conservative
Greg Kerr Conservative West Nova, NS
That in the rounds of questions, the witnesses from any one organization should be allowed 10 minutes to make their opening statement. During the questioning of witnesses, there should be allocated seven minutes for the first round of questioning and thereafter five minutes shall be allocated to each questioner in the second and subsequent rounds of questioning.
3:40 p.m.
Conservative
Rob Clarke Conservative Desnethé—Missinippi—Churchill River, SK
It's just that in all the other committees we've sat on it's been 10 minutes. I think it might just be a typo.
No?
3:40 p.m.
Conservative
Greg Kerr Conservative West Nova, NS
I'm sorry. I was pointing at the wrong one. I thought it sounded awfully familiar.
