Evidence of meeting #1 for Veterans Affairs in the 41st Parliament, 1st Session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was chair.
A recording is available from Parliament.
8:50 a.m.
The Clerk of the Committee Ms. Julie Pelletier
Honourable members of the committee, I see a quorum.
I must inform members that the clerk of the committee can only receive motions for the election of the chair. The clerk cannot receive other types of motions, cannot entertain points of order, nor participate in debate.
We can now proceed to the election of the chair.
Pursuant to Standing Order 106(2), the chair must be a member of the government party.
I am ready to receive motions for the position of chair.
Mr. Stoffer.
8:50 a.m.
NDP
Peter Stoffer NDP Sackville—Eastern Shore, NS
I'd like to nominate, from the beautiful district of West Nova, Nova Scotia, Greg Kerr as chair. It's not a bad area. It has the highest tides.
8:50 a.m.
The Clerk
Are there any further motions?
It is moved by Mr. Stoffer that Greg Kerr be elected as chair of the committee.
(Motion agreed to)
I declare the motion carried and Greg Kerr duly elected chair of the committee.
8:50 a.m.
Some hon. members
Hear, hear!
8:50 a.m.
NDP
Peter Stoffer NDP Sackville—Eastern Shore, NS
I move that all ballots be destroyed and make it a unanimous election.
8:50 a.m.
The Clerk
Just before inviting Mr. Kerr to take the chair, we'll now proceed to the election of the vice-chairs.
Pursuant to Standing Order 106(2), the first vice-chair must be a member of the official opposition.
I am now ready to receive motions for the election of the first vice-chair.
8:50 a.m.
Liberal
Sean Casey Liberal Charlottetown, PE
I nominate, from the riding of Sackville—Eastern Shore, the inimitable Peter Stoffer.
8:50 a.m.
The Clerk
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 Peter Stoffer duly elected first vice-chair of the committee.
8:50 a.m.
Some hon. members
Hear, hear!
8:50 a.m.
The Clerk
Pursuant to Standing Order 106(2), the second vice-chair must be a member of an opposition party other than the official opposition. I am now prepared to receive motions for the position of second vice-chair.
Ms. Adams.
8:50 a.m.
Conservative
Eve Adams Conservative Mississauga—Brampton South, ON
Madam Clerk, I'd like to nominate the honourable member from Charlottetown.
8:50 a.m.
The Clerk
It has been moved by Ms. Adams that Sean Casey be elected as second vice-chair of the committee.
Is it the pleasure of the committee to adopt the motion?
(Motion agreed to)
I declare the motion carried and Sean Casey duly elected second vice-chair.
8:50 a.m.
Some hon. members
Hear, hear!
8:50 a.m.
The Clerk
I now invite Mr. Kerr to take the chair.
8:50 a.m.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Greg Kerr
Congratulations to my colleagues. I look forward to working with you again and also for the first time.
Welcome to all the members. As we know, this is an introductory meeting to get some routine business out of the way. Obviously we're not going to get down to a lot of agenda activity today.
Is it the will of the committee now to proceed with the routine motions?
8:50 a.m.
Some hon. members
Agreed.
8:50 a.m.
Conservative
8:50 a.m.
The Clerk
That's the order that is suggested.
8:50 a.m.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Greg Kerr
There will be individual motions. We will start. I think you all have a copy of the one that's been sent out by the clerk's office.
The first is to appoint analyst services: 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)
We have one abstaining right off the bat. That's a bad sign.
The next one concerns the subcommittee on agenda and procedure, and it is before you. I understand there is a recommendation for a change in it.
8:50 a.m.
Conservative
Eve Adams Conservative Mississauga—Brampton South, ON
If there is consensus to create the subcommittee to deal with the agenda, I would move that the subcommittee be composed of the chair, the two vice-chairs, the parliamentary secretary, and one member of the government.
8:55 a.m.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Greg Kerr
Are there any comments or questions?
(Motion agreed to)
Next is meeting without a quorum. Madam Adams, I understand you have a motion.
8:55 a.m.
Conservative
Eve Adams Conservative Mississauga—Brampton South, ON
Yes. This is in the event of reduced quorum. I would suggest that it be three members present to constitute a reduced quorum, and that those members include one member of the opposition and one member from the government.
8:55 a.m.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Greg Kerr
Are there any comments or questions on the motion?
(Motion agreed to)
Now, on opening remarks and questioning of witnesses, I believe there is a motion as well.
8:55 a.m.
Conservative
Eve Adams Conservative Mississauga—Brampton South, ON
I suggest on the rounds of questioning that the witnesses from any one organization shall be allowed 10 minutes to make their opening statement; that during the questioning of witnesses, there shall be allocated five minutes to the first round of questions, and I would propose the rotation, Conservative, NDP, Conservative, Liberal, Conservative, NDP, Conservative; and that the second round would be reduced to four minutes each and would be NDP, Conservative, NDP, Conservative. Then we would go through that again. That would bring us in at one hour, one minute.