Veterans Affairs Committee on June 21st, 2011

[Peter Stoffer, NDP, Sackville—Eastern Shore, NS]

They are...? Okay, fair enough.

[The Chair, Conservative, Greg Kerr]

Is there anything else new to add to the discussion?

Yes, Ms. Mathyssen.

[Irene Mathyssen, NDP, London—Fanshawe, ON]

Mr. Chair, I would simply like to say that in the committee on which I served, we made sure in that case that the fourth party--in this case, the third party--had equal opportunity. I support Mr. Stoffer, inasmuch as I wouldn't like to set a precedent whereby the third or fourth party was cut out in the second round.

[The Chair, Conservative, Greg Kerr]

I see.

Is there any response to that? It's not a new item. It supports Mr. Stoffer's suggestion.

Mr. Lobb.

[Ben Lobb, Conservative, Huron—Bruce, ON]

There's only one thing I'd like to add. In the last Parliament, when Mr. Stoffer was in the place where Mr. Casey is now, if there was time for any supplementary questions at the end or near the end of the meeting, Mr. Stoffer was afforded that time. It was at the discretion of the chair.

So as far as the routine motions go, I think we'd leave it as proposed, with the little change of the NDP leading off, and leave it to the discretion of the chair for any remaining time at the end of the meeting.

[The Chair, Conservative, Greg Kerr]

That's fair enough.

I should also add that one of the things we have to do to make this work is to make sure that we start punctually, and that the witnesses, if we're all in agreement, aren't allowed to stray past their time. We might even encourage them to be as brief as possible, because that makes all of this work easier.

It's true, as Mr. Lobb said, that last time there were occasions when the government members felt they didn't have to use their last round, and certainly that was passed along, I think to Mr. Stoffer.

[Peter Stoffer, NDP, Sackville—Eastern Shore, NS]

I have just a couple of additions to the opening remarks. I agree with the time slot. It will obviously be agreed to, but there's one thing, Mr. Chairman. When you work with the whips and the other House leaders, can we be assured that as often as possible we'll get room 112 north as our meeting room? There's one thing missing there, which is the RCMP emblem, which will be there soon, but if we can get that room as much as possible...?

Secondly, could I recommend that when a minister appears we have those meetings televised? It gives the minister an opportunity to speak to a wider audience. As well, it gives all of us an opportunity to ask the minister or his or her staff the appropriate questions. Could those meetings be televised? That was the general practice with our meetings.

[The Chair, Conservative, Greg Kerr]

Okay. I'll certainly take that under advisement.

[Peter Stoffer, NDP, Sackville—Eastern Shore, NS]

Thank you.

[The Chair, Conservative, Greg Kerr]

We've already started trying to get room 112. I think everybody agrees that it was the appropriate room.

As far as the minister is concerned, certainly--

[Peter Stoffer, NDP, Sackville—Eastern Shore, NS]

Oh, and--sorry, last one--I don't know what time the meetings are going to be. Have we worked out the time slot?

[The Chair, Conservative, Greg Kerr]

This is the time: 8:45 on Tuesday and Thursday.

[Peter Stoffer, NDP, Sackville—Eastern Shore, NS]

Okay, good.

[The Chair, Conservative, Greg Kerr]

We're through on the motion.

Do you understand what the motion is? Does everybody have it now?

All those in favour of the motion, by a show of hands, please?

(Motion agreed to [See Minutes of Proceedings])

[The Chair, Conservative, Greg Kerr]

Okay: one opposed, as so recorded.

Thank you for that.

Turning now to document distribution, I don't know that there's any suggested change on that one from anywhere.

[Eve Adams, Conservative, Mississauga—Brampton South, ON]

I'll move it as is.

[The Chair, Conservative, Greg Kerr]

All right.

So the motion on document distribution remains as it is before you--with, yes, “and that witnesses be advised accordingly”. That was a bit of a....

Okay, thank you.

The next motion is on working meals.

[Eve Adams, Conservative, Mississauga—Brampton South, ON]

I'll move it as is.

[The Chair, Conservative, Greg Kerr]

Are we agreed?

[An hon. member]

[Inaudible--Editor]

[The Chair, Conservative, Greg Kerr]

Including chocolate milk; we understand that it's a given

[Peter Stoffer, NDP, Sackville—Eastern Shore, NS]

No chocolate milk, no meeting; there's no quorum right there.

[The Chair, Conservative, Greg Kerr]

Okay.

Did I actually take a vote on the previous motion?

My apologies; I got so excited about the working meals that I forgot.

Let's go back up to document distribution.

In favour, by a show of hands?

(Motion agreed to [See Minutes of Proceedings])

[The Chair, Conservative, Greg Kerr]

Thank you.

Going back to the motion on working meals, all those in favour?

(Motion agreed to [See Minutes of Proceedings])

I know there has been some discussion on travel and accommodation, but I don't know that there has been any suggested change for this motion.

[Eve Adams, Conservative, Mississauga—Brampton South, ON]

Mr. Chair, I might simply and formally suggest to you, and leave this at your discretion, that we try to limit organizations to one representative each. So I would move the motion as it is currently but simply provide that as direction to the chair.