Natural Resources committee  Thank you, Mr. Chairman. For the moment, Bill C-5 has been referred to the committee. This remains on the committee's agenda, and must be considered, as the committee wishes. There are also, as Ms. DeBellefeuille mentioned, the estimates. The period ends December 10 and the estimates must be tabled in the House three days before the final designated opposition day.

Natural Resources committee  I can read the excerpt in the House of Commons Procedure and Practice, if it will help clarify things for members. A committee report reflects the opinion of the committee and not that of the individual members. Members of the committee who disagree with the decision of a majority may not present a separate report.

Natural Resources committee  Thank you, Mr. Chair. There's no standing order that governs dissenting or supplementary opinions. The practice has been that after the committee has adopted a substantive report, there's a motion, or the party that wants to append this supplementary dissenting opinion seeks support of the committee, either by way of a motion or just by seeking the consent of the committee to append that report.

Natural Resources committee  The motion reads: That forty-eight (48) hours notice shall be required for any substantive motion to be considered by the Committee, unless the substantive motion relates directly to business then under consideration; And that the period of notice be calculated from the time the motion has been distributed to the members of the committee by the Clerk of the Committee; And that the motion shall be distributed to members in both official languages; And that all motions received by the Clerk shall be placed upon the agenda of the first committee meeting following the period of notice.

Natural Resources committee  Well, it's two sleeps, regardless. If two nights have passed, then the notice requirement will have been fulfilled. So if I send it, say, at 7 o'clock on a Monday evening and we have a meeting on a Wednesday, then that's fine because you have the Monday night, you have the Tuesday night, and the meeting is on the Wednesday.

Natural Resources committee  That is my understanding.

Natural Resources committee  Mr. Chair, the practice on the committee has been to get them to me as soon as they can. So generally I've had them well in advance of the 24-hour requirement. In the absence of an instruction from the committee indicating a specific time, or any other kind of instruction from the committee, I defaulted to the interpretation that's given in the journals branch for the House, being 6 o'clock of the drop-off day during the week for notices of motion and 2 o'clock on Fridays for the notice of motion in that sense.

Natural Resources committee  Honorable members, I see a quorum. Before we begin, I'd like to introduce myself, for those who don't know me. My name is Chad Mariage, and I'm the clerk of the committee. With me is Maxime Ricard, a new clerk. He'll be shadowing me and the work of the committee. At the back of the room are the two committee assistants, Isabelle Héroux and Sophie Dalpé, who will be assisting me in the communications with the committee throughout the session.

Natural Resources committee  Are there any other motions?

Natural Resources committee  Are there any other motions? Seeing none, is it the pleasure of the committee to adopt the motion?

Natural Resources committee  I declare Mr. Benoit the duly elected chair of the committee. Before inviting Mr. Benoit to take the chair, if the committee so chooses, I'll 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.

Natural Resources committee  Are there any other motions? Is it the pleasure of the committee to adopt the motion?

Natural Resources committee  I declare Monsieur St. Amand the duly elected first vice-chair of the committee. Pursuant to Standing Orders 106(2), the second vice-chair must be a member of an opposition party other than the official opposition. Are there any motions? Ms. DeBellefeuille.

Natural Resources committee  Ms. DeBellefeuille moves that Ms. Bell be elected second vice-chair. Are there any other motions? Is it the pleasure of the committee to adopt the motion? (Motion agreed to) I now invite Mr. Benoit to take the chair as Chairman.