Procedure and House Affairs committee  Thank you.

Procedure and House Affairs committee  One thing I did forget to mention earlier on, on the question of proxy voting, was to bring up something that has fallen into disuse and might be of interest to the committee, and that is the practice of pairing. I think it exists in the Standing Orders. It has been there a very

Procedure and House Affairs committee  That's correct, if you're having a recorded division, yes.

Procedure and House Affairs committee  Mr. Chairman, as a point of clarification, the The 20 really refers to the necessary number of voting members for the decision of the House to be valid. All that's required to force a recorded division is five members, and parties want to win votes, so they're going to have membe

Procedure and House Affairs committee  I recall the exchange we had, Mr. Chan, on debating time. I think I made the point that yes, you could reduce the duration of speeches, but there was a point where you reached a point where it became absurd if you were going to conserve the questions and comments period after spe

Procedure and House Affairs committee  I'll try to address most of the points you've raised. I think Benoit has something you will find interesting.

Procedure and House Affairs committee  I'll just say, very briefly, we've heard you, Mr. Christopherson.

Procedure and House Affairs committee  The issue of finding the right balance between costs, personnel, and service levels is always a difficult thing. Obviously, in your opinion we're not in the right place. We've understood that, we've heard it, and we'll take it away with us.

Procedure and House Affairs committee  Yes, it's a quorum of three, one per party.

Procedure and House Affairs committee  That isn't what I understood Mr. Reid to say. I thought he was merely referring to the general practice in the other jurisdictions of having the parallel chamber be a place for speeches to be made. I think that's what he was meaning to say. That's my understanding, anyway.

Procedure and House Affairs committee  There are a variety of things that are possible to be debated. The key thing, though, is not the nature of the debate so much as the fact that those two chambers have decided to not give that chamber any decision making power. The decision rests with the main chamber. That's real

Procedure and House Affairs committee  No offence taken. In fact, just to be clear, I wasn't suggesting that anyone other than me should walk. That's how I get my exercise. I deliberately park far away and get my walk every morning, because otherwise—

Procedure and House Affairs committee  —I'm a prisoner here all day and get no exercise.

Procedure and House Affairs committee  None come to mind, Madam Petitpas Taylor. The reality is that there was a decision by the board to be more transparent on members' expenses. Those are divulged on a quarterly basis, as you know. I tend to think that even though the numbers get bigger, particularly for members wh

Procedure and House Affairs committee  Okay. I didn't read that part of the transcript, Mr. Chairman.