HAFF Committee Meeting

The Standing Committee on Procedure and House Affairs met at 11:43 a.m. this day, in Room 112-N Centre Block, the Chair, Peter Adams, presiding.

Clauses 1 to 3 inclusive carried severally.

Ken Epp moved, — That Bill C-34, in Clause 4, be amended by replacing lines 6 to 9 on page 5 with the following:

 “officer to be known as the Ethics Commissioner but only after the following steps have been taken:

( a ) the Standing Committee on Procedure and House Affairs has conducted a search and inquiry, according to such procedure it may determine or as may be determined by the House of Commons by resolution, as to those persons who would be most suitable qualified and fit to hold such an office;

( b ) the Standing Committee on Procedure and House Affairs, by at least a two-thirds majority, has by report recommended to the House of Commons the name of a person to hold such office; and

( c ) the House of Commons confirmed the nomination of such a person by a vote of two-thirds of the Members present.”

After debate, the question was put on the amendment of Ken Epp and it was negatived.

Yvon Godin moved, — That Bill C-34, in Clause 4, be amended by replacing lines 8 and 9 on page 5 with the following:

“House of Commons and after a vote in that House with a minimum of sixty-six percent majority of the members present.”

After debate, the question was put on the amendment of Yvon Godin and it was negatived.

Michel Guimond moved, — That Bill C-34, in Clause 4, be amended by replacing lines 36 to 40 on page 8 with the following:

 “be responsible for the duties and functions assigned by the House of Commons for governing the conduct of its members.”

After debate, the question was put on the amendment of Michel Guimond and it was negatived.

Yvon Godin moved, — That Bill C-34, in Clause 4, be amended by replacing lines 38 to 40 on page 6 with the following:

“conduct of its members, including ministers of the Crown and parliamentary secretaries, when carrying out the duties and functions of their office as members, and, as the case may be, ministers of the Crown and parliamentary secretaries, of that House.”

After debate, the question was put on the amendment of Yvon Godin and it was negatived.

Ken Epp moved, — That Bill C-34, in Clause 4, be amended by replacing lines 15 to 20 on page 7 with the following:

“established either by the Prime Minister or the Government of Canada for public office holders, and applicable to ministers of the Crown, ministers of state or parliamentary secretaries, are all within the jurisdiction of the Ethics Commissioner under subsection (1) or the committee except as otherwise provided for in sections 72.06 to 72.11.”

After debate, the question was put on the amendment of Ken Epp and it was negatived.

Yvon Godin moved, — That Bill C-34, in Clause 4, be amended by replacing line 18 on page 7 with the following:

“secretaries, is within the jurisdiction of the”

After debate, the question was put on the amendment of Yvon Godin and it was negatived.

By unanimous consent, Gerald Keddy moved, — That Bill C-34, in Clause 4, be amended by replacing lines 8 and 9 on page 5 with the following:

“House of Commons. The opinions and recommendations of the leaders of every recognized party shall be tabled in the House of Commons before the question is put. The appointment of the Ethics Commissioner shall then be approved by resolution of that House.”

Debate arose thereon.

By unanimous consent, it was agreed, — That the amendment be amended by replacing the words “the opinions ” with the words “As pertaining to the successful candidate, the opinions”.

After debate, the question was put on the amendment of Gerald Keddy, as amended, and it was negatived.

By unanimous consent, Gerald Keddy moved, — That Bill C-34, in Clause 4, be amended by replacing lines 11 to 15 on page 5 with the following:

“office during good behaviour for a term of seven years and may be removed for cause by the Governor in Council on address of the House of Commons.”

After debate, the question was put on the amendment of Gerald Keddy and it was negatived.

At 1:10 p.m., the Committee adjourned to the call of the Chair.