NDDN Committee Meeting

The Standing Committee on National Defence and Veterans Affairs met in a televised session at 3:35 p.m. this day, in Room 253-D Centre Block, the Chair, Pat O'Brien, presiding.

Judi Longfield, seconded by Anthony Rota, moved, — That the Chair, the two Vice-Chairs, the Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of National Defence, and a representative of the other opposition party do compose the Subcommittee on Agenda and Procedure.

Debate arose thereon.

Bill Blaikie moved, — That the motion be amended by replacing the words “Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of National Defence” with the words “another representative of the Government”.

Debate arose thereon.

After debate, the question was put on the amendment of Bill Blaikie and it was agreed to.

The question was put on the motion, as amended, and it was agreed to, by a show of hands: YEAS: 7; NAYS: 4.

On motion of Judi Longfield, seconded by Larry Bagnell, it was agreed, — That the Chair be authorized to hold meetings to receive and publish evidence when a quorum is not present provided that at least three (3) members are present including a member of the opposition and one member of the government.

On motion of Rick Casson, seconded by Dave MacKenzie, it was agreed, — That witnesses be given, at the discretion of the Chair, ten (10) minutes to make their opening statement; That during the questioning of witnesses the time allocated to each questioner be as follows: On the first round of questioning, seven (7) minutes to a representative of each party in the following order: Conservatives, Bloc Québécois, NDP and Liberals. On the following rounds of questioning, five (5)minutes per party beginning with the Conservatives, the Liberals, the Bloc Québécois, the Liberals, the Conservatives and the Liberals; and that when a Minister is in attendance in the first round of questioning ten (10) minutes be allocated to each of the opposition parties and ten (10) minutes to the Liberal party, and in a second round five (5) minutes to each party alternating between the government and the opposition parties.

On motion of Judi Longfield, seconded by Dave MacKenzie, it was agreed, — That, if requested, reasonable travel, accommodation and living expenses be reimbursed to witnesses not exceeding two (2) representatives per organization; and that, in exceptional circumstances, payment for more representatives be at the discretion of the Chair.

Claude Bachand, seconded by Gordon O'Connor, moved, — That the Clerk of the Committee be authorized to distribute to the members of the Committee documents only when they exist in both official languages.

Debate arose thereon.

Claude Bachand moved, — That the motion be amended by adding after the word “languages” the following: “and that no document provided by a witness be distributed without the Clerk's authorization”.

Debate arose thereon.

After debate, the question was put on the motion, as amended, and it was agreed to.

On motion of Gilles-A. Perron, seconded by Claude Bachand, it was agreed, — That the Clerk of the Committee be authorized to make the necessary arrangements to provide for working meals for the Committee and its Subcommittees.

On motion of Gordon O'Connor, seconded by Claude Bachand, it was agreed, — That, during in camera meetings a member may be accompanied by one (1) assistant and in the event that the member is unable to attend a meeting, one (1) assistant from their office may be present.

On motion of Rick Casson, seconded by Gordon O'Connor, it was agreed, — That one copy of the transcript of all in camera meetings be kept in the Committee Clerk’s office for consultation by members of the Committee.

On motion of Betty Hinton, seconded by Gordon O'Connor, it was agreed, — That, pursuant to Standing Order 108 (1), a Subcommittee be established to inquire into matters relating to Veterans Affairs; That the Subcommittee be composed of seven (7) members of which three (3) shall be government members and four (4) shall be opposition members: two (2) Conservatives, one (1) Bloc Québécois and one (1) NDP; and that the Subcommittee be empowered to send for persons, papers and records and to receive evidence.

On motion of Rick Casson, seconded by Gilles-A. Perron, it was agreed, — That, except for amendments to bills, twenty-four (24) hours’ written notice be given before any substantive motion is considered by the Committee; and That the motion be filed with the Clerk of the Committee and circulated to members in both official languages. Upon receipt of the notice, the Clerk shall put the motion on the agenda of the Committee’s next meeting.

By unanimous consent, on motion of Bill Blaikie, seconded by Rick Casson, it was agreed, — That the Committee should, as its first order of business, examine the Department of National Defence’s purchase of four former Upholder class submarines.

It was agreed, — That the Clerk should arrange for a briefing at DND for members of the Committee.

It was agreed, — That the Minister of National Defence be invited to appear before the Committee during the first week of November on the Main Estimates.

It was agreed, — That the Minister of Veterans Affairs be invited to appear before the Committee on the Main Estimates.

On motion of Judi Longfield, seconded by Claude Bachand, it was agreed, — That the Chair should write to the Minister requesting detailed information concerning the Minister's plans on the celebration of VE day.

It was agreed, — That the Subcommittee on Agenda and procedure would meet at 11:00 a.m. on Tuesday, October 19, 2004.

At 4:47 p.m., the Committee adjourned to the call of the Chair.