NDDN Committee Meeting

The Standing Committee on National Defence and Veterans Affairs met at 3:30 p.m. this day, in Room 362 East Block, the Chair, Pat O'Brien, presiding.

Bill Blaikie moved, — That the government whip be asked to remove the parliamentary secretary from this Committee.

The Chair ruled the proposed motion inadmissible as being beyond the mandate of the Committee as provided on pages 805 to 808 of House of Commons Procedure and Practice and pursuant to Standing Order 108(3).

Whereupon, Bill Blaikie appealed the decision of the Chair.

The question: "Shall the decision of the Chair be sustained?" was put and the decision was sustained, by a show of hands: YEAS: 7; NAYS: 3.

The Chair presented the Second Report from the Subcommittee on Agenda and Procedure which read as follows:

Your Subcommittee met on Monday, October 18, 2004 and agreed to make the following recommendations:

1. It was agreed, — That the study of the Committee on the acquisition of submarines by the Canadian Forces inquire into but not be limited to the assessment of needs, the process of acquisition, the decision making process and training, according to the work plan prepared by the Committee's analysts.
2. It was agreed, — That the Clerk be instructed, in consultation with the Chair, to prepare a draft budget for the Committee's proposed study on the acquisition of submarines by the Canadian Forces.
3. It was agreed, — That the Clerk be instructed to make inquiries into the possibility of an on-site briefing in Halifax by the Canadian Forces and in consultation with the Chair, prepare a draft budget for the trip.
4. It was agreed, — That the Committee meet Wednesday, October 27, 2004 to discuss future business.

On motion of Rick Casson, seconded by Claude Bachand, it was agreed, — That the Second Report of the Subcommittee on Agenda and Procedure be adopted.

It was agreed, — That Members be provided with copies of all documents sent to the Committee, before they are made available to the public.

It was agreed, — That the Clerk be instructed to endeavor to have the Committee's meetings televised whenever possible.

Keith Martin, seconded by Bill Blaikie, moved, — That a third round of questioning of witnesses would operate in the same manner as the second with the NDP being given the opportunity to ask questions at the end of the third round .

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

It was agreed, — That the motion concerning questioning of witnesses when a Minister is present should be modified to read as follows: 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 in the following order; Conservative, Liberal, Bloc Québécois, Liberal, Conservative, Liberal and Conservative, and in a third round the order would be the same as in the second round with the NDP being able to ask questions at the end of the round.

On motion of Judi Longfield, seconded by Anthony Rota, it was agreed, — That the Committee proceed to sit in camera.

At 4:39 p.m., the sitting was suspended.

At 4:40 p.m., the sitting resumed.

It was agreed, — That the Committee adopt the terms of reference for the study on the acquisition of submarines by Canadian Forces prepared by the Committee' analysts.

It was agreed, — That a proposed list of witnesses be adopted with the proviso that names may be added to or deleted from it as the study goes forward.

It was agreed, — That the Committee adopt a budget for the study on the acquisition of submarines by the Canadian Forces.

It was agreed, — That the Committee adopt a budget for a trip to Halifax.

It was agreed, — That witnesses be invited to appear in relation to the Committee's study on the acquisition of submarines by the Canadian Forces, Monday, November 1, 2004.

At 5:38 p.m., the Committee adjourned to the call of the Chair.