ETHI Committee Meeting

The Standing Committee on Access to Information, Privacy and Ethics met in camera at 3:34 p.m. this day, in Room 269, West Block, the Chair, Paul Szabo, presiding.

It was agreed, — That the Committee suspend indefinitely the study relating to the Fundraising Practices of the Liberal Party .

It was agreed, — That the Committee's analysts prepare a draft report for the Mulroney - Schreiber study for consideration on March 13, 2008.

It was agreed, — That the Committee proceed to sit in public.

At 5:03 p.m., the sitting was suspended.

At 5:04 p.m., the sitting resumed in public.

The Committee resumed consideration of the motion of Sukh Dhaliwal, which was moved in the in camera portion of the meeting and proposes — That upon completion its Study of the Mulroney Airbus Settlement, the committee investigate the allegation in journalist Tom Zytaruk’s book, “Like a Rock: The Chuck Cadman Story”, that the late Member of Parliament Chuck Cadman was offered financial rewards by Conservative Party officials in exchange for agreeing to vote to bring down the government in May 2005. If true, these allegations violate Standing Order 23(1), “The offer of any money or other advantage to any Member of this House, for the promoting of any matter whatsoever depending or to be transacted in Parliament, is a high crime and misdemeanour, and tends to the subversion of the Constitution”

RULING BY THE CHAIR

The Chair ruled not to render his decision on the admissibility of the motion until the Speaker has ruled on the point of order, raised by the Member for Mississauga-South, involving the mandate of the Committee.

Whereupon, Hon. Charles Hubbard appealed the decision of the Chair.

The question: "Shall the decision of the Chair be sustained?" was put and was negatived, by a show of hands: YEAS: 5; NAYS: 6.

At 5:18 p.m., the Committee adjourned to the call of the Chair.