ETHI Committee Meeting

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

The Committee resumed consideration of the motion of Charles Hubbard, — That the Standing Committee on Access to Information, Privacy and Ethics investigate the actions of the Conservative Party of Canada during the 2006 election, in relation to which Elections Canada has refused to reimburse Conservative candidates for certain election campaign expenses in order to determine if these actions meet the ethical standards expected of public office holders;

and of the amendment of Dave Van Kesteren, — That the motion be amended by adding after the words “public office holders” the following: “and should the Committee find in their investigations similar ethical practices by other parties, the Committee will broaden their investigations to include the study of these ethical practices and make recommendations to Elections Canada as to whether theses ethical practices ought to be continued”;

and of the subamendment of David Tilson, — That the motion be amended by adding after the words “by other parties,” the following: “or in past elections”.

Whereupon, Marcel Proulx appealed the decision of the Chair.

The question: "Shall the decision of the Chair be sustained?" was put and the decision was sustained on the following recorded division: YEAS: Robert Bouchard, Sukh Dhaliwal, Wayne Easter, Carole Lavallée, Pat Martin, Marcel Proulx — 6; NAYS: Dean Del Mastro, Gary Goodyear, Luc Harvey, Pierre Poilievre, Dave Van Kesteren — 5.

The question was put on the subamendment of David Tilson and it was negatived on the following recorded division: YEAS: — 0; NAYS: Robert Bouchard, Sukh Dhaliwal, Wayne Easter, Carole Lavallée, Pat Martin, Marcel Proulx — 6.

The question was put on the amendment of Dave Van Kesteren and it was negatived on the following recorded division: YEAS: — 0; NAYS: Robert Bouchard, Sukh Dhaliwal, Wayne Easter, Carole Lavallée, Pat Martin, Marcel Proulx — 6.

The question was put on the motion and it was agreed to on the following recorded division: YEAS: Robert Bouchard, Sukh Dhaliwal, Wayne Easter, Carole Lavallée, Pat Martin, Marcel Proulx — 6; NAYS: Pierre Poilievre — 1.

It was agreed, — That Elections Canada appear before the Committee in relation to the motion as adopted.

It was agreed, — That the Chair consult with the parties on the selection of witnesses for future meetings.

It was agreed, — That the Chair respond to the letter of June 9, 2008 from Guy Pratte concerning the invitation to the right Hon. Brian Mulroney to appear before the Committee.

On motion of Marcel Proulx, it was agreed, — That the Committee do now adjourn.

At 4:43 p.m., the Committee adjourned to the call of the Chair.