FOPO Committee Meeting

The Standing Committee on Fisheries and Oceans met at 11:05 a.m. this day, in Room 308, West Block, for the purpose of electing a Chair, pursuant to Standing Order 106(1).

On motion of Randy Kamp, it was agreed, — That Rodney Weston be elected Chair of the Committee.

The Clerk of the Committee presided over the election of the Vice-Chairs.

On motion of Glen Douglas Pearson, it was agreed, — That Lawrence MacAulay be elected First Vice-Chair of the Committee.

On motion of Yvon Lévesque, it was agreed, — That Raynald Blais be elected Second Vice-Chair of the Committee.

Rodney Weston took the Chair.

On motion of Raynald Blais, it was agreed, — That the Committee retain, as needed and at the discretion of the Chair, the services of analysts from the Library of Parliament to assist it in its work.

Blaine Calkins moved, — That the Subcommittee on Agenda and Procedure be composed of the Chair, the Parliamentary Secretary, a member from the government, and a member from each of the opposition parties.

Quorum of the subcommittee shall consist of at least three (3) members, one of whom must be from the government and one member of the opposition.

Each member of the subcommittee shall be permitted to have one assistant attend at any meetings of the Subcommittee on Agenda and Procedure.

Debate arose thereon.

After debate, by unanimous consent, the motion was withdrawn.

On motion of Blaine Calkins, it was agreed, — That the Subcommittee on Agenda and Procedure be established and be composed of the Chair, the two Vice-Chairs, a member of the other opposition party and a member of the government party.

Mike Allen moved, — That the Chair be authorized to hold meetings to receive evidence and to have that evidence printed when a quorum is not present, provided that at least four (4) members are present including one government member and one opposition member.

Debate arose thereon.

On motion of Blaine Calkins, it was agreed, — That the motion be amended by replacing the words “four (4)” with the words “three (3)”.

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

The motion, as amended, read as follows:

That the Chair be authorized to hold meetings to receive evidence and to have that evidence printed when a quorum is not present, provided that at least three (3) members are present including one government member and one opposition member.

On motion of Yvon Lévesque, it was agreed, — That the Clerk of the Committee be authorized to distribute to the members of the Committee only documents that are available in both official languages.

On motion of Yvon Lévesque, it was agreed, — That the Clerk of the Committee be authorized to make the necessary arrangements to provide working meals for the Committee and its Subcommittees.

On motion of Yvon Lévesque, 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 made at the discretion of the Chair.

Larry Bagnell moved, — That, unless otherwise ordered, each Committee member be allowed to be accompanied by one staff person at an in camera meeting.

Debate arose thereon.

On motion of Randy Kamp, it was agreed, — That the motion be amended by adding after the words “in camera meeting” the following: “and in addition each party shall be permitted to have one party staff member attend in camera meetings”.

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

The motion, as amended, read as follows:

That, unless otherwise ordered, each Committee member be allowed to be accompanied by one staff person at an in camera meeting and in addition each party shall be permitted to have one party staff member attend in camera meetings.

On motion of Blaine Calkins, it was agreed, — That one copy of the transcript of each in camera meeting be kept in the Committee Clerk’s office for consultation by members of the Committee.

Lawrence MacAulay moved, — That forty-eight (48) hours’ notice be required for any substantive motion to be considered by the Committee, unless the substantive motion relates directly to business then under consideration; and that the notice of motion be filed with the Clerk of the Committee and distributed to members in both official languages.

Debate arose thereon.

Randy Kamp moved, — That the motion be amended by deleting the words “unless the substantive motion relates directly to business then under consideration”.

Debate arose thereon.

After debate, the question was put on the amendment of Randy Kamp and it was negatived.

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

Lawrence MacAulay moved, — That witnesses from an organization be given ten (10) minutes to make their opening statement; and that, at the discretion of the Chair, during the questioning of witnesses, there be allocated ten (10) minutes for the first questioner of the Liberal Party, seven (7) minutes for the first questioner of the Bloc Québécois, five (5) minutes to the questioner of the New Democratic Party and ten (10) minutes for the first questioner of the Conservative Party; and that if there is a subsequent round that the rotation be the same except all questioning be for five (5) minutes.

Debate arose thereon.

Mike Allen moved, — That the motion be amended by replacing the words “and that if there is a subsequent round that the rotation be the same except all questioning be for five (5) minutes” by the words “and that if there is a subsequent round, the questioning alternate between Government and Opposition until all remaining members have had an opportunity to question the witnesses and that all questioning in subsequent rounds be for five (5) minutes”.

Debate arose thereon.

After debate, the question was put on the amendment of Mike Allen and it was negatived.

Dave Van Kesteren moved, — That the motion be amended by replacing the words “and that if there is a subsequent round that the rotation be the same except all questioning be for five (5) minutes” with the words “and if there is a subsequent round, that the rotation be Conservative Party, Liberal Party, Bloc Québécois, New Democratic Party and Conservative Party and that all questioning be for five (5) minutes”.

Debate arose thereon.

After debate, the question was put on the amendment of Dave Van Kesteren and it was negatived.

Peter Stoffer moved, — That the motion be amended by replacing the words “five (5) minutes to the questioner of the New Democratic Party” with the words “seven (7) minutes to the questioner of the New Democratic Party”.

Debate arose thereon.

After debate, the question was put on the amendment of Peter Stoffer and it was negatived.

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

Randy Kamp moved, — That the consideration and examination of any Bill (Government or Private Member’s Bill) which falls within the express mandate of the committee shall take precedence over any study or non-legislative examination other than questions of privilege. In such circumstances the non-legislative study shall be deferred until such time as the Bill is reported back to the House.

Debate arose thereon.

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

It was agreed, — That the Minister of Fisheries and Oceans, along with staff, be invited to appear on the Supplementary Estimates (B) 2008-2009 at her earliest convenience.

At 1:03 p.m., the Committee adjourned to the call of the Chair.