ETHI Committee Meeting

The Standing Committee on Access to Information, Privacy and Ethics met at 11:13 a.m. this day, in Room 253-D, Centre Block, for the purpose of electing a Chair, pursuant to Standing Order 106(1).

On motion of Wayne Easter, it was agreed, — That Paul Szabo be elected Chair of the Committee.

By unanimous consent, the Clerk of the Committee presided over the election of the Vice-Chairs.

On motion of Bill Siksay, it was agreed, — That Patricia Davidson be elected First Vice-Chair of the Committee.

On motion of Carole Freeman, it was agreed, — That Bill Siksay be elected Second Vice-Chair of the Committee.

Paul Szabo took the Chair.

STATEMENT BY THE CHAIR

Pursuant to Order made by the House on Wednesday, March 3, 2010, the following routine motions in effect at the time of prorogation of the previous session are deemed to have been adopted by the Committee in the current session:

That the Committee retain, as needed and at the discretion of the Chair, the services of one or more analysts from the Library of Parliament to assist it in its work.

That the Subcommittee on Agenda and Procedure be composed of four members, one member from each of the political parties. Each member of the Subcommittee shall be permitted to have one assistant attend at any meetings of the Subcommittee on Agenda and Procedure.

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 member of the opposition.

That only the Clerk of the Committee be authorized to distribute documents to members of the Committee and only when such documents exist in both official languages.

That the Clerk of the Committee be authorized to make the necessary arrangements to provide working meals for the Committee and its subcommittees.

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, including if requested, the reimbursement of reasonable childcare expenses.

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 in attendance.

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.

That 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.

That during the first round of questioning of witnesses, seven (7) minutes be allocated to each party in the following order: Liberal, Bloc Québécois, New Democratic Party, Conservative and, that in subsequent rounds, five (5) minutes be allocated to each Party on each round in the following order: Liberal, Conservative, Bloc Québécois, Conservative, New Democratic Party, Liberal, Conservative.

That witnesses be given no more than ten (10) minutes for their opening statements and that additional information be deposited with the Clerk of the Committee.

On motion of Bill Siksay, it was agreed, — That the 10th report entitled "The Privacy Act Reform: First Steps Towards Renewal", adopted and presented to the House in the 2nd Session of the 40th Parliament, be adopted as a report of the Committee in the present session, and that the Chair present the report to the House. The Committee do not request a Government response under Standing Order 109.

On motion of Carole Freeman, it was agreed, — That the 11th report entitled "The Access to Information Act: First Step Toward Renewal", adopted and presented to the House in the 2nd Session of the 40th Parliament, be adopted as a report of the Committee in the present session, and that the Chair present the report to the House. The Committee do not request a Governement response under Standing Order 109.

It was agreed, — That the Subcommittee on Agenda and Procedure meet on Tuesday, March 16, 2010, during the time slot in which the Committee normally meets.

At 11:23 a.m., the Committee adjourned to the call of the Chair.