PROC Committee Meeting

The Standing Committee on Procedure and House Affairs met in camera at 11:01 a.m. this day, in Room 112-N, Centre Block, the Chair, Joe Preston, presiding.

At 11:21 a.m., the sitting was suspended.

At 11:23 a.m., the sitting resumed in public.

Judy Foote moved, — That the Committee recommend to the House of Commons that for the calendar year 2011 in the present Parliament, Standing Order 81(10)(a) be amended as follows:

“81.(10)(a) In 2011, seven sitting days shall be allotted to the Business of Supply in the period ending not later than March 26; eight additional days shall be allotted to the Business of Supply in the period ending not later than June 23; and seven additional days shall be allotted to the Business of Supply for the period ending not later than December 10; provided that the number of sitting days so allotted may be altered pursuant to paragraph (b) or (c) of this section. These twenty-two days are to be designated as allotted days. In 2011, no more than one fifth of all the allotted days shall fall on a Wednesday and no more than one fifth thereof shall fall on a Friday.

For the period ending not later than March 26, commencing on the first sitting day of this supply period, no less than two and no more than three allotted days shall be designated in each ten sitting day period of the said supply period and for the periods ending not later than June 23 and December 10, commencing on the first sitting day of these supply periods, no less than one and no more than two allotted days shall be designated in each ten sitting day period of the said supply period, and for the period ending not later than March except pursuant to paragraph (c) or section (11) of this Standing Order.”

and that the Chair report this recommendation to the House.

Debate arose thereon.

Tom Lukiwski moved, — That the motion be amended by adding after the words “Standing Order” the following words: “That the Committee carry out a study of the preceding motion and determine if it wishes to make recommendations to amend Standing Order 81(10)(a)” and by deleting the words “and that the chair report this recommendation to the House”.

Debate arose thereon.

A point of order was raised regarding the relevance of the debate supporting the amendment.

RULING BY THE CHAIR

The Chair ruled the debate on the amendment relevant.

Whereupon, Yasmin Ratansi 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: Harold Albrecht, David Christopherson, Randy Hoback, Tom Lukiwski, Scott Reid, Rodney Weston — 6; NAYS: Claude DeBellefeuille, Judy Foote, Mario Laframboise, Marcel Proulx, Yasmin Ratansi — 5.

The Committee resumed consideration of the amendment of Tom Lukiwski, — That the motion be amended by adding after the words “Standing Order” the following words: “That the Committee carry out a study of the preceding motion and determine if it wishes to make recommendations to amend Standing Order 81(10)(a)” and by deleting the words “and that the chair report this recommendation to the House”.

The debate continued.

Tom Lukiwski moved, — That the Committee do now adjourn.

The question was put on the motion and it was negatived, by a show of hands: YEAS: 5; NAYS: 6.

The Committee resumed consideration of the amendment of Tom Lukiwski, — That the motion be amended by adding after the words “Standing Order” the following words: “That the Committee carry out a study of the preceding motion and determine if it wishes to make recommendations to amend Standing Order 81(10)(a)” and by deleting the words “and that the chair report this recommendation to the House”.

The debate continued.

At 12:59 p.m., the Committee adjourned to the call of the Chair.