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MINUTES OF PROCEEDINGS
 
Meeting No. 51
 
Friday, March 18, 2011
 

The Standing Committee on Procedure and House Affairs met in a televised session at 9:03 a.m. this day, in Room 253-D, Centre Block, the Chair, Joe Preston, presiding.

 

Members of the Committee present: Harold Albrecht, Mario Laframboise, Tom Lukiwski, Joe Preston, Marcel Proulx, Scott Reid and Terence Young.

 

Acting Members present: Scott Armstrong for Steven Blaney, Pat Martin for Yvon Godin, David J. McGuinty for Judy Foote, Hon. John McKay for Yasmin Ratansi and Pierre A. Paquette for Claude DeBellefeuille.

 

In attendance: Library of Parliament: Nicolas Auclair, Analyst; Andre Barnes, Analyst; Nancy Vohl, Research Assistant. House of Commons: Graeme Truelove, Procedural Clerk.

 

Appearing: Hon. Bev Oda, P.C., M.P., Minister of International Cooperation.

 

Witnesses: Canadian International Development Agency: Margaret Biggs, President. Canadian Ecumenical Justice Initiatives (KAIROS): Mary Corkery, Executive Director. As an individual: Ned Franks, Professor Emeritus, Department of Political Studies, Queen's University. House of Commons: Rob R. Walsh, Law Clerk and Parliamentary Counsel.

 
Pursuant to the Order of Reference of Wednesday, March 9, 2011, the Committee commenced consideration of the question of privilege relating to statements made by the Minister of International Cooperation.
 

Ned Franks made a statement and answered questions.

 

At 10:02 a.m., the sitting was suspended.

At 10:06 a.m., the sitting resumed.

 

Pat Martin moved, — That the opening remarks made by the Chair of the Committee regarding a conversation with the Speaker of the House of Commons be stricken from the written evidence of the Committee.

Debate arose thereon.

 

By unanimous consent, the motion was withdrawn.

 

The Hon. Bev Oda made a statement and, with Margaret Biggs, answered questions.

 

At 12:00 p.m., the sitting was suspended.

At 1:03 p.m., the sitting resumed.

 

Mary Corkery made a statement and answered questions.

 

At 1:58 p.m., the sitting was suspended.

At 2:02 p.m., the sitting resumed.

 

Rob Walsh made a statement and answered questions.

 
The Committee proceeded to the consideration of matters related to Committee business.
 

Marcel Proulx moved, — That the Committee now resume in public the consideration of instructions for the drafting of a report in relation to the question of privilege relating to the failure of the government to fully provide the documents as ordered by the House until 4:30 p.m..

 

At 2:56 p.m., the sitting was suspended.

At 3:00 p.m., the sitting resumed.

 
Pursuant to the Order of Reference of Wednesday, March 9, 2011, the Committee resumed consideration of the question of privilege relating to the failure of the government to fully provide the documents as ordered by the House.
 

The Committee resumed consideration of the motion of David J. McGuinty, — That the draft report be no longer than two pages in each official language;

That the draft report contain the conclusions of the committee, namely:

  1. that the Government has failed to produce all the specific documents ordered to be produced by the Standing Committee on Finance and by the House of Commons;
  2. that the Government has not provided a reasonable excuse;
  3. that the documents tabled in the House and in Committee do not satisfy the orders for production of documents; nor do they provide a reasonable excuse;
  4. that this failure impedes the House in the performance of its functions;
  5. that the Government’s failure to produce documents constitutes a contempt of Parliament;

That no summary of evidence be included in the draft report.

The debate continued.

 

Tom Lukiwski moved, — That the motion be amended by deleting the words “That the draft report be no longer than two pages in each official language” and the words “That no summary of evidence be included in the draft report”.

Debate arose thereon.

 

After debate, the question was put on the amendment of Tom Lukiwski and it was agreed to.

 

After debate, the question was put on the motion, as amended, and it was agreed to on the following recorded division: YEAS: Mario Laframboise, Pat Martin, David J. McGuinty, John McKay, Pierre A. Paquette, Marcel Proulx — 6; NAYS: Harold Albrecht, Scott Armstrong, Tom Lukiwski, Scott Reid, Terence Young — 5.

 

The motion, as amended, read as follows:

That the draft report contain the conclusions of the Committee, namely:

  1. that the Government has failed to produce all the specific documents ordered to be produced by the Standing Committee on Finance and by the House of Commons;
  2. that the Government has not provided a reasonable excuse;
  3. that the documents tabled in the House and in Committee do not satisfy the orders for production of documents; nor do they provide a reasonable excuse;
  4. that this failure impedes the House in the performance of its functions;
  5. that the Government’s failure to produce documents constitutes a contempt of Parliament.

.

 

At 3:23 p.m., the Committee adjourned to the call of the Chair.

 



Michelle Tittley
Clerk of the Committee

 
 
2011/03/28 3:40 p.m.