LANG Committee Meeting

The Standing Committee on Official Languages met at 3:30 p.m. this day, in Room 228, La Promenade Building, the Chair, the Hon. Michael D. Chong, presiding.

On motion of Yvon Godin, it was agreed, — 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.

Yvon Godin moved, — That the Committee may meet in camera for the purpose of discussing:

a) wages, salaries and other employee benefits;

b) contracts and contract negotiations;

c) labour relations and personnal matters;

d) draft reports;

e) briefings concerning national security; and

That all votes taken in camera be recorded in the Minutes of Proceedings, including how each member voted when recorded votes are requested.

Debate arose thereon.

The question was put on the motion and it was negatived on the following recorded division:YEAS: Tyrone Benskin, Pierre Dionne Labelle, Yvon Godin, Jamie Nicholls, Lise St-Denis — 5; NAYS: Joyce Bateman, Corneliu Chisu, Joe Daniel, Jacques Gourde, Peter Kent, John Williamson — 6.

Yvon Godin moved, — That the Subcommittee on Agenda and Procedure be composed of the Chair, the two Vice-Chairs, a second member from the government and the Parliamentary Secretary, and that quorum be set at (3) members, including one (1) member of the government and one (1) member of the opposition; that each member of the Subcommittee be permitted to have one assistant and each party be allowed one additional staff person.

Debate arose thereon.

The question was put on the motion and it was negatived on the following recorded division:YEAS: Tyrone Benskin, Pierre Dionne Labelle, Yvon Godin, Jamie Nicholls — 4; NAYS: Joyce Bateman, Corneliu Chisu, Joe Daniel, Jacques Gourde, Peter Kent, Lise St-Denis, John Williamson — 7.

Yvon Godin 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 member of the opposition and that when travelling outside the parliamentary precinct, that the meeting begin after fifteen (15) minutes, regardless of members present.

After debate, the question was put on the motion and it was negatived on the following recorded division: YEAS: Tyrone Benskin, Pierre Dionne Labelle, Yvon Godin, Jamie Nicholls — 4; NAYS: Joyce Bateman, Corneliu Chisu, Joe Daniel, Jacques Gourde, Peter Kent, Lise St-Denis, John Williamson — 7.

Yvon Godin moved, — 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, and that;

(a) notice be emailed to the Clerk no later than 5:00 p.m. from Monday to Friday;

(b) notice be distributed by e-mail to members in both official languages by the Clerk on the same day the said notice was transmitted if it was received no later than the deadline hour;

(c) notices received after the deadline hour be deemed to have been received during the next business day; and

(d) this rule does not prevent a member to give notice of a motion orally during a meeting of the Committee, in which case notice shall be deemed to have been given before the deadline that day.

After debate, the question was put on the motion and it was negatived on the following recorded division: YEAS: Tyrone Benskin, Pierre Dionne Labelle, Yvon Godin, Jamie Nicholls — 4; NAYS: Joyce Bateman, Corneliu Chisu, Joe Daniel, Jacques Gourde, Peter Kent, Lise St-Denis, John Williamson — 7.

On motion of Yvon Godin, 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.

On motion of Jacques Gourde, it was agreed, — That the Subcommittee on Agenda and Procedure be composed of five (5) members including the Chair, the two Vice-Chairs, the Parliamentary Secretary for Official Languages and a member of the government party.

Jacques Gourde 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 (1) member of the opposition and one (1) member of the government party.

Debate arose thereon.

The question was put on the motion and it was agreed to, by a show of hands: YEAS: 7; NAYS: 4.

On motion of Jacques Gourde, it was agreed, — That only the Clerk of the Committee be authorized to distribute to the members of the Committee any of the documents, including motions, and that all documents which are to be distributed among the Committee members must be in both official languages; and that the clerk shall advise in advance all witnesses appearing before the Committee of this requirement and inform them of the availability of translation services.

On motion of Jacques Gourde, 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.

Jacques Gourde moved, — That, unless otherwise ordered, each Committee member be allowed to be accompanied by one of his or her staff person, in addition to one staff person from the office of the Whip of each party, at in camera meetings.

Debate arose thereon.

Yvon Godin moved, — That the motion be amended by adding after “at in camera meetings” the following: “and that each party be allowed one additional staff person”.

After debate, the question was put on the amendment of Yvon Godin and it was negatived on the following recorded division: YEAS: Tyrone Benskin, Pierre Dionne Labelle, Yvon Godin, Jamie Nicholls, Lise St-Denis — 5; NAYS: Joyce Bateman, Corneliu Chisu, Joe Daniel, Jacques Gourde, Peter Kent, John Williamson — 6.

On motion of Joyce Bateman, it was agreed, — That the motion be amended by adding after “at in camera meetings” the following: “or another staff member, for example, a research officer, and a government staff member who is the parliamentary secretary’s assistant.”.

The motion, as amended, read as follows:

That, unless otherwise ordered, each Committee member be allowed to be accompanied by one of his or her staff person, in addition to one staff person from the office of the Whip of each party, at in camera meetings or another staff member, for example, a research officer, and a government staff member who is the parliamentary secretary’s assistant.

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

Jacques Gourde moved, — 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.

Debate arose thereon.

Yvon Godin moved, — That the motion be amended by adding after the words “the Committee” the following: “or by one of their staff members authorized by the Committee member”.

Debate arose thereon.

Pierre Dionne Labelle moved, — That the amendment be amended by adding “who was present at the in camera meeting” after the words “their staff members”.

After debate, the question was put on the subamendment of Pierre Dionne Labelle and it was negatived, by a show of hands: YEAS: 4; NAYS: 7.

The question was put on the amendment of Yvon Godin and it was negatived, by a show of hands: YEAS: 4; NAYS: 7.

The Committee resumed consideration of the motion of Jacques Gourde, — 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.

The debate continued.

Joyce Bateman moved, — That the debate be now adjourned and resumed at the next meeting of the Committee.

The question was put on the motion and it was agreed to, by a show of hands: YEAS: 7; NAYS: 1.

On motion of Jacques Gourde, it was agreed, — 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.

Yvon Godin moved, — That whenever a minister is appearing before the Committee, every effort should be made in order for this meeting to be televised.

After debate, the question was put on the motion and it was negatived on the following recorded division: YEAS: Tyrone Benskin, Pierre Dionne Labelle, Yvon Godin, Jamie Nicholls — 4; NAYS: Joyce Bateman, Corneliu Chisu, Joe Daniel, Jacques Gourde, Peter Kent, Lise St-Denis, John Williamson — 7.

On motion of Jacques Gourde, it was agreed, — That the meetings with the Commissioner of Official Languages and any Minister be televised if possible.

Yvon Godin moved, — That whenever an Order in Council appointment or a certificate of nomination for appointment is referred to the Committee, the Clerk, pursuant to Standing Order 111(4), shall obtain a copy of corresponding curriculum vitae for distribution to all Members of the Committee.

After debate, the question was put on the motion and it was negatived on the following recorded division: YEAS: Tyrone Benskin, Pierre Dionne Labelle, Yvon Godin, Jamie Nicholls — 4; NAYS: Joyce Bateman, Corneliu Chisu, Joe Daniel, Jacques Gourde, Peter Kent, Lise St-Denis, John Williamson — 7.

At 5:31 p.m., the Committee adjourned to the call of the Chair.