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MINUTES OF PROCEEDINGS
 
Meeting No. 1
 
Tuesday, October 22, 2013
 

The Standing Committee on Procedure and House Affairs met at 11:03 a.m. this day, in Room 112-N, Centre Block, for the purpose of electing a Chair, pursuant to Standing Order 106(2).

 

Members of the Committee present: Brad Butt, Nathan Cullen, Kevin Lamoureux, Tom Lukiwski, Dave MacKenzie, Ted Opitz, Joe Preston, Scott Reid, Blake Richards and Nycole Turmel.

 

Acting Members present: David Christopherson for Craig Scott, Peter Julian for Alexandrine Latendresse, Greg Kerr for Brad Butt and Greg Kerr for Dave MacKenzie.

 

Other Members present: Elizabeth May.

 

In attendance: House of Commons: Rémi Bourgault, Procedural Clerk. Library of Parliament: Michel Bédard, Analyst; Andre Barnes, Analyst.

 
Pursuant to Standing Order 106(2), the Clerk of the Committee presided over the election of a Chair.
 

On motion of Tom Lukiwski, it was agreed, — That Joe Preston be elected Chair of the Committee.

 
By unanimous consent, pursuant to Standing Order 106(2), the Clerk of the Committee proceeded to the election of the Vice-Chairs.
 

On motion of Nycole Turmel, it was agreed, — That Alexandrine Latendresse be elected First Vice-Chair of the Committee in absentia.

 

On motion of Tom Lukiwski, it was agreed, — That Kevin Lamoureux be elected Second Vice-Chair of the Committee.

 

Joe Preston took the Chair.

 
By unanimous consent, the Committee proceeded to the consideration of matters related to Committee business.
 

On motion of Scott Reid, it was agreed, — That the routine motions adopted by the Committee in the First Session of the 41st Parliament be adopted as the routine motions of the Committee for this Session.

The motions, as adopted, read as follows:

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 established and be composed of the Chair, the two Vice-Chairs, one Government member and the Parliamentary Secretary.

That, pursuant to Standing Order 91.1(1), the Subcommittee on Private Members' Business be composed of one (1) member from each recognized party and a Chair from the Government party; and that Dave Mackenzie be appointed Chair of the Subcommittee.

That the Chair be authorized to hold meetings to receive and publish evidence when a quorum is not present, provided that at least three (3) members are present, including one (1) member of the opposition and one (1) member of the Government.

That witnesses be given five (5) minutes to make their opening statement; and that during the questioning of witnesses the time allocated to each questioner be as follows: for the first round of questioning, seven (7) minutes to a representative of each party in the following order: Conservative, New Democratic Party and Liberal; for the second round, four (4) minutes be allocated in the following order: Conservative, New Democratic Party and Conservative; for the third round, four (4) minutes be allocated in the following order: Conservative, New Democratic Party and Conservative; for the fourth round, four (4) minutes be allocated in the following order: Conservative and New Democratic Party.

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 and that witnesses be advised accordingly prior to appearing before the Committee.

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 one (1) representative per organization; and that, in exceptional circumstances, payment for more representatives be made at the discretion of the Chair.

That, unless otherwise ordered, each Committee member be allowed to have one staff member present from their office and one staff member from their party at in camera meetings.

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 susbstantive motion relates directly to business then under consideration;

That the notice of motion be filed with the Clerk of the Committee and distributed to members in both official languages;

That 48 hours' notice be calculated in the same manner as for the House; and

That the motions be submitted to the clerk no later than 6:00 p.m.

That the three Whips be delegated the authority to act as the Striking Committee pursuant to Standing Orders 104, 113 and 114, and that they be authorized to present to the Chair, in a report signed by all three Whips, or their representatives, their unanimous recommendations for presentation to the House, on behalf of the Committee.

 

Scott Reid moved, — That, in relation to Orders of Reference from the House respecting Bills,

(a) the Clerk of the Committee shall, upon the Committee receiving such an Order of Reference, write to each Member who is not a member of a caucus represented on the Committee to invite those Members to file, in a letter to the Chair of the Committee, in both official languages, any amendments to the Bill, which is the subject of the said Order, which they would suggest that the Committee consider;

(b) suggested amendments filed, pursuant to paragraph (a), at least 48 hours prior to the start of clause-by-clause consideration of the Bill to which the amendments relate shall be deemed to be proposed during the said consideration, provided that the Committee may, by motion, vary this deadline in respect of a given Bill; and

(c) during the clause-by-clause consideration of a Bill, the Chair shall allow a Member who filed suggested amendments, pursuant to paragraph (a), an opportunity to make brief representations in support of them.

Debate arose thereon.

 

David Christopherson moved, — That the debate be now adjourned.

 

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

 

The debate continued

 

Kevin Lamoureux moved, — That the motion be amended by replacing the words “who is not a member of a caucus represented on the Committee to” with the words “of the House who is not a member of the Committee and”.

Debate arose thereon.

 

Nycole Turmel moved, — That the debate be now adjourned.

 

The question was put on the motion and it was negatived on the following recorded division:YEAS: David Christopherson, Nathan Cullen, Peter Julian, Kevin Lamoureux, Nycole Turmel — 5; NAYS: Brad Butt, Tom Lukiwski, Dave MacKenzie, Ted Opitz, Scott Reid, Blake Richards — 6.

 

The debate continued.

 

At 1:01 p.m., the Committee adjourned to the call of the Chair.

 



Marie-France Renaud
Clerk of the Committee

 
 
2013/10/28 8:36 a.m.