PRHA Committee Meeting

MINUTES OF PROCEEDINGS
Meeting No. 21

TUESDAY, APRIL 21, 1998

The Standing Committee on Procedure and House Affairs met at 11:19 a.m., this day, in Room 112-N (Centre Block), Peter Adams (Chair) presiding.

Members of the Committee present: Peter Adams, George Baker, Stéphane Bergeron, Madeleine Dalphond-Guiral, Ken Epp, Mac Harb, André Harvey, Bob Kilger, Rey Pagtakhan, Carolyn Parrish, Chuck Strahl and Randy White.

Acting Members present: Shaughnessy Cohen for Marlene Catterall; Guy St-Julien for Yvon Charbonneau, Roy Bailey for Ken Epp and Bill Graham for John Richardson.

In attendance: From the Parliamentary Research Branch of the Library of Parliament: James Robertson, Research Officer.

The Committee proceeded to the consideration of its business pursuant to Standing Orders 92 and 108(3)(a)(iv) in relation to Private Members’ Business.

The Chair of the Sub-Committee on Private Members’ Business (Carolyn Parrish) presented a report from the Sub-Committee recommending the selection of votable items pursuant to Standing Order 92(1).

And debate arising thereon;

Carolyn Parrish, moved, - That the Report from the Sub-Committee on Private Members’ Business be adopted as the Committee’s Twenty-Seventh Report to the House, and that the Chair present the report to the House.

And the question being put on the motion, it was, by a show of hands, agreed to: YEAS: 7; NAYS: 3.

The Committee resumed consideration of its Order of Reference from the House of Commons dated Tuesday, March 10, 1998, concerning certain statements attributed to Members of the House of Commons, appearing on page 7 of the March 8, 1998, Ottawa Sun, which may bring into question the integrity of the House of Commons and its servant the Speaker. (See Minutes of Proceedings and the Evidence for Thursday, March 18, 1998, meeting no. 18, Thursday, March 26, 1998, meeting no. 19 and Thursday, March 31, 1998, meeting no. 20)

The Committee proceeded to the consideration of a draft report to the House.

Stéphane Bergeron moved, - That the draft report be amended by adding on page 5, immediately after words "citation 494" the following:

"The Committee disapprove the disrespectful attitude of Cliff Breitkreuz, M.P., towards certain members of this Committee in the course of his appearance before the Committee on March 31, 1998."

And debate arising thereon;

And the question being put on the amendment, it was, by a show of hands, negatived: YEAS: 2; NAYS: 10.

After debate, Bob Kilger moved, - That the Draft Report be adopted as the Committee’s Report to the House and that the Chair present the report to the House.

And the question being put on the motion, it was, by a show of hands, agreed to: YEAS:  10; NAYS: 2.

After debate, on motion of Bob Kilger, it was agreed,- That, the Committee authorize the printing of a dissenting opinion from the Bloc québécois as an appendix to the report;

-that the dissenting opinion be printed after the Chair’s signature ;

-that, the dissenting opinion not exceed the length of the report and be in the same format; and

-that, the dissenting opinion be provided to the Clerk of the Committee in one official language by 5:00 p.m. on Friday, April 24, 1998.

At 12:29 p.m., the Committee adjourned to the call of the Chair.

Marie Carrière

Clerk of the Committee

In accordance with the mandate of the Committee concerning its responsibilities as the Striking Committee and in accordance with an Order adopted on Monday, September 29, 1997, the Twenty-Eighth Report is deemed to have been adopted and the Chair is ordered to present it to the House.

Marie Carrière

Clerk of theCommittee