PRHA Committee Meeting

Meeting No. 39

Thursday, October 8, 1998

The Standing Committee on Procedure and House Affairs met at 11:32 a.m. this day, in Room 112-N, Centre Block, the Chair, Peter Adams, presiding.

Members of the Committee present: Peter Adams, George Baker, Stéphane Bergeron, Marlene Catterall, Yvon Charbonneau, Joe Fontana, Gurmant Grewal, André Harvey, Bob Kilger, Gar Knutson, Lynn Myers, John Solomon, Chuck Strahl, Randy White.

Acting Members present: Murray Calder for John Richardson and René Laurin for Madeleine Dalphond-Guiral.

Associate Member present: Mac Harb.

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

The Committee proceeded to consideration of its future business.

John Solomon moved, - That the Committee on Procedure and House Affairs, call before the Committee Frederick Toole, Dick Proctor, MP and the Solicitor General Andy Scott to clarify exactly what the Solicitor General said on Flight 8876 from Ottawa to Fredericton on Thursday, October 1^st 1998.

And debate thereon.

The Chair ruled the motion out of order as it does not fall under the mandate of the Committee and is a matter that should be dealt with by the House.

The Chair distributed copies of the First Report of the Sub-Committee on Agenda and Procedure which reads as follows:

Your Sub-Committee on Agenda and Procedure met in camera at 11:38 a.m. on Tuesday, October 6, 1998 in Room 112-N, Centre Block, the Chair, Peter Adams, M.P., presiding.

Members of the Sub-Committee present: Peter Adams, Stéphane Bergeron, Marlene Catterall, André Harvey, John Solomon and Chuck Strahl.

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

Your Sub-Committee proceeded to the consideration of the Committee's future business and agreed to make the following recommendations:

1. That the Committee receive a briefing from the members of the Sub-Committee on the Business of Supply of the 35^th Parliament on the 64^th Report which had been tabled in the House of Commons immediately prior to the last federal general election.
2. That the House of Commons staff responsible for the accommodation plans as related to the ongoing renovations be requested to provide a briefing prior to the Christmas Recess to members of the Committee on the status of the renovations and timelines for moving into the Justice Building.
3. That the Chair of the Committee speak to the Hon. Sharon Carstairs concerning her letter of September 30, 1998 on the subject of the treatment of Senate Private Members' Public Bills in the House of Commons.
4. That the Committee await the summary of the debate on the Standing Orders from April 1998 prior to discussing any proposed changes to the Standing Orders.
5. That the Committee review the changes proposed by the Senate Rules Committee to the Twenty-Second Report concerning the rules for joint committees to determine if there are changes which are acceptable to the Committee.

At 12:23 p.m. the meeting adjourned to the call of the Chair.

On motion of Lynn Myers, it was agreed, - That, the First Report of the Sub-Committee on Agenda and Procedure of the Standing Committee on Procedure and House Affairs be adopted as printed.

René Laurin moved, - That, in the event the Solicitor General Andy Scott not be invited or refuse to appear as a witness before the Commission of Inquiry to clarify the circumstances surrounding the actions of the RCMP in what has been called "Peppergate", the Standing Committee on Procedure and House Affairs invite Messrs. Toole, Proctor and Scott to appear before the Committee to clarify exactly what the Solicitor General said on Flight 8876 from Ottawa to Fredericton on Thursday, October 1^st, 1998.

The Chair ruled the motion out of order as it does not fall under the mandate of the Committee.

At 12:30 p.m., the Committee adjourned to the call of the Chair.

Carol Chafe


Clerk of the Committee