JUST Committee Meeting
Notices of Meeting include information about the subject matter to be examined by the committee and date, time and place of the meeting, as well as a list of any witnesses scheduled to appear. The Evidence is the edited and revised transcript of what is said before a committee. The Minutes of Proceedings are the official record of the business conducted by the committee at a sitting.
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CANADA
Standing Committee on Justice and Human Rights
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EVIDENCE
Tuesday, September 26, 2006
[Recorded by Electronic Apparatus]
[Translation]
Honourable members of the committee,
[English]
I see a quorum.
We can now proceed to the election of the chair, and I am ready to receive motions to that effect.
A point of order.
Maybe the clerk isn't in a position to receive a point of order. Are you?
It's because I take the view that last time we met last week we had a chair; we had a chair this week. There's been no hiatus in the chair holding the office of the chair, and there is no instruction in the Standing Orders. There are no words that require the committee to actually elect a chair, unless we need to, and since the chair was the chair last week--and perhaps the clerk could refresh us on when the reports referred to were filed, but in my view it doesn't matter--the Standing Orders do not anywhere explicitly require the election of a chair who is already a chair, nor do they require the election of vice-chairs who are already vice-chairs.
The wording of Standing Order 106(2) clearly says that these elections shall take place at the beginning of a session, which this is not, and if necessary, which in my view it is not, since there's been no change in the membership of the chair or the vice-chairs.
So I make my point of order. I have done it before and I'll probably do it again, and if the chair wants to go through.... We can elect a chair without taking a whole lot more time. I've made my point of order. We can re-elect the chair and everybody will be happy.
[Translation]
[English]
It has been moved by Mr. Thompson and seconded by Mr. Lee that Mr. Hanger be elected as chair of the committee.
Are there any further motions?
Is it the pleasure of the committee to adopt the motion?
(Motion agreed to)
Mr. Hanger has been duly elected chair of the committee.
Before inviting Mr. Hanger to take the chair as chair, we will now proceed to the election of the vice-chairs, if there's agreement to do it.
I don't agree, Madam Clerk, that it's necessary to re-elect the vice-chairs either, for the same reason, and the clerk would be at pains to find any wording in the Standing Orders that requires it.
The member opposite says let's do it anyway. I object on principle. There are reasons related to how we run the House and who's in control of what around here, but if members are more comfortable blindly following what I regard as an incorrect interpretation of the Standing Orders, I'm okay to follow because it will save a lot of time.
[Translation]
Is it the pleasure of the committee to adopt the motion?
(Motion agreed to)
The Clerk: Messrs. Lee and Ménard are therefore reappointed vice-chairs.
[English]
I'm inviting Mr. Hanger to take the chair.
The time for speeches has passed. I'm going to give you the opportunity here shortly, all of you.
I would first like to thank my colleagues on both sides, opposition as well as government side, for their continued support of me in the chair's position.
Right now we will adjourn briefly for two minutes. The witnesses will then take their seats and everything will be recorded at this point.
Ms. Barnes.
Mr. Hanger, after the witnesses have finished today I would like to have just a couple of minutes to take care of a business item. I would like to let everybody know that, but in relation to our witnesses we should do those first.