ETHI Committee Meeting

The Standing Committee on Access to Information, Privacy and Ethics met at 11:11 a.m. this day, in Room 269, West Block, the Chair, Paul Szabo, presiding.

Pat Martin moved, — That this Committee directs the Chair immediately to contact the Speaker of the House and urge him to issue two Speaker’s Warrants, one to compel Mr. Schreiber to appear before the Committee, and another to compel the head of institution where Mr. Schreiber is currently in custody to turn Mr. Schreiber over to the custody of the Speaker. Further, that this Committee directs the Chair to obtain agreement from the Speaker that arrangements will be made so that a) Mr. Schreiber can have continuing access to papers which are in his possession in Ottawa; b) Mr. Schreiber be able to appear before Committee in business dress and without obvious security measures; c) that Mr. Schreiber be brought to the Committee as required by the Committee and for so long as the Committee may require his appearance as a witness. The Committee recommends to the Speaker that guarded house arrest be considered an appropriate arrangement.

RULING BY THE CHAIR

The Chair ruled the proposed motion out of order as the process described in the motion is not procedurally correct.

Pat Martin moved, — That notwithstanding the usual format of the Committee meeting for two hours twice a week, that the Committee subcommittee on agenda and procedure meet today 27 November to develop a plan for extended hours for each hearing, extended hearings each week, and sitting when the House is not sitting so that hearings on the current topic before the Committee can be concluded and a Report transmitted to the House on a timely manner, and that the subcommittee report back to the Committee at the beginning of its hearing on 29 November.

Robert Thibault moved, — That the motion be amended by deleting the words “meeting for two hours twice a week” and “each hearing, extended hearings each week, and”.

After debate, the question was put on the amendment of Robert Thibault and it was agreed to.

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

The motion, as amended, read as follows:

That notwithstanding the usual format of the Committee, that the Committee subcommittee on agenda and procedure meet today 27 November to develop a plan for extended hours and sitting when the House is not sitting so that hearings on the current topic before the Committee can be concluded and a Report transmitted to the House on a timely manner, and that the subcommittee report back to the Committee at the beginning of its hearing on 29 November.

The witness made a statement and answered questions.

Robert Thibault moved, — That the Committee report to the House recommending that the Speaker issue any necessary warrants for the appearance of Karlheinz Schreiber before the Standing Committee on Access to Information, Privacy and Ethics, as soon as possible and that he be available until discharged by the Committee.

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

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