TRAN Committee Meeting

The Standing Committee on Transport, Infrastructure and Communities met at 3:30 p.m. this day, in Room 306, La Promenade Building, for the purpose of electing a Chair, pursuant to Standing Order 106(1).

On motion of Olivia Chow, it was agreed, — That Larry Miller be elected Chair of the Committee.

On motion of Peter Braid, it was agreed, — That Olivia Chow be elected First Vice-Chair of the Committee.

On motion of Peter Braid, it was agreed, — That David McGuinty be elected Second Vice-Chair of the Committee.

Larry Miller took the Chair.

On motion of Jeff Watson, 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 the current Session; and that the routine motion in relation to the composition of the Subcommittee on Agenda and Procedure be modified to include the two Parliamentary Secretaries instead of the Parliamentary Secretary and a Member of the Conservative Party.

The motions, as adopted, read as follows:

That the Committee retain the services of one or more analysts from the Library of Parliament, as needed, to assist the Committee in its work, and that these services be requested at the discretion of the Chair.

That the Subcommittee on Agenda and Procedure be composed of five (5) members, including the Chair, the two Vice-Chairs and the two Parliamentary Secretaries;

That quorum of the Subcommittee consist of at least three (3) members, one of which shall be a member from the opposition;

That each member of the Subcommittee be permitted to have one assistant attend any meetings of the Subcommittee on Agenda and Procedure; and,

That, in addition, each party be permitted to have one staff member from a House Officer attend any meetings.

That the Chair be authorized to hold meetings to receive evidence and to have that evidence printed when a quorum is not present, provided that at least four (4) members are present, including one member of the opposition and one member of the government; and,

That, in the case of previously scheduled meetings taking place outside the Parliamentary precinct, the Committee members in attendance only be required to wait for 15 minutes following the designated start of the meeting before they may proceed to hear witnesses and receive evidence, regardless of whether opposition or government members are present.

That the witnesses from any one organization be allowed ten (10) minutes to make their opening statement; and,

That, during the questioning of witnesses, there be allocated seven (7) minutes for the first round of questioning and thereafter five (5) minutes be allocated to each questioner in the second and subsequent rounds of questioning.

That the order of questions for the 1st round of questioning be as follows: New Democratic Party, Liberal, Conservative, Conservative; that questioning during the 2nd round alternate between the Government members and Opposition members in the following fashion: New Democratic Party, Conservative, New Democratic Party, Conservative, New Democratic Party, Conservative, Conservative; until every member has had a chance to speak or has given up their time, and that, if time permits, further rounds repeat the pattern of the first two at the discretion of the Chair.

That only the Clerk of the Committee be authorized to distribute to the members of the Committee any documents, including motions, that all documents which are to be distributed amongst the committee members be in both official languages, and that the Clerk advise all witnesses appearing before the committee of this requirement.

That the Committee hereby authorize the Clerk of the Committee, in consultation with the Chair, to make the necessary arrangements to provide for working meals, as may be required, and that the cost of these meals be charged to the Committee budget.

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 each Committee member in attendance be permitted to have one staff member attend any in camera meetings, and that, in addition, each party be permitted to have one staff member from a House Officer attend in camera meetings.

That in camera meetings be transcribed, and that the transcription be kept with the Clerk of the Committee for later consultation by members of the Committee.

That forty-eight (48) hour notice be required for any substantive motion to be considered by the Committee; that the motion be filed and distributed to members by the Clerk in both official languages, and that completed motions received by 5 p.m. be distributed to members the same day.

Jeff Watson moved, — That, in relation to Orders of Reference from the House respecting Bills,

(a) the Clerk of the Committee, 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 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 allow a Member who filed suggested amendments, pursuant to paragraph (a), an opportunity to make brief representations in support of them.

The question was put on the motion and it was agreed to, by a show of hands: YEAS: 7; NAYS: 4.

At 3:37 p.m., the Committee adjourned to the call of the Chair.