AFGH Committee Meeting

The Special Committee on the Canadian Mission in Afghanistan met at 6:06 p.m. this day, in Room 371, West Block, for the purpose of electing a Chair, pursuant to Standing Order 106(2).

On motion of Laurie Hawn, it was agreed, — That Rick Casson be elected Chair of the Committee.

The Clerk of the Committee presided over the election of the Vice-Chair.

On motion of Rick Casson, it was agreed, — That the Hon. Bryon Wilfert be elected Vice-Chair of the Committee.

Rick Casson took the Chair.

Laurie Hawn moved, — That the Committee will meet on Wednesdays from 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m., and regardless of when the meeting starts, they will sit for two full hours.

Debate arose thereon.

Bryon Wilfert moved, — That the motion be amended by replacing the words “Wednesdays from 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.” with the words “Thursdays from 3:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m.”.

Debate arose thereon.

By unanimous consent, the amendment was withdrawn.

Bryon Wilfert moved, — That the motion be amended by replacing the words “Wednesdays from 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.” with the words “Thursdays from 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.”.

After debate, the question was put on the amendment of Bryon Wilfert 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 the Committee will meet on Thursdays from 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m., and regardless of when the meeting starts, they will sit for two full hours”.

On motion of Greg Kerr, it was agreed, — That the Committee retain, as needed and at the discretion of the Chair, the services of one or more analysts from the Library of Parliament to assist it in its work.

Paul Crête moved, — That the Subcommittee on Agenda and Procedure be composed of the Chair and one representative of each opposition party.

Debate arose thereon.

Laurie Hawn moved, — That the motion be amended by deleting the word “opposition”.

Debate arose thereon.

By unanimous consent, the amendment was withdrawn.

By unanimous consent, the motion was withdrawn.

On motion of Dave MacKenzie, it was agreed, — That the Clerks of the Committee be authorized to distribute to the members of the Committee only documents that are available in both official languages and, that the practice of the Committee will be that unless there are exceptional circumstances, all written material will be distributed to Committee members 24 hours in advance.

On motion of Dave MacKenzie, it was agreed, — That the Clerks of the Committee be authorized to make the necessary arrangements to provide working meals for the Committee and its Subcommittees.

On motion of Paul Dewar, it was agreed, — That, if requested, reasonable travel, accommodation and living expenses be reimbursed to witnessses not exceeding two representatives per organization; and that, in exceptional circumstances, payment for more representatives be made at the discretion of the Chair.

On motion of Bryon Wilfert, it was agreed, — That, unless otherwise ordered, each Committee member be allowed to be accompanied by one staff person at in camera meetings and, that a representative of the Whip’s office of each party be allowed to attend in camera meetings.

On motion of Paul Crête, it was agreed, — That one copy of the transcript of each in camera meeting be kept in the Committee Clerk’s office for consultation by members of the Committee.

On motion of Dave MacKenzie, it was agreed, — That forty-eight (48) hours’ notice be required for any substantive motion to be considered by the Committee, unless the susbstantive motion relates directly to business then under consideration; and that the notice of motion be filed with the Clerks of the Committee and distributed to members in both official languages.

Paul Crête moved, — That, at the discretion of the Chair, witnesses be given ten (10) minutes to make their opening statement;

And that, at the discretion of the Chair, during the questioning of witnesses, the time allocated to each party be as follows:

— Liberal

— Bloc Québécois

— NDP

— Conservative

2nd round (5 minutes each)

— Liberal

— Conservative

— Bloc Québécois

— Conservative

— Liberal

— NDP

And that, if there is a 3rd round of questioning the Committee will revert to the same order as in the second round;

And that, when a minister is in attendance, the order and time allocation for questioning witnesses be the same as above, with the exception that in the first round of questioning ten (10) minutes be allocated to each party.

Debate arose thereon.

Deepak Obhrai moved, — That the motion be amended by replacing the words:

“1st round (7 minutes each)

— Liberal

— Bloc Québécois

— NDP

— Conservative

— Liberal

— Conservative

— Bloc Québécois

— Conservative

— Liberal

— NDP ”

with the words

“— Liberal

— Bloc Québécois

— Conservative

— NDP

— Conservative

— Liberal

— Conservative

— Bloc Québécois

— Conservative

— Liberal

— Conservative

— NDP ”.

Debate arose thereon.

The question was put on the amendment of Deepak Obhrai and it was agreed to, by a show of hands: YEAS: 6; NAYS: 5.

The question was put on the motion, as amended, and it was agreed to, by a show of hands: YEAS: 6; NAYS: 5.

The motion, as amended, read as follows:

That, at the discretion of the Chair, witnesses be given ten (10) minutes to make their opening statement;

And that, at the discretion of the Chair, during the questioning of witnesses the time allocated to each party be as follows:

1st round (7 minutes each)

— Liberal

— Bloc Québécois

— Conservative

— NDP

— Conservative

— Liberal

— Conservative

— Bloc Québécois

— Conservative

— Liberal

— Conservative

— NDP

And that, if there is a 3rd round of questioning the Committee will revert to the same order as in the second round;

And that, when a minister is in attendance, the order and time allocation for questioning witnesses be the same as above, with the exception that in the first round of questioning ten (10) minutes be allocated to each party.

On motion of Bryon Wilfert, it was agreed, — That the Subcommittee on Agenda and Procedure be composed of the Chair and one representative of each party.

It was agreed, — That the Committee, for its next meeting, request a briefing session on the current situation of the Canadian mission in Afghanistan.

At 6:55 p.m., the Committee adjourned to the call of the Chair.