SECU Committee Meeting

    Honourable members of the committee,

I see a quorum.

    I must inform members that the clerk of the committee can only receive motions for the election of the chair.

     The clerk cannot receive other types of motions and cannot entertain points of order nor participate in debate.

    We can now proceed to the election of the chair.

    Pursuant to Standing Order 106(2), the chair must be a member of the government party.

    I am ready to receive motions to that effect.

    Madam Bergen.

    Thank you very much, Mr. Clerk.

    I would like to nominate Kevin Sorenson as chair of the committee, please.

    It has been moved by Madam Bergen that Mr. Sorenson be elected chair of the committee. Are there any further motions?

    Is it the pleasure of the committee to adopt the motion?

    (Motion agreed to)

    The Clerk: I declare the motion carried and Kevin Sorenson duly elected chair of the committee.

    Some hon. members: Hear, hear!

    The Clerk: If the committee wishes, before inviting Mr. Sorenson to take the chair we could now proceed to the election of vice-chairs.

    Pursuant to Standing Order 106(2), the first vice-chair must be a member of the official opposition.

    I am now prepared to receive motions for the position of first vice-chair.

    Ms. Doré Lefebvre, you have the floor.

    Thank you very much.

    I would like to nominate Randall Garrison for the position of committee vice-chair.

    It has been moved by Ms. Doré Lefebvre that Mr. Garrison be elected as first vice-chair of the committee.

    Are there any further motions?

    Is it the pleasure of the committee to adopt the motion?

    (Motion agreed to)

    The Clerk: I declare the motion carried and Mr. Garrison duly elected first vice-chair of the committee.

    Some hon. members: Hear, hear!

    The Clerk: Pursuant to Standing Order 106(2), the second vice-chair must be a member of an opposition party other than the official opposition.

    I am now prepared to receive a motion for second vice-chair.

    Mr. Hawn.

     Francis Scarpaleggia.

    It has been moved by Mr. Hawn that Francis Scarpaleggia be elected second vice-chair of the committee.

    I humbly accept, and I'll try to ensure that the position doesn't change me.

    I must inform members that the clerk of the committee can only receive motions for the election of chairs.

    Is it the pleasure of the committee to adopt the motion?

    (Motion agreed to)

    The Clerk: I declare the motion carried and Mr. Scarpaleggia duly elected second vice-chair of the committee.

    Some hon. members: Hear, hear!

    The Clerk: Mr. Chair.

    Thank you very much for that vote of confidence. I will also note that it was Laurie Hawn who cleared his throat when the nays were supposed to come forward.

     I would also invite our analysts, Tanya Dupuis and Christine Morris, to take the table.

    We have new committee members this fall. Let me say that I'm very pleased with our analysts' work. Our analysts, as is typical with parliamentary librarian representatives, are very good at the work they do. We have been very pleased with their reports and their work. I would encourage the new members on the committee to use the notes that the analysts prepare. They prepare us for meetings and questions and all that. Take advantage of the work they do.

    Also, our clerk, Andrew Bartholomew Chaplin, has been here for many years. I've served with him on the defence committee, the Afghanistan committee, and undoubtedly other committees, and we appreciate the work they do.

    To our committee, I'll say that it's good to be back this fall. I hope you've all had a good summer. Certainly we wish John Rafferty all the best and a speedy recovery, and I think congratulations are in order to Jean Rousseau, who is a proud daddy, so that's all good.

    Now that those items are out of the way, let me say this: last week Bill C-42 was referred to our committee, so our intent is to receive this bill as soon as possible. We do have other studies under way at the present time; we have just begun one study, and we can perhaps have a meeting on Wednesday, if that would suit, to do a little bit of future business and planning as to the process here.

    I know we have a motion in the motions at the beginning of the year to the effect that when we have referred legislation, we start on that fairly promptly, so I would encourage all parties—and I include our own government committee members as well—to get your witnesses in as soon as possible. I've spoken to some already and have suggested to have witnesses by the end of the week. That gives time to start putting together different panels or different groups as they would appear before our committee. I don't think there would be any problem with that.

    Congratulations, Randall, and also to Francis, on the position. I look forward to working again with you and all committee members.

    Is there anything else in regard to the witnesses? We'll talk Wednesday about how long we anticipate dealing with Bill C-42.

    Candice, did you have something?

    I hadn't indicated I needed to speak, but we're meeting on Wednesday, and I think that's when we'll go over all the committee business. Did you say you needed the witnesses in by...?

    I would like to see them by Friday of this week. It's a courtesy to our clerk and to the analysts as well as we plan the panels. We've known that this one was coming. If you can get your witnesses in by Friday, do it, and then we'll see what kinds of numbers of witnesses we have and proceed from there.

    I know we'll be in camera on Wednesday, but when discussing committee business, it would be good if we could look in depth at this whole economics of policing issue. I know it's somewhat in the future, but we could at least look at the framework and what we all want to make sure is covered. I think we should be prepared for that.

    We'll talk more about that on Wednesday. This committee and all committees are masters of their own destiny, so I would hope that we would continue to proceed with that study. We've begun it, and I think whether you are rural or urban, east or west, it's one of those studies that would help all members of Parliament to understand something about the economics of policing and how some of those things are factored out with provinces and others.

    Seeing no other discussion, we will then adjourn this meeting and reconvene on Wednesday.

    The meeting is adjourned.