PROC Committee Meeting

The Standing Committee on Procedure and House Affairs met at 11:01 a.m. this day, in Room 268, La Promenade Building, the Chair, Joe Preston, presiding.

Audrey O'Brien and Mark G. Watters made statements and answered questions.

Nycole Turmel moved, — That the Committee include in its review of the Standing Orders a full study on when a committee may conduct their business in camera and use the following guidelines:

a) wages, salaries and other employee benefits;

b) contracts and contract negotiations;

c) labour relations and personnel matters;

d) a draft report;

e) briefings concerning national security;

f) any issue where the Committee agrees unanimously; and

That all votes taken in camera be recorded in the Minutes of Proceedings, including how each member voted when recorded votes are requested.

After debate, the question was put on the motion and it was negatived on the following recorded division: YEAS: Sadia Groguhé, Peter Julian, Kevin Lamoureux, Craig Scott, Nycole Turmel — 5; NAYS: Brad Butt, Tom Lukiwski, Dave MacKenzie, Ted Opitz, Blake Richards, Kyle Seeback — 6.

At 12:58 p.m., the sitting was suspended.

At 12:59 p.m., the sitting resumed in camera.

It was agreed, — That the First Report from the Subcommittee on Agenda and Procedure, which read as follows, be concurred in:

1. That, in relation to the review of the Board of Internal Economy, the Chair and the Clerk of the Committee be authorized to arrange the schedule of the Committee (witnesses, number of meetings, time of meetings, draft report) with the intent, if possible, of reporting back to the House of Commons within the deadline of Monday, December 2, 2013.

2. That, in relation to the review of the Board of Internal Economy, Members of Parliament who are not members of a recognized party designate a participant for the questioning of witnesses; that the routine motion with regard to the questioning of witnesses be modified, for this study only, in the third round in order to allow the designated member the possibility to ask questions; and that the motion read as follows in the third round: “for the third round, four (4) minutes be allocated in the following order: Member who is not a member of a recognized party, New Democratic Party and Conservative”.

3. That a letter signed by the Chair of the Committee be sent, in response to the letter received from the Members of Parliament who are not members of a recognized party in relation to their role during the Committee’s review of the Board of Internal Economy, informing them of the process adopted by the Committee.

4. That, once the review of the Board of Internal Economy is completed, the Committee commence the study of the Question of Privilege related to Elections Canada and the Member for Selkirk-Interlake as its priority; and that the meetings in December 2013 be dedicated to that study.

At 1:05 p.m., the Committee adjourned to the call of the Chair.