SECU Committee Meeting

The Standing Committee on Public Safety and National Security met at 11:02 a.m. this day, in Room 228, La Promenade Building, the Chair, Daryl Kramp, presiding.

Roxanne James moved, — That the Committee adopt the routine motions that Committee adopted in the previous session.

Rosane Doré Lefebvre moved, — That the motion be amended by adding at the end the following: “That the Committee may meet in camera only for the purpose of discussing: a) wages, salaries and other employee benefits; (b) contracts and contract negotiations; (c) labour relations and personnel matters; (d) a draft agenda or draft report; (e) briefings concerning national security; 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 amendment of Rosane Doré Lefebvre and it was negatived on the following recorded division: YEAS: Rosane Doré Lefebvre, Wayne Easter, Élaine Michaud, François Pilon, Jean Rousseau — 5; NAYS: Michael D. Chong, Roxanne James, Ted Menzies, Rick Norlock, LaVar Payne, Rodney Weston — 6.

After debate, the question was put on the motion and it was agreed to, by a show of hands: YEAS: 6; NAYS: 4.

Accordingly, it was agreed:

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.

That the Subcommittee on Agenda and Procedure be established and be composed of the Chair, a member from the Official Opposition, the Second Vice-Chair, a second member from the government and the Parliamentary Secretary.

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

That only the Clerk of the Committee be authorized to distribute documents to members of the Committee and only when such documents exist in both official languages, and that the witnesses be advised accordingly.

That the Clerk of the Committee be authorized to make the necessary arrangements to provide working meals for the Committee and its Subcommittees.

That, if requested, reasonable travel, accommodation and living expenses be reimbursed to witnesses not exceeding two (2) representatives 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 present at any in camera meeting and, in addition, each party shall be permitted to have one staff member from a House officer attend in camera meetings.

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

That forty-eight (48) hours’ notice be required for any substantive motion to be considered by the Committee, unless the substantive motion relates directly to business then under consideration; that the notice of motion be filed with the Clerk of the Committee and distributed to members in both official languages; and that motions received by 4:00 p.m. be distributed to members that same day.

That, at the discretion of the Chair, the witnesses from any one organization be allowed ten (10) minutes to make their opening statement; that the order for questioning of witnesses, there shall be allocated seven (7) minutes in a first round to the government, the Official Opposition, the government and then the third party; that in a second round, five (5) minutes be allocated to the Official Opposition, the government, the Official Opposition, the government, the Official Opposition and then the government, based on the principle that each Committee member shall have a full opportunity to question the witnesses; and that, if time permits, further rounds shall repeat the pattern of the first two rounds at the discretion of the Chair.

That every party shall have the right to attach as an annex a dissenting opinion on any report to be presented to the House of Commons by the Committee; and that this dissenting opinion shall be submitted to the Clerk of the Committee within 72 hours of the adoption of the report by the Committee.

That government bills take precedence over all other work of the Committee.

Roxanne James moved, — That, in relation to Orders of Reference from the House respecting Bills,

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

After debate, the question was put on the motion and it was agreed to on the following recorded division: YEAS: Michael D. Chong, Roxanne James, Ted Menzies, Rick Norlock, LaVar Payne, Rodney Weston — 6; NAYS: Rosane Doré Lefebvre, Wayne Easter, Élaine Michaud, François Pilon, Jean Rousseau — 5.

At 12:04 p.m., the sitting was suspended.

At 12:08 p.m., the sitting resumed in camera.

It was agreed, — That the Committee resume its study on the economics of policing; and that the evidence and documentation received by the Committee during the 1st Session of the 41st Parliament in relation to that study be taken into consideration by the Committee in the current session.

It was agreed, — That witness lists be filed with the Clerk preferably by Wednesday, November 13, 2013, but no later than Friday, November 15, 2013.

At 12:25 p.m., the Committee adjourned to the call of the Chair.