HAFF Committee Meeting

STANDING COMMITTEE ON PROCEDURE AND HOUSE AFFAIRS

COMITÉ PERMANENT DE LA PROCÉDURE ET DES AFFAIRES DE LA CHAMBRE

EVIDENCE

[Recorded by Electronic Apparatus]

Wednesday, October 13, 1999

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[English]

The Clerk of the Committee: Ladies and gentlemen, I see a quorum. We are here to elect a chair. That's your first item of business.

Mrs. Parrish.

Ms. Carolyn Parrish (Mississauga Centre, Lib.): I would like to nominate Derek Lee as chair of the committee.

The Clerk: Thank you.

Mr. Randy White (Langley—Abbotsford, Ref.): I would like to nominate Chuck Strahl.

The Clerk: Thank you.

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As members are aware, in this committee we have to deal with one motion at a time. Are there any other motions for the position of chair? If not, we'll deal with the motions in the order in which they were received.

The first nomination, moved by Mrs. Parrish, nominated Mr. Derek Lee to take the chair.

(Motion agreed to)

The Clerk: I declare Mr. Lee to be duly elected chair of the committee.

Mr. Randy White: It was nothing personal, Mr. Chairman. I hope you'll recognize me once in a while after that.

The Chairman (Mr. Derek Lee (Scarborough—Rouge River, Lib.)): Thank you, colleagues, for your support.

We'll get right down to business. You have a draft agenda in front of you. I won't even ask if there's approval; most of you will recognize the content of the agenda as pretty much pro forma.

We'll move down the list to item B, if you're ready. We want to elect two vice-chairs to this committee, so I'll recognize nominations. Mr. White.

Mr. Randy White: I nominate Chuck Strahl.

The Chairman: Mr. Knutson.

Mr. Gar Knutson (Elgin—Middlesex—London, Lib.): I nominate Marlene Catterall.

The Chairman: Are there any further nominations for the position of vice-chair?

Mr. Randy White: I have a point of order. Is Marlene Catterall here, or does she have to be here? Is she a member of the committee?

The Clerk: She's a member of the committee.

Mr. John O'Reilly (Haliburton—Victoria—Brock, Lib.): I'm Marlene today, but don't get personal about it.

Some hon. members: Oh, oh.

The Chairman: We understand from members of Ms. Catterall's party that she is ready, able, and willing to assume the office of vice-president. Thank you, Mr. White.

Seeing no other nominations, Madam Clerk would fill the two vice-presidential positions. Can I just seek an agreement around the table?

Some hon. members: Agreed.

The Chairman: Thank you.

We'll move to item C, the first item there, number 3, appointment of a subcommittee on agenda and procedure. There's a customary composition of this subcommittee on this committee. Madam Clerk, can you indicate what that has been in the past, for the information of members?

The Clerk: In the past that consisted of the chair, the government vice-chair, and the opposition vice-chair. That would be in this case Ms. Catterall and Mr. Strahl. Monsieur Bergeron served on the committee, Mr. Solomon, and Mr. André Harvey of the Conservative Party.

Mr. Gar Knutson: I so move.

The Chairman: Mr. Knutson has moved that the subcommittee be composed as outlined by the clerk.

(Motion agreed to)

The Chairman: I see no dissent. It's unanimously agreed. Thank you.

Now we'll formally constitute the striking committee. This subcommittee is usually constituted by the five whips, as provided for generally in the Standing Orders. Could I have someone move that motion, which is outlined in the draft?

Ms. Eleni Bakopanos (Ahuntsic, Lib.): I so move.

(Motion agreed to)

The Chairman: It's carried unanimously. Thank you.

Number 5 has to do with the private members' business subcommittee. I'd like to ask members to defer that, because I'm not too sure we can actually successfully get through it. The process of the whips completing their lists for the committees and the subject matter envelopes, policy envelopes, isn't completed yet. Consequently, we don't have a full roster to draw from, the kind of roster we would want, for that subcommittee. So with your permission I would defer that to the next full meeting of the committee. Is that agreed?

Some hon. members: Agreed.

The Chairman: Number 6 is the issue of quorum to hear evidence. I'm advised by the clerk that at the end of the previous Parliament the quorum was as is outlined there: that the chair be authorized to hold meetings in order to receive and authorize the printing of evidence when a quorum is not present.

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If committee members are agreed to stay with that, we can adopt that now if someone will move it.

Mr. Lynn Myers (Waterloo—Wellington, Lib.): I so move.

(Motion agreed to)

The Chairman: Number 7, research officer, the usual motion to retain. Can I have someone move that motion?

Mr. Gar Knutson: I so move.

(Motion agreed to)

The Chairman: Number 8 is witness expenses. This is a standard motion.

Mr. John Richardson (Perth—Middlesex, Lib.): I so move.

(Motion agreed to)

The Chairman: We have one item of important other business. Members will be aware that the whips have actually completed the lists for the transport committee. Colleagues who will go to that committee are anxious to resume their work and deal with some important issues.

In front of you is a draft committee report. If you have a look at it, the whips of course have consulted in the preparation of this. It should be accurate. We have members and associates, so the full envelope is provided for. I'll just draw your attention to the last part of the draft report. It contains a special provision that will authorize the transport committee to resume almost immediately, without the standard notice periods. That would put that committee into business tomorrow, I think, if this report is adopted here today and is adopted by the House when we present it later.

Mr. Lynn Myers: I move adoption of the report.

(Motion agreed to)

The Chairman: That's adopted unanimously. Thank you.

Is there any other business? I see none. If members would just take note, the usual meeting time for this committee is Tuesday and Thursday at 11 a.m. We'll retain those meeting slots, I believe, provided the whips and the House leaders are happy with that. I believe we'll need some more time when we get into dealing with the Elections Act, which is coming down the pipeline relatively quickly.

Seeing no other business, I'll accept a motion to adjourn.

Mr. John O'Reilly: So moved.

The Chairman: All clear? We're adjourned. Thank you.