PROC Committee Meeting

The Standing Committee on Procedure and House Affairs met in camera at 11:06 a.m. this day, in Room 112-N, Centre Block, the Chair, Gary Goodyear, presiding.

The Chair presented the Third Report from the Subcommittee on Agenda and Procedure which read as follows:

Your Subcommittee met on Tuesday, January 30, 2007, to consider the business of the Committee and agreed to make the following recommendations:

1. That a letter be sent to the Speaker regarding security on Parliament Hill;

2. That a letter be sent to the Chief Electoral Officer thanking him for his service;

3. That the Committee review the report of the Committee from the 38th Parliament regarding electoral boundaries;

4. That the Committee invite the Commissioner of Canada Elections to appear;

5. That the order of reference for the Subcommittee on Disclosure forms be amended to widen the mandate to include the Code itself and to allow for the Chair of the Committee to be a member.

6. That the Committee discuss the issue of decorum in the House at the meeting of February 1, 2007 and that the Clerk send out a reminder to all Members of the previous discussion on this issue.

It was agreed, — That the Third Report of the Subcommittee on Agenda and Procedure be adopted.

It was agreed, — That Mr. Owen replace Ms. Jennings on the Subcommittee on Disclosure Forms.

It was agreed, — That a letter be sent to the Chair of the Liaison Committee inviting him to appear before the committee to discuss the Liaison Committee’s concerns regarding travel for Committees within the National Capital area.

It was agreed, — That a letter be sent to the Parliamentary Press Gallery regarding the broadcasting guidelines for committees.

It was agreed, — That a letter be sent to Rob Walsh, Law Clerk and Parliamentary Counsel requesting a legal opinion concerning any privilege issues arising from the physical location of the office of the Conflict of Interest and Ethics Commissioner.

At 11:49 a.m., the sitting was suspended.

At 11:49 a.m., the Committee resumed sitting in public.

It was agreed, — That a letter be sent to Rob Walsh, Law Clerk and Parliamentary Counsel in order to obtain an opinion regarding the effects of certain disciplinary measures with respect to decorum in the House.

Yvon Godin moved, — That the Committee asks that the current Speaker respect former Speaker John Fraser's initiative to reduce pollution by asking Ministers not to idle their cars while on Parliament Hill and to provide a waiting area for the Ministers' drivers so they can wait for Ministers inside on inclement days.

Debate arose thereon.

At 12:53 p.m., the Committee adjourned to the call of the Chair.