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, Joe Preston, presiding.

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

It was agreed that the meeting scheduled for Tuesday, February 8, and Thursday February 10, 2011 be devoted to the study of the question of privilege related to the premature disclosure on November 18, 2010, of the confidential draft report on the pre-budget consultations of the Standing Committee on Finance by an employee of the member for Saskatoon-Rosetown-Biggar, and that the committee invite the following witness to appear: Karen Sheperd, Commissioner of Lobbying; Louis Bard, Chief Information Officer of the House of Commons; Russell Ullyatt, as an individual; and Lynn Hamilton, as an individual.

It was agreed that the meetings scheduled for Tuesday, February 15, Thursday, February 17, Tuesday, March 1, Thursday, March 3, Tuesday, March 8 and Thursday, March 10, 2011 be devoted to the study of the report of the Chief Electoral Officer of Canada entitled “Responding to Changing Needs - Recommendations from the Chief Electoral Officer of Canada Following the 40th General Election” with the intention of completing the study and presenting a report to the House and that the Committee should move on to other items on their work plan should the study conclude earlier.

It was agreed that members suggested witness lists be submitted to the clerk by Friday, February 11, 2011 for the following studies: Conventions concerning Question Period in the House of Commons raised by the motion number M-517 of the Hon. Michael Chong, Wellington-Halton Hills; and the issue of the appearance of exempt staff and staff of parliamentary secretaries as witnesses before parliamentary committees.

It was agreed, that if necessary, the committee consider a report to the House requesting an extension for the consideration of motion M-517.

It was agreed, — That the report of the Subcommittee be concurred in.

It was agreed, — In relation to its study of the matter of a Question of Privilege (leaking of a committee report) referred to the Committee by the House, orders that Lynne Hamilton as an individual and GCI Group produce all papers and records both electronic and hard copy from January 2010 until today from and to as well as related to Russell Ullyatt using either email accounts from the office of Kelly Block MP, or any other email account and all records both electronic and hard copy as they relate to any draft reports from a committee of Parliament and requests that said material be delivered to the committee within 5 days.

It was agreed, — That in relation to its study of the matter of a Question of Privilege (leaking of a committee report) referred to the Committee by the House, the Committee orders that Russell Ullyatt produce all papers and records both electronic and hard copy from January 2010 until today from and to as well as related to any registered lobbyists using email accounts not from the office of Kelly Block MP, and all records both electronic and hard copy as they relate to any draft reports from a committee of Parliament and requests that said material be delivered to the committee within 5 days.

At 11:42 a.m., the Committee adjourned to the call of the Chair.