PROC Committee Meeting

The Standing Committee on Procedure and House Affairs met at 3:34 p.m. this day, in Room 112-N, Centre Block, the Chair, Gary Goodyear, presiding.

Joe Preston moved, — That the Committee study the decision by Elections Canada to allow veiled individuals to vote, and that the study be completed by Friday, September 14, 2007.

A point of order was raised regarding the procedural admissibility of the proposed motion.

The Chair ruled the motion in order.

Whereupon, Karen Redman appealed the decision of the Chair.

The question: "Shall the decision of the Chair be sustained?" was put and the decision was sustained on the following recorded division: YEAS: Yvon Godin, Michel Guimond, Guy Lauzon, Richard Nadeau, Pierre Poilievre, Joe Preston, Scott Reid — 7; NAYS: Dominic LeBlanc, Marcel Proulx, Karen Redman, Lucienne Robillard — 4.

The Committee resumed consideration of the motion of Joe Preston, — That the Committee study the decision by Elections Canada to allow veiled individuals to vote, and that the study be completed by Friday, September 14, 2007.

The debate continued.

The question was put on the motion and it was agreed to on the following recorded division: YEAS: Yvon Godin, Michel Guimond, Guy Lauzon, Dominic LeBlanc, Richard Nadeau, Pierre Poilievre, Joe Preston, Marcel Proulx, Karen Redman, Scott Reid, Lucienne Robillard — 11; NAYS: — 0.

Marcel Proulx moved, — That the Committee proceed to the order of business regarding allegations made against the Conservative Party of Canada's systematic attempt to defraud Elections Canada, as well as the Canadian taxpayer, in relation to the 2006 federal election.

A point of order was raised regarding the procedural admissibility of the proposed motion.

The Chair reserved his decision until the next meeting.

Michel Guimond moved, — That the members of this Committee ask Elections Canada to reconsider its decision to allow certain individuals to vote with their face covered.

Debate arose thereon.

Pierre Poilievre moved, — That the motion be amended by replacing the word “reconsider” with the word “reverse”.

On motion of Pierre Poilievre, it was agreed, — That the motion be amended by replacing the word “reconsider” with the word “reverse”.

After debate, the question was put on the motion, as amended, and it was agreed to.

It was agreed, — That the Chair write to the Chief Electoral Officer informing him of the motion.

On motion of Pierre Poilievre, it was agreed, — That in the event that the Chief Electoral Officer reverses his decision on veiled voting, this committee consider its study on the matter cancelled.

It was agreed, — That the Committee adjourn until 3:30 p.m. on September 11, 2007.

At 5:21 p.m., the Committee adjourned.