PROC Committee Meeting

The Standing Committee on Procedure and House Affairs met in a televised session at 1:27 p.m. this day, in Room 237-C, Centre Block, the Chair, Gary Goodyear, presiding.

Pierre Poilievre moved, — That the Committee call on the Electoral Officer to use his powers of adaptation to require electors to show their faces before being permitted to vote at voting stations across the country.

Debate arose thereon.

The question was put on the motion and it was agreed to on the following recorded division: YEAS: Paul Dewar, Meili Faille, Michel Guimond, Tom Lukiwski, David J. McGuinty, Bernard Patry, Pierre Poilievre, Joe Preston, Marcel Proulx, Karen Redman, Scott Reid — 11; NAYS: — 0.

At 1:44 p.m., the sitting was suspended.

At 1:48 p.m., the sitting resumed in camera.

The Committee commenced consideration of a draft report.

It was agreed, — That, on behalf of the Committee, the Chair write a letter to the Chief Electoral Officer informing him of the motion agreed to by unanimous consent earlier this day.

At 2:12 p.m., the sitting was suspended.

At 2:18 p.m., the sitting resumed in public.

Marcel Proulx moved, — That the Committee undertake a study on 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.

Debate arose thereon.

Scott Reid moved, — That the motion be amended by replacing all of the words after the word “That” with the following:

“the Committee on Procedure and House Affairs conduct a thorough study as to whether, and to what extent, the Conservative Party of Canada and its processors, the Liberal Party of Canada, the Bloc Québécois and the New Democratic Party have engaged, in the elections of 1997, 2000, 2004 and 2006,

1) in the practice of transferring funds in the following ways: a) transfers from the national party on national campaign to local campaigns of riding associations; b) transfers from riding associations of local campaigns to the national party on campaigns; c) Transfers between riding associations and local campaigns.

2) the uses of any funds at the level of local campaigns, to pay for advertising that could promote campaigns or candidates in adjoining ridings; or

3) to pay for advertising that could promote the national campaign”.

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 overturned on the following recorded division: YEAS: Tom Lukiwski, Pierre Poilievre, Joe Preston, Scott Reid — 4; NAYS: Paul Dewar, Meili Faille, Michel Guimond, David J. McGuinty, Bernard Patry, Marcel Proulx, Karen Redman — 7.

The Committee resumed consideration of the motion of Marcel Proulx, — That the Committee undertake a study on 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.

The debate continued.

Pierre Poilievre moved, — That the motion be amended by replacing all the words after “That” with the following:

“the Committee on Procedure and House Affairs conduct a thorough study into the Conservative Party of Canada, the Liberal Party of Canada, the Bloc Québécois and the New Democratic Party’s use of transfers between the national parties, Electoral District Associations’, and local campaigns to determine if these transactions were sufficiently legitimate and transparent for elections dating back to 1997”.

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 overturned on the following recorded division: YEAS: Tom Lukiwski, Pierre Poilievre, Joe Preston, Scott Reid — 4; NAYS: Paul Dewar, Meili Faille, Michel Guimond, David J. McGuinty, Bernard Patry, Marcel Proulx, Karen Redman — 7.

The Committee resumed consideration of the motion of Marcel Proulx, — That the Committee undertake a study on 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.

The debate continued.

Tom Lukiwski moved, — That the motion be amended by replacing all the words after “That” with the following:

“the Committee on Procedure and House Affairs conduct a thorough study of the spending practices of the Conservative Party of Canada, the Liberal Party of Canada, the Bloc Québécois and the New Democratic Party during each and every election and by-election since 1997; and that this study include the use of funds transferred “in and out” of national campaigns, local campaigns and riding associations”.

The Chair ruled the motion out of order.

The Committee resumed consideration of the motion of Marcel Proulx, — That the Committee undertake a study on 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.

The debate continued.

It was agreed, — That the Committee adjourn at 4:15 p.m.

At 4:17 p.m., the Committee adjourned to the call of the Chair.