SECU Committee Meeting

The Standing Committee on Public Safety and National Security met at 3:46 p.m. this day, in Room 371, West Block, the Chair, Garry Breitkreuz, presiding.

The Committee resumed consideration of the following routine motion: That, witnesses be given ten (10) minutes for their opening statement; That, at the discretion of the Chair, during the questioning of witnesses, there be allocated seven (7) minutes for the first questioner of each party; starting with the Opposition parties; and that thereafter, five (5) minutes be allocated to each subsequent questioner, until every member has spoken once.

Serge Ménard moved, — That the motion be amended to read: That witnesses be given ten (10) minutes for their opening statement; that, at the discretion of the Chair, during the questioning of witnesses, there be allocated three-and-a-half (3½) minutes to the first questioner of each party to ask questions, starting with the Opposition parties; and that thereafter two-and-a-half (2½) minutes be allocated to each subsequent questioner, until every member has asked questions at least once.

After debate, the question was put on the amendment of Serge Ménard and it was negatived, by a show of hands: YEAS: 2; NAYS: 7.

Dave MacKenzie moved, — That the motion be amended following "during the questioning of witnesses, there be allocated" to read “seven (7) minutes for the first questioner of each party; the first round being in the following order: Liberal Party, Bloc Québecois, NDP, Conservative Party; that during subsequent rounds of questioning there be allocated five (5) minutes; that the second round be in the following order: Liberal Party, Conservative Party, Bloc Québecois, Conservative Party; that the third round be in the following order: Liberal Party, Conservative Party, Liberal Party, Conservative Party; and that following the third round of questioning the Chair or fifth member of the Conservative Party may ask questions and the Bloc Québecois and NDP may again ask questions if time allows”.

By unanimous consent, the amendment was withdrawn.

It was agreed, — That the motion be amended to read: That, witnesses be given ten (10) minutes for their opening statement; That, at the discretion of the Chair, during the questioning of witnesses, there be allocated seven (7) minutes for the first questioner of each party; starting with the Opposition parties; and that thereafter, five (5) minutes be allocated to each subsequent questioner, continuing with the Opposition going first and alternating between government members and Opposition members until every member has spoken once.

On motion of Susan Kadis, it was agreed, — That the Committee meet Mondays and Wednesdays from 3:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m.

At 4:24 p.m., the Committee adjourned to the call of the Chair.