NDDN Committee Meeting

The Standing Committee on National Defence met at 8:50 a.m. this day, in Room 362, East Block, for the purpose of electing a Chair, pursuant to Standing Order 106(1).

On motion of Corneliu Chisu, it was agreed, — That James Bezan be elected Chair of the Committee.

By unanimous consent, the Clerk of the Committee presided over the election of the Vice-Chairs.

On motion of Tarik Brahmi, it was agreed, — That Jack Harris be elected First Vice-Chair of the Committee.

On motion of James Bezan, it was agreed, — That Hon. John McKay be elected Second Vice-Chair of the Committee.

James Bezan took the Chair.

On motion of Jack Harris, it was agreed, — That the Committee retain, as needed and at the discretion of the Chair, the services of one or more analysts from the Library of Parliament to assist it in its work.

Chris Alexander moved, — That the Subcommittee on Agenda and Procedure be composed of five members, including the Chair, the two Vice-Chairs, the Parliamentary Secretary, and a member of the Conservative party; the quorum of the Subcommittee shall consist of at least three (3) members; each member of the Subcommittee shall be permitted to have one assistant attend any meetings of the Subcommittee on Agenda and Procedure; in addition, each party shall be permitted to have one staff member from the Whips office attend any meetings.

At 9:44 a.m., the sitting was suspended.

At 9:57 a.m., the sitting resumed.

After debate, the question was put on the motion and it was agreed to, by a show of hands: YEAS: 6; NAYS: 5.

Chris Alexander moved, — That the Chair be authorized to hold meetings to receive evidence and to have that evidence printed when a quorum is not present, provided that, at least, 4 members are present, including one member of the opposition and one member of the government.

After debate, the question was put on the motion and it was agreed to, by a show of hands: YEAS: 8; NAYS: 0.

Jack Harris moved, — That only the Clerk of the Committee be authorized to distribute documents to members only when such documents exist in both official languages and that the Clerk shall inform the witnesses of this requirement at the time of the invitation to appear.

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

On motion of Jack Harris, it was agreed, — That the Clerk of the Committee be authorized to make the necessary arrangements to provide working meals for the Committee and its subcommittees.

On motion of Jack Harris, it was agreed, — That, if requested, reasonable travel, accommodation and living expenses be reimbursed to witnesses, not exceeding (2) two representatives per organization; and that, in exceptional circumstances, payment for more representatives be made at the discretion of the Chair.

On motion of Jack Harris, it was agreed, — That, unless otherwise ordered, each Committee member be allowed to be accompanied by one staff person at an in camera meetings and that each party be allowed one additional staff person at such meetings.

The question was put on the motion and it was agreed to, by a show of hands: YEAS: 11; NAYS: 0.

Jack Harris moved, — That one copy of the transcript of each in camera meeting be kept in the Committee Clerk’s office for consultation by members of the Committee.

Debate arose thereon.

The question was put on the motion and it was agreed to, by a show of hands: YEAS: 11; NAYS: 0.

Jack Harris moved, — That 48 hours’ notice be required for any substantive motion to be considered by the Committee, unless the susbstantive motion relates directly to business then under consideration; and that the notice shall be deemed effective if received electronically by the Clerk of the Committee by 4 p.m. on the second business day prior to the date of the meeting and that it be distributed to Members the same business day.

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

Chris Alexander moved, — That at the discretion of the Chair, witnesses be given 10 minutes to make their opening statement;

And that, at the discretion of the Chair, during the questioning of witnesses, the time allocated to each questioner be as follows:

First round (7 minutes each): Conservative, NDP, Conservative, Liberal;

Second round (5 minutes each): Conservative, NDP, Conservative, NDP, Conservative, NDP, Conservative, Conservative;

And that when a minister is in attendance the order and time allocation for questioning witnesses be the same as above, with the exception that in the first round of questioning ten (10) minutes be allocated to each questioner of each party.

Debate arose thereon.

Jack Harris moved, — That the motion be amended by replacing the words between “First round” and “Second round” with the following: “NDP, Conservative, Liberal” and by adding after the Second round, the following: “Third round (5 minutes) NDP, Liberal, Conservative”.

Debate arose thereon.

John McKay moved, — That the amendment be amended by replacing the words after “Third round (5 minutes)” with the words “Liberal, NDP, Conservative”.

Debate arose thereon.

After debate, the question was put on the subamendment of John McKay and it was negatived, by a show of hands: YEAS: 1; NAYS: 7.

After debate, the question was put on the amendment of Jack Harris and it was agreed to.

After debate, the question was put on the motion, as amended, and it was agreed to, by a show of hands: YEAS: 11; NAYS: 0.

The motion, as amended, read as follows:

That at the discretion of the Chair, witnesses be given 10 minutes to make their opening statement;

And that, at the discretion of the Chair, during the questioning of witnesses, the time allocated to each questioner be as follows:

First round (7 minutes each): NDP, Conservative, Liberal;

Second round (5 minutes each): Conservative, NDP, Conservative, NDP, Conservative, NDP, Conservative, Conservative;

Third round (5 minutes each): NDP, Liberal, Conservative;

And that when a minister is in attendance the order and time allocation for questioning witnesses be the same as above, with the exception that in the first round of questioning ten (10) minutes be allocated to each questioner of each party.

On motion of Jack Harris, it was agreed, — That a meeting of the Subcommittee on Agenda and Procedure be held on Thursday, June 23, 2011 at 8:45 a.m..

At 10:55 a.m., the Committee adjourned to the call of the Chair.