CLAR Committee Meeting

Meeting No. 1

Monday, February 14, 2000

The Legislative Committee on Bill C-20 met at 4:35 p.m. this day, in Room 253-D, Centre Block, the Chair, Peter Milliken, presiding.

Members of the Committee present: Reg Alcock, André Bachand, Michel Bellehumeur, Bill Blaikie, Ray Bonin, Irwin Cotler, Claude Drouin, Grant Hill, Val Meredith, Peter Milliken, Dennis Mills, Bernard Patry, Karen Redman, Andy Scott, Daniel Turp.

Acting Member(s) present: Stéphane Bergeron for Michel Bellehumeur; Jay Hill for Rahim Jaffer.

In attendance: From the Committees and Legislative Services Directorate: Suzanne Verville, Procedural Clerk.

Pursuant to Standing Order 113(3) and its Order of Reference of February 10, 2000, organization meeting of the Legislative Committee on Bill C-20.

Peter Millliken announced his appointment as chairman of the Committee pursuant to Standing order 113(2).

The Order of Reference being read as follows:

ORDERED, That Bill C-20, An Act to give effect to the requirement for clarity as set out in the opinion of the Supreme Court of Canada in the Quebec Secession Reference, be now read a second time and referred to a Legislative Committee.

It was agreed - That the Chairman be authorized to hold meetings and to receive evidence when a quorum is not present provided that at least five members are present, including two members of the Opposition.

On motion of Bernard Patry, it was agreed - That the Committee retain the services of one or more Research Officers from the Library of Parliament, as needed, to assist the Committee in its work, at the discretion of the Chairman.

On motion of Claude Drouin, it was agreed - That, as established by the Board of Internal Economy and if requested, reasonable travelling, accommodation and living expenses be reimbursed to witnesses who are invited to appear before the Committee up to a maximum of two representatives for any one organization.

Grant Hill moved, - That the Committee travel and hold public meetings including representatives of each Provincial and Territorial Legislature in Canada in each of their respective Provinces or Territories.

And debate arising thereon;

The question being put on the motion, it was negatived as follows:

Grant Hill moved, - That the Committee hear from representatives of each Provincial and Territorial Governments prior to the Bill being reported back to the House.

And debate arising thereon;

Daniel Turp moved - That the words "et les partis politiques provinciaux" be added after the word "territoriaux".

And debate arising thereon;

The question being put on the amendment, it was negatived as follows:

 By unanimous consent, the main motion was deferred to a later time.

On motion of Daniel Turp, it was agreed - That the Clerk of the Committee be authorized to distribute documents received from the public only once they have been translated in both official languages.

Daniel Turp moved - That witnesses be given ten(10) minutes for their opening statement and, that during the questioning of witnesses, there be allocated five(5) minutes for the first questioner of each party in the following order: the Reform Party, the Bloc Québécois, the New Democratic Party, the Progressive Conservative Party and the Liberal Party and that thereafter five(5) minutes be allocated to each subsequent questioner, alternating between opposition and government parties, at the discretion of the Chair.

And debate arising thereon;

The question being put on the motion, it was negatived as follows:

Daniel Turp moved - That the Legislative Committee publish a notice requesting a brief and that the people or group of people wishing to table such a brief shall have until February 28, 2000 to table it to the clerk of the Legislative Committee.

And debate arising thereon;

By unanimous consent, the motion was deferred to a later time.

On motion of Bill Blaikie, it was agreed - That a Steering Committee be established consisting of one representative of each of the five parties plus the chair.

At 6:25 o'clock p.m. the sitting was suspended.

At 8:25 o'clock p.m. the sitting resumed.

At 8:30 o'clock p.m. the sitting was suspended.

At 10:15 o'clock p.m. the sitting resumed.

The Committee resumed consideration of its future business.

The Sub-Committee on Agenda and Procedure met this day and agreed to make the following recommendations:

The question being put on these recommendations from the Sub-Committee on Agenda and Procedure, they were agreed to.

Reg Alcock moved - That the number of witnesses invited to appear before the Legislative Committee be of no more than 45 and distributed as follows among parties: no more than 15 for the Government, no more than 12 for the Reform party, no more than 10 for the Bloc québécois, no more than 4 for the NDP and no more than 4 for the Conservative party.

The question being put on the motion, it was agreed to on the following division:

Reg Alcock moved - That during clause by clause review of Bill C-20, a maximum of 1 hour be allocated for consideration of each clause and its respective sub clauses and that an additional hour be allocated for the consideration of the preambule.

The question being put on the motion, it was agreed to on the following division:

At 10:40 p.m., the Committee adjourned to the call of the Chair.

Marc Toupin
Clerk of the Committee