HAFF Committee Meeting

Meeting No. 32

Tuesday, March 28, 2000

The Standing Committee on Procedure and House Affairs met at 11:05 a.m. this day, in Room 112-N, Centre Block, the Chair, Derek Lee, presiding.

Members of the Committee present: Eleni Bakopanos, Stéphane Bergeron, Ray Bonin, Marlene Catterall, Yvon Godin, André Harvey, Jay Hill, Bob Kilger, Gar Knutson, Derek Lee, Carolyn Parrish, Jerry Pickard, John Richardson and Chuck Strahl.

Acting Member present: Suzanne Tremblay for Madeleine Dalphond-Guiral.

In attendance: From the Library of Parliament: James Robertson, Research Officer.

Witnesses: From the House of Commons: Robert Marleau, Clerk of the House; Rob Walsh, Law Clerk and Parliamentary Counsel.

Consideration of the Third Report of the Sub-Committee on Agenda and Procedure.

The Chair circulated copies of the Third Report of the Sub-Committee on agenda and Procedure which reads as follows:

Your Sub-Committee on Agenda and Procedure met in camera at 11:07 a.m. on Thursday, March 23, 2000 in Room 112-N, Centre Block, the Chair, Derek Lee, M.P., presiding.

Members of the Sub-Committee present: Stéphane Bergeron, Marlene Catterall, André Harvey, Jay Hill and Derek Lee.

Acting Member present: Bill Blaikie for Yvon Godin.

Other Member present: Gar Knutson

Also in attendance: From the Parliamentary Research Branch of the Library of Parliament: James Robertson, Research Officer.

Your Sub-Committee proceeded to the consideration of the Committee's future business and agreed to make the following recommendations:

1. That pursuant to the Order of Reference from the House of Commons of Tuesday, February 29, 2000, the Committee schedule hearings on the Main Estimates for the fiscal year ending March 31, 2001 - Parliament, Vote 5 (House of Commons) and Privy Council, Vote 20 (Elections Canada) and that, the hearings be held prior to the May 31^st deadline for reporting the Main Estimates to the House.
2. That pursuant to the Order of Reference from the House of Commons of Thursday, March 16, 2000 concerning the confidentiality of the work of the Legislative Counsel, the Committee invite the Clerk of the House of Commons, Robert Marleau and the Legislative Counsel, Rob Walsh, to appear on Tuesday, March 28, 2000 and, that Diane McMurray and Louis-Philippe Côté be invited to appear on Thursday, March 30, 2000.
3. That a decision on the necessity for additional meetings on the issue be taken following the Thursday, March 30 meeting.
4. That the Committee proceed with its study on parliamentary reform, with particular reference to Motion No. 9 and electronic voting following the conclusion of its hearings on the Order of Reference concerning the confidentiality of the work of the Legislative Counsel.

At 12:15 p.m. the meeting adjourned to the call of the Chair.

On motion of Gar Knutson, it was agreed, - That the Third Report of the Sub-Committee on Agenda and Procedure be adopted.

By unanimous consent, the Committee proceeded to consideration of its Order of Reference from the House of Commons of Thursday, March 16, 2000, consideration of the issue of confidentiality of the work of the Legislative Counsel.

Robert Marleau made a statement and, with Rob Walsh, answered questions.

At 1:07 p.m., the Committee adjourned to the call of the Chair.

Carol Chafe

Clerk of the Committee

In accordance with the mandate of the Committee concerning its responsibilities as the Striking Committee and in accordance with an Order adopted on Wednesday, October 13, 1999, the Twenty-First Report is deemed to have been adopted and the Chair is ordered to present it to the House.