M-150 Special Committee on the situation of endangered whales

That a special committee of the House be created to review the situation of endangered whales and that:

(a) the Committee be mandated to (i) identify steps that could be taken to better protect and help the recovery of right, beluga, and killer whales, (ii) identify immediate and longer term improvements limiting the impact of human activities on each of these species and, by so doing, add to recovery efforts and to recommendations for new or enhanced actions, (iii) call expert witnesses on each of the species, hearing from those who might be impacted by any possible actions, and working to find a balance among various competing claims;

(b) the membership of the special committee consist of ten (10) members of which six (6) shall be government members, three (3) shall be from the Official Opposition, and one (1) shall be from the New Democratic Party;

(c) all members to serve on the said committee be appointed by their respective Whip by depositing with the Clerk of the House a list of their members to serve on the special committee no later than ten (10) sitting days following the adoption of this motion;

(d) the Parliamentary Secretaries to the Minister of Fisheries, Oceans and the Canadian Coast Guard, the Minister of Transport, and the Minister of Environment and Climate Change shall serve as non-voting members of the special committee, in the manner provided for in Standing Order 104(5);

(e) changes in the membership of the special committee be effective immediately after notification by the Whip has been filed with the Clerk of the House;

(f) substitutions to the membership of the special committee be permitted, if required, in the manner provided for in Standing Order 114(2);

(g) the special committee be chaired by a member of the government party and that, in addition to the Chair, there be one (1) Vice-Chair from the Official Opposition and one (1) Vice-Chair from the New Democratic Party;

(h) the quorum of the special committee be as provided for in Standing Order 118, provided that at least five (5) members are present and that one (1) member from the government party and one (1) member from an opposition party are present;

(i) the special committee be granted all of the powers of a standing committee, as provided for in the Standing Orders, as well as the power to travel, accompanied by the necessary staff, inside and outside of Canada subject to the usual authorization from the House;

(j) the special committee have the power to authorize video and audio broadcasting of any or all of its proceedings while traveling;

and (k) the special committee present its final report to the House within four (4) months of the adoption of this motion.