[Recorded by Electronic Apparatus]
Tuesday, March 19, 1996
.1105 
[English]
The Chairman: Order. Good morning.
Colleagues, you have in front of you a proposed agenda, which is the matter that had been dealt with at our steering committee and was to come to the full committee today.
Before we deal with the order of the day business, I wish to advise you that there is an order of reference that was sent to our committee last evening regarding Mr. Jacob. It's my suggestion that we would have that matter referred to the steering committee and we would instruct the clerk to convene a meeting of the steering committee in the next short period of time, this week, depending on members' schedules. The steering committee would consider the subject matter and then make a recommendation back to the full committee.
Is that the wish of members? Are we agreed on that?
Mr. Ringma (Nanaimo - Cowichan): When is the steering committee to meet?
The Chairman: The clerk will have to tee up the schedules. I understand Mr. Frazer is not here today.
Mr. Ringma: He'll be in later today.
The Chairman: In the next day or so I think we'd try to have a meeting of the steering committee that would be able to make a recommendation back early next week for the committee as a whole.
Mr. Boudria (Glengarry - Prescott - Russell): Because Wednesday afternoon is usually hectic, would early Thursday morning...?
The Chairman: Thursday morning would be convenient for the chair.
Mr. Boudria: Maybe a little earlier than we have today. We have votes on Thursday afternoon anyway, so I assume many people will be there.
The Chairman: Nine o'clock Thursday?
Mr. Harb (Ottawa Centre): Depending if they are available.
[Translation]
Mr. Langlois (Bellechasse): Will there be a meeting of the standing committee next Thursday at 11 a.m.?
[English]
The Chairman: You're asking if there's going to be a steering committee meeting at eleven? No.
Mr. Langlois: No, a regular meeting.
The Chairman: No.
Mr. Langlois: I think we can meet at -
The Chairman: Nine o'clock?
Mr. Langlois: Maybe ten?
The Chairman: The chair has a problem with Thursday morning later. Nine o'clock would be convenient with the chair but otherwise it would be earlier Wednesday. However, the whip has a problem on Wednesday. That's why I suggested that the clerk was going to try to tee up with various schedules. If we want to make a decision right now, nine o'clock, Mrs. Catterall?
Ms Catterall (Ottawa West): 9:15 would be better.
The Chairman: 9:15 Thursday morning?
Mr. Langlois: To compromise, it would be agreeable at 9:15.
The Chairman: Okay. Mr. Ringma, would you check with Mr. Frazer?
Mr. Ringma: Yes, we can accept 9:15.
We've started a little discussion here on two possibilities. One is televising the proceedings of that committee. The second would be the possibility of striking a subcommittee to handle that thing.
The Chairman: You don't mean the subcommittee, you mean the whole committee.
Mr. Ringma: No.
The Chairman: Not televising the steering committing, you mean the whole committee.
.1110
Mr. Ringma: The two things I'm saying that perhaps the steering committee should look at when they meet are the possibility of televising proceedings and the possibility of striking a separate subcommittee rather than the whole committee to look at this problem.
The Chairman: We hear your comment and that will be something the steering committee will consider.
Mr. Speaker (Lethbridge): In terms of assisting the steering committee in preparing their recommendations, just as background information, would they want some kind of submission from us as to what we would recommend happen at committee level? Is that normal practice where there is a written submission? Would they expect that?
In the decision-making line, if we miss getting something to the subcommittee does that mean we'll miss an opportunity that we may want to have -
The Chairman: I think members should know.... I don't have any experience on this committee, but the past practice on other committees I've been on is that the steering committee makes recommendations. They consider a variety of matters. They consult with their members and bring forward to the steering committee issues that affect their particular parties, as an example.
That obviously wouldn't preclude other members of their own party in their own meeting and the larger meeting disagreeing with their point of view. Nothing is done in stone.
The purpose of the steering committee is to try to limit the work of the larger group and say this is what the proposal of the steering committee is. The presumption, of course, I think is that everyone would agree in advance as to what's to come forward from a steering committee. It's to save time. So if you have some points of view, you'd put them through to your member on the steering committee.
Mr. Speaker: Okay, thanks.
Mr. Harb: That's precisely what I wanted to say. Leave it up to the steering committee, since they're going to come back next week anyway.
The Chairman: Great. Are we agreed then?
Some hon. members: Agreed.
The Chairman: Agreed. Okay, colleagues, thank you for that.
The next matter, the order of the day, is in fact an in camera matter. Did someone wish to move -
Mr. Milliken (Kingston and the Islands): Before we go in camera, Mr. Chairman, could I ask a question?
The Chairman: Yes.
Mr. Milliken: Were the estimates of the Chief Electoral Officer, supplementary estimates, referred to this committee?
The Chairman: The supplementary estimates? No. Are they to be referred?
Mr. Milliken: Were they?
The Chairman: Were they referred, Madam Clerk?
The Clerk of the Committee: There were no supplementary estimates referred to the committee.
Mr. Milliken: That's funny, because the supplementary estimates contain a vote for the Chief Electoral Officer and those are normally sent here.
The Clerk: Yes, but maybe it's statutory. I could check on it, but if it's statutory it wouldn't be referred to the committee.
Mr. Milliken: That's true, it is statutory, so it's not referred.
The Chairman: Before we go in camera, I just want to remind you that next Tuesday.... Is that right? It's on the agenda. You'll notice that we've already got our meeting for next Tuesday on the main estimates. I'm just reminding members of that.
Mr. Boudria: Is the Speaker testifying next Tuesday?
The Chairman: The Speaker will be here next Tuesday.
Mr. Harb: Do you need a motion for the steering committee to meet this week?
The Chairman: No. I'm just looking right now for a motion to go in camera.
Mr. Ringma: Talking about the main estimates, Mr. Chairman, what happened to our...? We were going to set up a business of supply committee or subcommittee. I need reminding as to where we are with that. The clerk knows.
The Chairman: That, Mr. Ringma, was discussed at the steering committee. Mrs. Catterall was away and we were waiting for her to return. She returned last night.
Mr. Ringma: It's going to be up to the steering committee.
The Chairman: It will come to the steering committee as an item of business for the steering committee.
Mr. Ringma: Okay, thank you.
The Chairman: Yes, Mr. Milliken.
Mr. Milliken: Why are we going in camera on this? I assume it's the one listed on the agenda for today.
The Chairman: Yes. It's a legal opinion that Mr. Langlois had requested. The staff of the House are giving a legal opinion, and I understand it's customary that it be done in camera.
Mr. Milliken: I see.
The Chairman: Yes, Mr. Solomon.
Mr. Solomon (Regina - Lumsden): Mr. Chair, does going in camera exclude the whip of the NDP caucus, who is an associate member, or does that include me?
The Chairman: No.
Mr. Solomon: It includes me?
The Chairman: Yes.
Mr. Solomon: Okay, thank you.
The Chairman: We'd be happy to have you in camera.
I need a motion to go in camera.
Mr. Harb: I'll put the motion.
The Chairman: There's a motion. Are you agreeable, colleagues? Agreed. Okay, goodbye to the cameras.
[Proceedings continue in camera]