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MINUTES OF PROCEEDINGS
 
Meeting No. 38
 
Tuesday, May 6, 2014
 

The Standing Committee on Procedure and House Affairs met at 11:00 a.m. this day, in Room 112-N, Centre Block, the Chair, Joe Preston, presiding.

 

Members of the Committee present: Brad Butt, David Christopherson, Kevin Lamoureux, Alexandrine Latendresse, Tom Lukiwski, Ted Opitz, Joe Preston, Scott Reid and Blake Richards.

 

Acting Members present: Peter Julian for Craig Scott.

 

In attendance: House of Commons: Andrew Lauzon, Procedural Clerk. Library of Parliament: Andre Barnes, Analyst; Erin Virgint, Research Assistant.

 
The Committee proceeded to the consideration of matters related to Committee business.
 

Tom Lukiwski moved, — That, pursuant to its Order of Reference of Thursday, March 27, 2014, regarding the matter of accusations of the Official Opposition’s improper use of House of Commons resources for partisan purposes, the Committee appoint Tuesday, May 13, 2014, for the appearance of the Leader of the Official Opposition;

That, prior to that meeting, the Committee request that the following documents be produced to the Clerk of the Committee no later than Friday, May 9, 2014, in order that they may be translated and provided to all members of the Committee,

(a) from the House of Commons Administration, its employment records for all staff who have worked at the New Democratic Party operation located at 4428 boulevard Saint-Laurent, Montréal (otherwise known as the “Montréal satellite office”), with personal information redacted;

(b) from the House of Commons Administration, all correspondence with the House Officers or Research Bureau of the Official Opposition, or any of their offices, regarding satellite offices, existing or planned, including, but not limited to, (i) the Montréal satellite office, (ii) a Saskatchewan satellite office, (iii) explanations of the rules regarding satellite offices, and (iv) explanations of the rules regarding staff who are neither employed in the Parliamentary Precinct or at constituency offices;

(c) from the House of Commons Administration, all correspondence, during the past 12 months, with Elections Canada or the House Officers or Research Bureau of the Official Opposition, or any of their offices, regarding mass mailouts;

(d) from the Official Opposition or the New Democratic Party, as the case may be, the lease agreement for the Montréal satellite office;

That the Committee request briefing materials, to be provided prior to this meeting, from the House of Commons Administration, including the Law Clerk, setting out an explanation of the jurisdiction of the Board of Internal Economy to investigate the use of House resources, whether in the matter of mass mailouts or satellite offices, including potential recourse available in cases of misuse or non-compliance.

Debate arose thereon.

 

On motion of David Christopherson, it was agreed, — That the motion be amended by replacing the words“Tuesday, May 13” with the words “Thursday, May 15”.

 

Debate continued.

 

Blake Richards moved, — That the motion be amended by adding after the words “the lease agreement for the Montréal satellite office” the following: “(e) from the House of Commons Administration, any documents or materials (including but not limited to emails, briefing notes, meeting notes and reports, and memoranda) produced or obtained relating to the subject matter of satellite offices; and”.

 

After debate, the question was put on the amendment of Blake Richards and it was agreed to on the following recorded division: YEAS: Brad Butt, Kevin Lamoureux, Tom Lukiwski, Ted Opitz, Scott Reid, Blake Richards — 6; NAYS: David Christopherson, Peter Julian, Alexandrine Latendresse — 3.

 

Debate continued.

 

David Christopherson moved, — That the motion be amended by adding after the words “Thursday, May 15, 2014” the following: “for one (1) hour”.

 

After debate, the question was put on the amendment of David Christopherson and it was negatived on the following recorded division: YEAS: David Christopherson, Peter Julian, Alexandrine Latendresse — 3; NAYS: Brad Butt, Kevin Lamoureux, Tom Lukiwski, Ted Opitz, Scott Reid, Blake Richards — 6.

 

After debate, the question was put on the motion, as amended, and it was agreed to on the following recorded division: YEAS: Brad Butt, Kevin Lamoureux, Tom Lukiwski, Ted Opitz, Scott Reid, Blake Richards — 6; NAYS: David Christopherson, Peter Julian, Alexandrine Latendresse — 3.

 

The motion, as amended, read as follows:

That, pursuant to its Order of Reference of Thursday, March 27, 2014, regarding the matter of accusations of the Official Opposition’s improper use of House of Commons resources for partisan purposes, the Committee appoint Thursday, May 15, 2014, for the appearance of the Leader of the Official Opposition;

That, prior to that meeting, the Committee request that the following documents be produced to the Clerk of the Committee no later than Friday, May 9, 2014, in order that they may be translated and provided to all members of the Committee,

(a) from the House of Commons Administration, its employment records for all staff who have worked at the New Democratic Party operation located at 4428 boulevard Saint-Laurent, Montréal (otherwise known as the “Montréal satellite office”), with personal information redacted;

(b) from the House of Commons Administration, all correspondence with the House Officers or Research Bureau of the Official Opposition, or any of their offices, regarding satellite offices, existing or planned, including, but not limited to, (i) the Montréal satellite office, (ii) a Saskatchewan satellite office, (iii) explanations of the rules regarding satellite offices, and (iv) explanations of the rules regarding staff who are neither employed in the Parliamentary Precinct or at constituency offices;

(c) from the House of Commons Administration, all correspondence, during the past 12 months, with Elections Canada or the House Officers or Research Bureau of the Official Opposition, or any of their offices, regarding mass mailouts;

(d) from the Official Opposition or the New Democratic Party, as the case may be, the lease agreement for the Montréal satellite office;

(e) from the House of Commons Administration, any documents or materials (including but not limited to emails, briefing notes, meeting notes and reports, and memoranda) produced or obtained relating to the subject matter of satellite offices; and

That the Committee request briefing materials, to be provided prior to this meeting, from the House of Commons Administration, including the Law Clerk, setting out an explanation of the jurisdiction of the Board of Internal Economy to investigate the use of House resources, whether in the matter of mass mailouts or satellite offices, including potential recourse available in cases of misuse or non-compliance.

 

At 12:13 p.m., the Committee adjourned to the call of the Chair.

 



Marie-France Renaud
Clerk of the Committee

 
 
2014/05/07 12:05 p.m.