SMEM Committee Meeting

     I call this meeting to order.

    Welcome to the seventh meeting of the Subcommittee on Private Members' Business.

    Pursuant to Standing Order 91.1(1), we are meeting to consider the items placed on the order of precedence since our last meeting to determine whether they should be considered non-votable.

    There are 16 items for consideration today. If you have questions or concerns about any of these items, I would ask you to raise your hand or turn on your mike to get my attention.

    Mr. Berthold, go ahead.

     I simply want to say that I agree with all of the analysts' recommendations regarding the bills.

    They recommend that Bill C‑352 be deemed votable, but not Bill C‑339.

    I agree with all of their recommendations, Madam Chair.

    Excuse me. Are you talking about Bill C-355?

    I agree with everything that the analysts have proposed.

    Bill C-352 is votable, and Bill C-339 is non-votable.

    Bill C-339 is non-votable. You're considering just one as non-votable, but everything else is votable.

    Yes, it's just Bill C-339.

    Okay.

    Ms. Normandin, go ahead.

    My comments are in the same vein, to save time.

    I also agree with all of the analysts' recommendations. I would however like the clerk to explain what happens if a bill selected by a draw is deemed non-votable, for the purpose of the minutes and to know what happens.

    I'll ask the clerk to respond to that.

    The entire process is set out in the Standing Orders.

    If the subcommittee deems that an item is non-votable, the chair signs a report to be submitted to the clerk of the Standing Committee on Procedure and House Affairs as soon as possible. The bill's sponsor then has five days of meetings to appear before the procedure committee, if he so chooses.

    That committee then decides whether or not to follow the subcommittee's recommendation, and submits a separate report on the item to the House.

    The sponsor has two avenues of recourse: he may request a vote on the matter, but it must be supported by five other members representing a majority of the recognized parties in the House. Alternatively, he may inform the Speaker that he intends to replace the item with another item for which he has already given notice or will give notice in the coming days.

    I would like a clarification.

    If the Standing Committee on Procedure and House Affairs deems a bill non-votable, can the sponsor immediately table another bill without losing his place in the order of precedence?

    Yes. Before he informs the Speaker that he is withdrawing the appeal, the sponsor may table any number of motions or bills at first reading. When he informs the Speaker that he wishes to replace the item, he chooses a new one.

    Thank you very much.

    Ms. Mathyssen, go ahead.

    Like my colleagues, we are fine with following the advice given by the analysts in this. We deem Bill C-339 non-votable and Bill C-352 votable.

    Thank you.

     There's a majority at this point who consider Bill C-339 non-votable.

    Seeing as how that's the only issue today, I'll move that Bill C-339 be designated as a non-votable item; that all other items considered today remain votable; that the subcommittee present a report listing the remaining items which it has determined should not be designated as non-votable and recommending that they be considered by the House; and that the chair report the subcommittee's findings to the Standing Committee on Procedure and House Affairs as soon as possible.

    Some hon. members: Agreed.

    The Chair: Thank you.

    The meeting is adjourned.