Proceedings of the Standing Joint Committee for the 
Scrutiny of Regulations

Issue 1 - Evidence - November 7, 2013

OTTAWA, Thursday November 7, 2013

The Standing Joint Committee for the Scrutiny of Regulations met this day at 9:18 a.m. to elect the joint chairs.

[Translation]

Marcy Zlotnick, Joint Clerk of the Committee: Good morning, everyone. As joint clerk of the committee, it is my duty to preside over the election of the Senate joint chair.

[English]

I am ready to receive a motion to elect the joint chair from the Senate.

Senator Moore: I nominate Senator Runciman.

Ms. Zlotnick: Are there other nominations?

It is moved by the Honourable Senator Moore that the Honourable Senator Runciman do assume the role of joint chair of the committee. Is it your pleasure, honourable members, to adopt the motion?

Hon. Members: Agreed.

Ms. Zlotnick: I declare the motion carried, and I invite the Honourable Senator Runciman to take the chair.

I will turn to my joint clerk of the committee to continue.

Andrew Bartholomew Chaplin, Joint Clerk of the Committee: We can now proceed to the election of a joint chair from the House of Commons.

Pursuant to standing order 106(2), the joint chair, acting on behalf of the House of Commons, must be a member of the official opposition.

[Translation]

I am now ready to receive motions to that effect.

[English]

Mr. Schellenberger: I move Ms. Chris Charlton.

Mr. Chaplin: It is moved by Mr. Schellenberger that Ms. Charlton be elected joint chair of the committee. Are there other nominations?

The committee has heard the terms of the motion. Is it the pleasure of the committee to adopt the motion? All those in favour, please say ``yea.''

Hon. Members: Yea.

Mr. Chaplin: All those opposed, please say ``nay.''

I declare the motion carried and Ms. Charlton elected joint chair of the committee.

Pursuant to standing order 106(2), there is the election of vice-chairs from the House of Commons. I'm ready to receive a motion for the election of a first vice-chair, who must be from the government's party.

Mr. Anders: Having been here for 16 years, I would like to nominate a man who's got more experience and wisdom: Mr. Garry Breitkreuz.

Mr. Chaplin: Mr. Anders moved that Mr. Breitkreuz be elected first vice-chair of the committee. Are there other motions?

The committee has heard the terms of the motion. Is it the pleasure of the committee to adopt the motion? All those in favour, please say ``yea.''

Hon. Members: Yea.

Mr. Chaplin: All those opposed please say ``nay.''

I declare the motion carried and Mr. Breitkreuz duly elected vice-chair of the committee.

Pursuant to standing order 106(2), a second vice-chair must be elected from an opposition party other than the official opposition. I'm ready to receive a motion to that effect.

Senator Batters: I nominate Mr. Mauril Bélanger.

Mr. Chaplin: The Honourable Senator Batters has moved that Mr. Bélanger be elected second vice-chair of the committee. Are there other motions?

The committee has heard the terms of the motion. Is it your pleasure, honourable members, to adopt the motion? All those in favour please say ``yea.''

Hon. Members: Yea.

Mr. Chaplin: All those opposed please say ``nay.''

I declare the motion carried and Mr. Bélanger elected second vice-chair of the committee.

Senator Bob Runciman and Ms. Chris Charlton (Joint Chairs) in the chair.

The Joint Chair (Senator Runciman): All members have agendas so we'll move to number 4: That the subcommittee on agenda and procedure be composed of the joint chairs, the vice-chairs, one member from the other party in the Senate and one member from the government in the House of Commons. Could someone move that motion?

Mr. Vellacott: So moved.

The Joint Chair (Senator Runciman): It is moved by Mr. Vellacott. Any questions or concerns with respect to that? All in favour?

Hon. Members: Agreed.

The Joint Chair (Senator Runciman): Carried.

We could put to the committee a suggestion by Joint Chair Charlton that perhaps we deal with the remaining motions as a package. Is there any difficulty with that, counsel? Are members in agreement with that? These are routine motions. Can someone move that?

Ms. Ambler: So moved.

The Joint Chair (Senator Runciman): It is moved by Ms. Ambler. All in favour?

Hon. Members: Agreed.

The Joint Chair (Senator Runciman): Carried.

Does counsel have any comments at this time before we move the adjournment?

Peter Bernhardt, General Counsel to the Committee: Not particularly, Mr. Chair, although I remind members, especially new members, that everyone should have received a copy of the background notes in their respective offices. If they didn't, please let us know and we'll get a copy to them.

As indicated in the memo with that, we're always available for background briefings should any members have questions.

Mr. Bélanger: Can we receive those electronically?

Mr. Bernhardt: I believe we can do that, yes.

Mr. Bélanger: Could we just give you the correct email address?

Mr. Bernhardt: We will get that to you.

The Joint Chair (Senator Runciman): Is there anything else?

We are talking about holding the next meeting on the twenty-first. Does anyone see a problem with the next regularly scheduled meeting?

Hon. Members: No.

The Joint Chair (Senator Runciman): Is there additional business?

Senator Batters: Do you have any idea when the meeting after that might be?

Mr. Bernhardt: I'm in the hands of members. Traditionally, they are every other week, so the next one would be December 5.

The Joint Chair (Senator Runciman): Okay. Nothing else? Same time, yes. The hours are in the motion as well.

(The committee adjourned.)