BILI Committee Meeting

The Standing Joint Committee on the Library of Parliament met at 12:03 p.m. this day, in Room 362, East Block, for the purpose of electing Joint Chairs, pursuant to Rule 12-13 of the Senate and Standing Order 106(1) of the House of Commons.

On motion of Terry M. Mercer, it was agreed, — That Marie-P. Charette-Poulin be elected Joint Chair (Senate) of the Committee.

At 12:08 p.m., Hon. Marie-P. Charette-Poulin took the Chair.

On motion of Mike Allen, it was agreed, — That Greg Kerr be elected Joint Chair (House of Commons) of the Committee.

On motion of Marie-P. Charette-Poulin, it was agreed, — That Carol Hughes be elected First Vice-Chair of the Committee.

On motion of Carol Hughes, it was agreed, — That Scott Simms be elected Second Vice-Chair of the Committee.

At 12:12 p.m., Greg Kerr took the Chair.

On motion of Brad Trost, it was agreed, — That the Committee retain, as needed and at the discretion of the Joint Chairs, the services of one or more analysts from the Library of Parliament to assist it in its work.

José Nunez-Melo moved, — That witnesses appearing before the Committee be given ten (10) minutes to make their opening statement and that during the questioning of witnesses the time allocated to each questioner be five (5) minutes.

After debate, the question was put on the motion and it was agreed to.

Carol Hughes moved, — That the Subcommittee on Agenda and Procedure be composed of the Joint Chairs, the Vice-Chairs, and four (4) other members of the Committee representing, from the Senate, the Conservative Party, and from the House of Commons, two (2) Conservative Members and a New Democratic Party Member, to be designated after the usual consultations; and that the Subcommittee be empowered to make decisions on behalf of the Committee with respect to its agenda, to invite witnesses, and to schedule hearings.

Anne C. Cools moved, — That the motion be amended by adding after the word “hearings” the following: “which decisions shall be subject to the approval by the main Committee”.

After debate, the question was put on the amendment of Anne C. Cools and it was negatived.

After debate, the question was put on the motion and it was agreed to.

Nicole Eaton moved, — That the quorum be fixed at six (6) members, provided that each House is represented, and that a (1) member from the opposition and that a (1) member from the government are present whenever a vote, resolution or other decision is taken; and that the Joint Chairs be authorized to hold meetings to receive evidence and have that evidence published when a quorum is not present, provided that at least three (3) members are present, including a member from the opposition and a member from the government, and provided that each House is represented.

Carol Hughes moved, — That the motion be amended by adding the word “official” after the words “and that a member from the” and after the words “including a member from the”.

After debate, the question was put on the amendment of Carol Hughes and it was negatived.

After debate, the question was put on the motion and it was agreed to.

Carol Hughes moved, — That the Joint Clerks of the Committee be authorized to distribute to the members of the Committee only documents that are available in both official languages.

After debate, the question was put on the motion and it was agreed to.

Brad Trost moved, — That the Committee publish its proceedings and that in camera proceedings not be published.

After debate, the question was put on the motion and it was agreed to.

Mark Warawa moved, — That, at the discretion of the Joint Chairs, the Committee may reimburse reasonable travelling and living expenses for one (1) witness from any one organization and that payment will take place upon application, but that the Joint Chairs be authorized to approve expenses for a second witness should there be exceptional circumstances.

Debate arose thereon.

Carol Hughes moved, — That the motion be amended by adding after the word “expenses” the following: “including child care and/or personal attendant care”.

After debate, the question was put on the amendment of Carol Hughes and it was agreed to, by a show of hands: YEAS: 10; NAYS: 1.

The motion, as amended, read as follows:

That, at the discretion of the Joint Chairs, the Committee may reimburse reasonable travelling and living expenses including child care and/or personal attendant care for one (1) witness from any one organization and that payment will take place upon application, but that the Joint Chairs be authorized to approve expenses for a second witness should there be exceptional circumstances.

After debate, the question was put on the motion, as amended, and it was agreed to.

Mark Warawa moved, — That the Joint Clerks of the Committee be authorized to make the necessary arrangements to provide working meals for the Committee and its Subcommittees.

After debate, the question was put on the motion and it was agreed to.

Mike Allen moved, — That each member of the Committee be allowed to have staff present at in camera meetings, unless there is a decision for a particular meeting to exclude all staff.

Debate arose thereon.

Carol Hughes moved, — That the motion be amended by adding “a (1)” after the word “have”, the word “member” after the word “staff” and the words “, in addition each party be permitted to have one (1) staff member from the Whip's office present” after the words “in camera meetings”.

After debate, the question was put on the amendment of Carol Hughes and it was agreed to, by a show of hands: YEAS: 7; NAYS: 3.

The motion, as amended, read as follows:

That each member of the Committee be allowed to have a (1) staff member present at in camera meetings, in addition each party be permitted to have one (1) staff member from the Whip's office present unless there is a decision for a particular meeting to exclude all staff.

Carol Hughes moved, — That the motion be amended by deleting all the words after “Whip's office present”.

After debate, the question was put on the amendment of Carol Hughes and it was agreed to.

The motion, as amended, read as follows:

That each member of the Committee be allowed to have a staff member present at in camera meeting, in addition each party be permitted to have one (1) staff member from the Whip's office present.

After debate, the question was put on the motion, as amended, and it was agreed to.

Brad Trost moved, — That 48 hours’ notice be required for any substantive motion to be considered by the Committee, unless the susbstantive motion relates directly to business then under consideration and that the notice of motion be filed with the Joint Clerks of the Committee and distributed to members in both official languages.

After debate, the question was put on the motion and it was agreed to.

On motion of Mark Warawa, it was agreed, — That the quorum of subcommittees be set at a majority of the total membership of the subcommittee so long as one (1) member of the government party, one (1) member of the official opposition and that a representative from each House be present.

Mark Warawa moved, — That the following be tabled in the Senate and in the House of Commons:

Your Committee recommends to the Senate that it be authorized to assist the Speaker of the Senate and the Speaker of the House of Commons in directing and controlling the Library of Parliament, and that it be authorized to make recommendations to the Speaker of the Senate and the Speaker of the House of Commons regarding the governance of the Library and the proper expenditure of moneys voted by Parliament for the purchase of documents or other articles to be deposited therein. Your Committee recommends:

(a) that its quorum be fixed at six members, provided that each House is represented, and a member from the opposition and a member from the government are present, whenever a vote, resolution or other decision is taken; and

(b) that the Joint Chairs be authorized to hold meetings to receive evidence and to have that evidence published when a quorum is not present, provided that at least three members are present, including a member from the opposition and a member from the government, provided that each House is represented. Your committee further recommends to the Senate that it be empowered to sit during sittings and adjournments of the Senate.

After debate, the question was put on the motion and it was agreed to.

On motion of Brad Trost, it was agreed, — That the Committee do now adjourn.

At 1:21 p.m., the Committee adjourned to the call of the Chair.