Honourable members of the committee,

    I see that we have a quorum.

    I see a quorum. We can now proceed to the election of the chair.

    I'd like to choose Mr. Rodney Weston from the beautiful city of Saint John, New Brunswick.

    It has been moved by Mr. Stoffer that Mr. Weston, Saint John, be elected as chair of the committee. Are there any further motions?

    (Motion agreed to)

    The Clerk: I declare the motion carried and Mr. Weston duly elected chair of the committee.

    Before inviting Mr. Weston, Saint John, to take the chair, if the committee wishes we will now proceed to the election of vice-chairs. I am now prepared to receive motions for first vice-chair.

    I would like to nominate the Honourable Lawrence MacAulay.

    It has been moved by Mr. Byrne that Mr. MacAulay be elected first vice-chair of the committee.

    Are there any other motions?

    Is it the pleasure of the committee to adopt the motion?

    (Motion agreed to)

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

    Voices: Hear, hear!

    The Clerk: I am now ready to receive motions for the position of second vice-chair.

    I would like to nominate Raynald Blais.

    Mr. MacAulay moves that Mr. Blais be elected second vice-chair of the committee.

    Are there any further motions?

    Is it the pleasure of the committee to adopt the motion?

    (Motion agreed to)

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

    Voices: Hear, hear!

    I now invite Mr. Weston, Saint John, to take the chair.

    Thank you very much.

    I'd like to take this opportunity to welcome everybody back. I hope you had a very productive and enjoyable summer and that you look forward to getting back to work here again. I'd like to also take this opportunity to welcome our new clerk here today and thank him very much. I've assured him that our committee is a very good committee to work with, and he tells me he looks forward to it very much. So thank you very much.

    Now, if it's the committee's wish, I'd like to proceed with--

    Mr. Chair, the new member as well.

    Oh my goodness, sorry, yes. I apologize. I'd like to welcome as well a new member to the committee, Tilly O'Neill-Gordon from Miramichi.

    Thank you, Tilly, for joining us today.

    Some hon. members: Hear, hear!

    The Chair: I was teasing her earlier; it's just as if she's always been here. So I apologize, Tilly. Thank you very much.

    At this time, if it's the wish of the committee.... If you would like to move into discussion on future business, I will need a motion from the committee to go forward.

     So moved by Mr. MacAulay, seconded by Mr. Stoffer. Is that the wish of the committee?

    (Motion agreed to)

    The Chair: We'll now move into future business.

    The clerk is going to distribute some documents that outline the work we've conducted here in the last year, the work plan that was laid out by the steering committee and approved by the whole committee. A fair bit of detail has been prepared by the clerk, and our analyst, François.

    Welcome back as well.

    Thank you.

    Take a moment to have a look at it and....

    Mr. Kamp.

     Can you just clarify, Mr. Chair, whether we are in camera or not, and whether this part of the meeting should be in camera?

    Certainly. I appreciate that, Mr. Kamp.

    We will go in camera at this point to discuss future business.

    [Proceedings continue in camera]