The Standing Committee on Access to Information, Privacy and Ethics met in a televised session at 10:06 a.m. this day, in Room 237-C, Centre Block, the Chair, Paul Szabo, presiding.

It was agreed, — That, in relation to the study currently under consideration, all witnesses be duly sworn in.

Mike Wallace moved, — That this Committee suspend for half an hour and that it reconvene at 10:30 a.m. and extend the time for witnesses to 12:30 p.m., and that the Committee agree to add an additional witness to take the place of the witness who did not appear, and that the additional witness be Doug Finley of the Conservative Party of Canada.

The question was put on the motion and it was negatived on the following recorded division:YEAS: Dean Del Mastro, Gary Goodyear, Pierre Lemieux, Mike Wallace — 4; NAYS: Charles Hubbard, Carole Lavallée, Dominic LeBlanc, Pat Martin, Richard Nadeau, Marcel Proulx — 6.

At 10:26 a.m., the sitting was suspended.

At 10:31 a.m., the sitting resumed.

Gary Caldwell, Réjean Fauteux, Ann Julie Fortier, Joe Goudie and Louise O'Sullivan, duly sworn in, answered questions and made closing statements.

A point of order was raised regarding the witnesses' closing statements.

RULING BY THE CHAIR

That witnesses be invited to make a brief closing statement.

Whereupon, David Tilson appealed the decision of the Chair.

The question: "Shall the decision of the Chair be sustained?" was put and the decision was sustained on the following recorded division: YEAS: Charles Hubbard, Carole Lavallée, Pat Martin, Richard Nadeau, Marcel Proulx, Karen Redman — 6; NAYS: Gary Goodyear, Pierre Lemieux, David Tilson, Mike Wallace — 4.

At 12:23 p.m., the sitting was suspended.

At 2:02 p.m., the sitting resumed.

David Tilson raised a point of privilege concerning the scheduling of witnesses.

RULING BY THE CHAIR

The Chair ruled that this was not a point of privilege.

At 2:23 p.m., the sitting was suspended.

At 2:24 p.m., the sitting resumed.

A point of order was raised regarding information provided to witnesses about their appearance.

RULING BY THE CHAIR

The chair ruled it was not a point of order.

Whereupon, Gary Goodyear appealed the decision of the Chair.

The question: "Shall the decision of the Chair be sustained?" was put and the decision was sustained on the following recorded division: YEAS: Charles Hubbard, Carole Lavallée, Dominic LeBlanc, Pat Martin, Richard Nadeau, Marcel Proulx — 6; NAYS: Dean Del Mastro, Gary Goodyear, Pierre Lemieux, David Tilson, Mike Wallace — 5.

Liberato Martelli, duly sworn in, answered questions and made a closing statement.

At 3:47 p.m., the sitting was suspended.

At 4:03 p.m., the sitting resumed.

The question: "That the proposed budget in the amount of $ 39,900, for the study on Activities of the Conservative Party of Canada during the 2006 Election Campaign in relation to certain Election Campaign Expenses and the Ethical Standards of Public Office Holders, be adopted" was put and was agreed to on the following recorded division: YEAS: Gary Goodyear, Carole Lavallée, Dominic LeBlanc, Pat Martin, Richard Nadeau, Marcel Proulx, Mike Wallace — 7; NAYS: Dean Del Mastro, Pierre Lemieux, David Tilson — 3.

The Committee resumed consideration of the motion of Scott Reid moved on July 15, 2008, — That pursuant to Standing Order 108(2) and in reference to the current study underway by this committee, the Committee request that the Chief Electoral Officer appoint an independent investigator to review the allegations of a leak of a planned search of Conservative Party headquarters, and that this investigation include all individuals who were privy to information about the search before the search occurred.

After debate, the question was put on the motion and it was negatived on the following recorded division: YEAS: Dean Del Mastro, Gary Goodyear, Pierre Lemieux, David Tilson, Mike Wallace — 5; NAYS: Charles Hubbard, Carole Lavallée, Dominic LeBlanc, Pat Martin, Richard Nadeau, Marcel Proulx — 6.

Gary Goodyear moved, — That the list of witnesses be reviewed with the point of relevance being considered of all witnesses and suggestions for additions and/or deletions be submitted by any or all Members by 9 a.m. tomorrow.

RULING BY THE CHAIR

Chair ruled the motion out of order as the Committee had already agreed to the list of witnesses.

Whereupon, Gary Goodyear appealed the decision of the Chair.

The question: "Shall the decision of the Chair be sustained?" was put and the decision was sustained on the following recorded division: YEAS: Charles Hubbard, Carole Lavallée, Dominic LeBlanc, Pat Martin, Richard Nadeau, Marcel Proulx — 6; NAYS: Dean Del Mastro, Gary Goodyear, Pierre Lemieux, David Tilson, Mike Wallace — 5.

At 4:53 p.m., the Committee adjourned to the call of the Chair.