The Chairman: Just to clarify that, the bill was passed in its previous reincarnation after committee stage in the House of Commons.

changing the voting rules at the last stage of the comitology procedure (the Appeal Committee), so that only votes in favour or against an act are taken into account; this will reduce the use of abstentions and the number of situations where the Committee is unable to take a position and the Commission is obliged to act without a clear mandate from the Member States; involving national Ministers by allowing the Commission to make a second referral to the Appeal Committee at Ministerial level if national experts do not take a position; this will ensure that sensitive decisions are discussed at the appropriate political level; increasi ...[+++]ng voting transparency at the Appeal Committee level by making public the votes of Member State representatives; ensuring political input by enabling the Commission to refer the matter to the Council of Ministers for an Opinion if the Appeal Committee is unable to take a position.

Our critic for Bill C-50, Mr. Bailey, is not present today, but if we could say there's general support for the legislation amongst all parties, any amendments that I or the other opposition parties, or indeed maybe government members, might want to bring forward could be done in the House, and the committee stage could proceed as rapidly as possible.

...sary be taken forthwith; and That after Oral Questions on Thursday, June 7, 2001, the House shall immediately proceed to the third reading stage of the said Bill, during which no Member shall speak for more than ten minutes, and that no later than 15 minutes prior to the conclusion of Government Orders on that day, all questions necessary for the disposal of the third reading stage shall be put and any division necessary to dispose of the reading shall be taken forthwith. ...

2. At the beginning of the Committee of the Whole stage, any Member wishing to propose an amendment or amendments shall table the same and the said amendment or amendments, if found to be in order, shall be deemed to have been duly proposed at the appropriate point in the proceedings of the Committee, provided that no later than 6:30 p.m. this day, proceedings before the Committee shall be interrupted and all questions necessary for the completion of the Committee of the Whole stage shall be put without further debate;

(2) At the beginning of the committee of the whole stage any member wishing to propose an amendment or amendments shall table the same and the said amendment or amendments, if found to be in order, shall be deemed to have been duly proposed at the appropriate point in the proceedings of the committee provided that no later than 6.30 p.m. this day proceedings before the committee shall be interrupted and all questions necessary for the completion of the committee of the whole stage shall be put without further debate;