What is the Committee Chair’s role and how is he or she chosen?
A Committee Chair is the member selected by the committee to act as the presiding officer for the committee. Joint committees have Co-Chairs, one from each House. Where there is more than one nomination for the position of Chair or Vice-Chair, the selection is done by secret ballot. This secret-ballot procedure is followed for House of Commons committees and for the House of Commons Co-Chair of a joint committee. The selection of the Senate Co-Chair of a joint committee is guided by the Rules of the Senate. Under the procedural rules of the House, the Chair has the power to maintain order and decorum during meetings and to decide all questions of order and procedure.
