Earlier today, the all-party panel of MPs spent just over two hours discussing just when and how its twelve newly installed members should go about fulfilling their appointed task.

As this was the inaugural meeting, the first order of business was the election of the chair and vice-chairs, although as there was only one candidate nominated for each post, it wasn’t much of a contest: as expected, veteran Liberal MP Francis Scarpaleggia was acclaimed as chair and Conservative MP Scott Reid and New Democrat Nathan Cullen as vice-chairs.

After that wrapped up, the committee turned to the requisite routine motions, which lay out the rules under which the committee will operate, and include everything from travel logistics and authorizing committee staff to order food when MPs will be sitting during lunch or dinner hours to divvying up speaking slots amongst the parties.

There is, of course, a standard formula, but given the unique dynamics of this special committee — and specifically, the two additional parties represented around the table — it was clear that some tweaking of the traditional rotation will be required.

Both the New Democrats and Green Party Elizabeth May also came forward with proposals to devote at least one round per meeting to questions submitted directly to the committee via email or Twitter, which would be selected by the clerk and posed directly to witnesses by the chair.

After considerable discussion, MPs unanimously agreed to refer the matter to the subcommittee on agenda and procedure, which will also take a closer look at how the speaking slots could be rejigged to accommodate the public submissions.

The subcommittee will hold its first confab next Tuesday, with the full committee tentatively scheduled to reconvene the following day, which is also, of course, the date of outgoing President Barack Obama’s address to the House of Commons.

For a full recap of the meeting, read Kady O’Malley’s liveblog: