Canadian Heritage Committee on June 16th, 2025

[The Clerk of the Committee, Jean-François Pagé]

Honourable members of the committee, I see we have a quorum.

Pursuant to Standing Order 106(3)(a), as the clerk of the committee, I will preside over the election of the chair and the vice-chairs.

I must inform members that the clerk of the committee can only receive motions for the election of the chair. The clerk cannot receive other types of motions and cannot entertain points of order nor participate in debate.

We can now proceed to the election of the chair. Pursuant to Standing Order 106(2), the chair must be a member of the government party.

I am ready to receive motions for the chair.

Mr. Myles.

[David Myles, Liberal, Fredericton—Oromocto, NB]

I'd like to nominate Lisa Hepfner to be the chair.

[The Clerk]

Are there any further motions?

It has been moved by Mr. Myles that Ms. Hepfner be elected chair of the committee.

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

(Motion agreed to)

I declare the motion carried and Ms. Hepfner duly elected chair of the committee.

[Some hon. members]

Hear, hear!

[The Clerk]

I invite Ms. Hepfner to take the chair.

[The Chair, Liberal, Lisa Hepfner]

Thank you very much to the members of the committee.

Before we continue, I would like to ask all in-person participants to consult the guidelines written on the cards on the table. These measures are in place to help prevent audio and feedback incidents and to protect the health and safety of all participants, including the interpreters. You will notice a QR code on the card, which links to a short awareness video.

I have a few comments for the benefit of members.

Please wait until I recognize you by name before speaking. For those participating by video conference, click on the microphone icon to activate your microphone, and please mute yourself when you are not speaking. For those on Zoom, you can select, at the bottom of your screen, the appropriate channel for interpretation: floor, English or French. For those in the room, you can use the earpiece and select the desired channel. I will remind you that all comments should be addressed through the chair.

For members in the room, if you wish to speak, please raise your hand. For members on Zoom, please use the “raise hand” function. The clerk and I will manage the speaking order as best we can, and we appreciate your patience and understanding in this regard.

I will now turn back to the clerk for the election of the vice-chairs.

[The Clerk]

Pursuant to Standing Order 106(2), the first vice-chair must be a member of the official opposition.

I am now prepared to receive motions for the first vice-chair.

Monsieur Généreux.

[Bernard Généreux, Conservative, Côte-du-Sud—Rivière-du-Loup—Kataskomiq—Témiscouata, QC]

I nominate Rachel Thomas as first vice-chair.

[The Clerk]

It has been moved by Mr. Généreux that Ms. Thomas be elected as first vice-chair of the committee.

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

(Motion agreed to)

[The Clerk]

I declare the motion carried and Ms. Thomas duly elected vice-chair of the committee.

[Some hon. members]

Hear, hear!

[The Clerk]

Pursuant to Standing Order 106(2), the second vice-chair must be a member of an opposition party other than the official opposition.

I am prepared to receive motions for the second vice-chair.

Mr. Al Soud, the floor is yours.

[Fares Al Soud, Liberal, Mississauga Centre, ON]

I nominate Mr. Champoux as second vice-chair.

[The Clerk]

It has been moved by Mr. Al Soud that Mr. Champoux be elected as second vice-chair of the committee.

Are there any further motions?

Since there are no other motions, is it the pleasure of the committee to adopt the motion?

(Motion agreed to)

I declare Mr. Champoux duly elected second vice-chair.

[The Chair, Liberal, Lisa Hepfner]

We'll proceed now with the adoption of routine motions.

Is there a member who would like to read them?

Go ahead, Fares.

[Fares Al Soud, Liberal, Mississauga Centre, ON]

The first concerns analyst services:

That the committee retain, as needed and at the discretion of the Chair, the services of one or more analysts from the Library of Parliament to assist it in its work.

(Motion agreed to)

[Fares Al Soud, Liberal, Mississauga Centre, ON]

On the subcommittee on agenda and procedure, I move:

That the Subcommittee on Agenda and Procedure be established and be composed of four members, the Chair and one member from each recognized party, as designated by each party’s whip; and that the subcommittee work in a spirit of collaboration.

(Motion agreed to)

[Fares Al Soud, Liberal, Mississauga Centre, ON]

On meetings without a quorum, I move:

That the Chair be authorized to hold meetings to receive evidence and to have that evidence published when a quorum is not present, provided that at least four members are present, including two members of the opposition parties and two members of the government party.

(Motion agreed to)

[Fares Al Soud, Liberal, Mississauga Centre, ON]

On travel, I move:

That, when travelling outside the Parliamentary Precinct: (a) the meeting begin after 15 minutes, regardless of whether quorum is present; (b) no substantive motion may be moved during such meetings.

[Bernard Généreux, Conservative, Côte-du-Sud—Rivière-du-Loup—Kataskomiq—Témiscouata, QC]

The French version says this: “Que la présidente soit autorisée à tenir des réunions pour entendre des témoignages et pour les faire publier en l'absence de quorum, si au moins quatre membres sont présents”.

Sorry, that's the wrong motion.

Here's the right one, and this is what the French version says: “Que, lors de déplacements hors de la Cité parlementaire: a) la réunion commence après 15 minutes, que le quorum soit atteint ou non”.

Shouldn't it say “regardless of whether quorum is present or not” in the English version?

[The Chair, Liberal, Lisa Hepfner]

Do you mean the part that says “at least four members” in reference to a quorum not being present?

[Bernard Généreux, Conservative, Côte-du-Sud—Rivière-du-Loup—Kataskomiq—Témiscouata, QC]

No, I'm talking about the motion on travel.

It reads, “That, when travelling outside the Parliamentary Precinct: (a) the meeting begin after 15 minutes, regardless of whether quorum is present”.

In French, it says, “la réunion commence après 15 minutes, que le quorum soit atteint ou non”. It seems to me the words “or not” are missing in English. Am I wrong?

[Martin Champoux, Bloc, Drummond, QC]

That's how you say it in English. The translation is correct.

[Bernard Généreux, Conservative, Côte-du-Sud—Rivière-du-Loup—Kataskomiq—Témiscouata, QC]

Is that so? Okay, then. I'm not fluent enough.

[The Chair, Liberal, Lisa Hepfner]

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

(Motion agreed to)

We are moving on to the next motion.