Evidence of meeting #5 for Access to Information, Privacy and Ethics in the 40th Parliament, 3rd Session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was work.

A recording is available from Parliament.

On the agenda

MPs speaking

Also speaking

Clerk of the Committee  Mr. Jacques Maziade

12:50 p.m.

Liberal

Wayne Easter Liberal Malpeque, PE

Mr. Chair, I call the question on the main motion.

12:50 p.m.

Liberal

The Chair Liberal Paul Szabo

The motion is as originally presented. Is there any further debate on the motion?

12:50 p.m.

Conservative

Pierre Poilievre Conservative Nepean—Carleton, ON

On a point of order, Mr. Chair.

12:50 p.m.

Liberal

The Chair Liberal Paul Szabo

Please state your point of order.

12:50 p.m.

Conservative

Pierre Poilievre Conservative Nepean—Carleton, ON

Just to clarify—

12:50 p.m.

Liberal

The Chair Liberal Paul Szabo

That's not a point of order.

12:50 p.m.

Conservative

Pierre Poilievre Conservative Nepean—Carleton, ON

It is actually a point of order.

Have the rules been altered to empower specific members of the committee to call a vote, or does that happen after the speakers' list has expired?

12:50 p.m.

Liberal

The Chair Liberal Paul Szabo

I recognized Mr. Easter as I had called for speakers on the motion, but in his speech he expressed the view that he would like to call the question.

That is not a motion before us. When the debate collapses, I will ask the committee whether or not they are ready to take the vote. I am not in any hurry to do anything, as long as members have something to contribute.

But, Mr. Poilievre, you are correct.

12:50 p.m.

Conservative

Pierre Poilievre Conservative Nepean—Carleton, ON

Thank you.

12:50 p.m.

Liberal

The Chair Liberal Paul Szabo

I think at this point there is a very clear disagreement among members of the committee as to whether or not staff personnel are relevant to this work. I don't think there's going to be a resolution to it. I'm in the members' hands on how we proceed.

Right now we have the motion by Mr. Easter, unamended. Is there any further debate on the motion by Mr. Easter?

Mr. Poilievre.

12:50 p.m.

Conservative

Pierre Poilievre Conservative Nepean—Carleton, ON

Yes, I'd like to call for a vote.

Thank you.

12:50 p.m.

Liberal

The Chair Liberal Paul Szabo

Should we put it to a vote? Are the members ready for the vote on the motion as presented by Mr. Easter?

12:50 p.m.

Some hon. members

Agreed.

12:50 p.m.

Liberal

The Chair Liberal Paul Szabo

(Motion agreed to)

There being no direction right now, I will ask the clerk to make contact with all of the parties named in the motion to determine availability and to advise what possible dates we would have available to schedule hearings with these witnesses. The motion does indicate that the Minister of Human Resources would appear by herself. I think we will try to combine that with another scheduled meeting.

The motion also mentions a separate meeting or meetings. Since there are five people, that may be a little difficult to do in one meeting. It is not going to be possible to extend hours, but I suggest that we could find a venue where we could have a meeting that would perhaps start an hour earlier. We would go from 10 a.m. until 1 p.m. to have enough time for those five, if possible. Otherwise it may take two meetings. We will do our best to arrange that.

Colleagues, there being no further business, I wish you a happy Easter.

Go ahead, Madame Freeman.

12:55 p.m.

Bloc

Carole Freeman Bloc Châteauguay—Saint-Constant, QC

I want to wish everyone a Happy Easter! Enjoy the time off!

12:55 p.m.

Liberal

The Chair Liberal Paul Szabo

Thank you.

You started off well and you finished very well.

Merci bien. The committee is adjourned.