Evidence of meeting #45 for Health in the 39th Parliament, 1st Session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was asked.
A recording is available from Parliament.
3:45 p.m.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Rob Merrifield
I call the meeting to order. We are now not in camera; we're in a public meeting.
Mr. Fletcher, there is an issue of somebody from your staff accused of taking a picture at an in camera session. Would you like to respond?
3:45 p.m.
Conservative
Steven Fletcher Conservative Charleswood—St. James—Assiniboia, MB
This is the first time I've ever heard of this. I'll get her now. This is the first time I've heard of this. If she did it, it's wrong. What else can I say?
3:45 p.m.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Rob Merrifield
So we will have the individual come forward, if that's what you want to do. That's not a problem.
Ms. Brown.
3:45 p.m.
Liberal
3:45 p.m.
Liberal
Bonnie Brown Liberal Oakville, ON
But it has not been described carefully.
All my colleagues will recall that the regular meeting of this committee on Monday afternoon was cancelled because of the budget, and that our chair asked us to come instead on Tuesday afternoon, either at 5:30 or after the vote, which we all did. Unfortunately for the Liberal members, there was a reception and group photo planned at the same time. We decided to forget the reception, which was to honour our retiring colleagues, and instead we asked permission of the chair to absent ourselves for 10 minutes in order to participate in the group photo. The chair graciously agreed, and when we got the signal from our whip--we were trying to keep our break as short as possible--he graciously called a break and we left.
We left our papers and we left our cards in front of our chairs on the table. We came back and carried on with the business of the committee. It has been reported to us today, by a representative of our whip's office, that someone came and stood behind the Conservative bench and took a picture of our empty seats with our name tags still in front. Everyone who needs to be elected, such as all the experienced politicians at this table, understands the implications of that.
I would also remind my colleagues that the meeting was in camera, and therefore, to that end, I have registered a letter with the Speaker of the House with the complaint that our privileges as parliamentarians have been transgressed and asked him to investigate.
But seeing as I would prefer to keep the collegial atmosphere that we have achieved, both in the past and in the current membership, I am also asking that the chair and the clerk investigate this scenario and that perhaps this staff person could be brought back about 10 minutes before the usual closing of this meeting. I understand the staff person who was seen with the camera is working for one of the members who sits on this committee, and I'm sure her time can be easily directed by that member, to come and accommodate his colleagues on the committee.
Thank you, Mr. Chair.
3:45 p.m.
Conservative
Steven Fletcher Conservative Charleswood—St. James—Assiniboia, MB
I wonder if we can move in camera.
3:45 p.m.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Rob Merrifield
We'll move in camera for the report, and at the end of the meeting we can move out, as they request. I think it's a fair request that we'll leave, hopefully, 10 minutes at the end for having this individual come and explain what did or did not go on, and why. Is that fair enough?
Penny.
3:45 p.m.
NDP
Penny Priddy NDP Surrey North, BC
Thank you, Mr. Chair.
I did come in just to hear the end of it. But I would then want to be sure that we actually then adjourn the meeting 10 minutes early, not just hope that we have 10 minutes at the end, and have it slide over and it doesn't happen.
3:45 p.m.
Conservative
3:45 p.m.
Bloc
Christiane Gagnon Bloc Québec, QC
We hope that the photo was taken without any ill intent. If the photo was taken in response to a specific order, that is something else again. That is the question we have to ask.
I feel somewhat uncomfortable seeing that an employee has to explain her conduct as if she were before the courts. I would rather see the member speak to the employee, to determine whether the employee acted on her own initiative, perhaps as a joke. But we must ensure that the photo is never seen or used outside these proceedings.
There's something I'd like to add. I understand that we gave Liberal members permission to be absent, but this has penalized us. In the future, that sort of...
Mr. Chairman, this does not concern the young woman in question, but rather the permission we gave. If the Bloc Québécois had asked to be absent from a meeting for 15 minutes, I don't know whether such permission would have been granted. So we were penalized because they were absent for 15 minutes—we had to go back over everything we discussed during that time. In the future, we will not be able to grant such a permission.
3:45 p.m.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Rob Merrifield
Absolutely everything that was described here is as it was. The Liberals had asked to go across the room to have a quick photo. We thought we would have to adjourn the meeting, but there was some general discussion that we allowed during that time. They were only gone a few minutes; it was a very short time period.
We have the young individual here now. Why don't we just get this out of the way right now and be done?
3:45 p.m.
Conservative
Steven Fletcher Conservative Charleswood—St. James—Assiniboia, MB
This obviously is a very serious accusation, and it's the first time that the members on this side of the room have heard it. I hope there will be an apology on both sides for making the accusation, because it's very serious.
3:45 p.m.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Rob Merrifield
All right. Let's draw this to a conclusion. Now that the young lady is here, let's bring her to the front of the table and let's deal with this right now instead of doing it at the end of the meeting. I think that's appropriate. It's Ms. Courtney Banman.
Courtney, perhaps you could describe what happened yesterday and why the accusation may or may not have been levelled at you.
3:45 p.m.
Courtney Banman As an Individual
Sure.
My colleague had asked me to bring my camera to her. She had needed it earlier, and I brought it to her. We were just looking to see if it worked.
There were no pictures taken on it. It's my own personal camera. You can check; my personal pictures are on there.
I did not take any papers or anything with me, nothing that could possibly compromise anything of this committee.
3:50 p.m.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Rob Merrifield
I'm going to open it up for quick questions, if you want, but I think that's an explanation of what happened.
She has given me the camera here. We can feel free to examine it if we like, although they're saying that it's a digital camera and so they could have erased a picture, and I think that's a concern.
We're actually taking you at the testimony that you have. Are there any questions for her?
Go ahead, Susan.
3:50 p.m.
Liberal
Susan Kadis Liberal Thornhill, ON
Thank you, Mr. Chair.
I just wanted to ask you what colleague asked you for the camera, if you can.
3:50 p.m.
Liberal
Susan Kadis Liberal Thornhill, ON
Okay.
What was the purpose of bringing the camera to the committee?
3:50 p.m.
Liberal
Susan Kadis Liberal Thornhill, ON
We're confused as to why it would be needed at the committee in camera.
3:50 p.m.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Rob Merrifield
Excuse me, we'll have to allow Ms. Banman.... We can have Pam come to the table, if you like.
Pam, would you come? We have to have you there. Perhaps you could just take a seat and explain it.
That sounds like the explanation. Pam, if you have anything to add to that as to why the camera was asked for--
3:50 p.m.
An hon. member
Can they just introduce themselves, please?