Procedure and House Affairs Committee on Dec. 11th, 2023

[Eric Janse]

I believe so.

[Luc Berthold, Conservative, Mégantic—L'Érable, QC]

You believe so. Then Mr. Fergus's decision to go to Washington wasn't made while he was Speaker of the House of Commons.

[Eric Janse]

I think he had previously intended to attend the event if he could.

[Luc Berthold, Conservative, Mégantic—L'Érable, QC]

So he made the decision to take the trip when he was in a partisan role and subsequently stuck to his decision.

[Eric Janse]

Yes. However, it turned into an official trip with the addition of all kinds of other meetings, including with the former Speaker of the United States House of Representatives, Nancy Pelosi.

[Luc Berthold, Conservative, Mégantic—L'Érable, QC]

Was the agenda entirely set by Mr. Fergus and his office?

[Eric Janse]

No, it was prepared by the international and interparliamentary affairs directorate.

[Luc Berthold, Conservative, Mégantic—L'Érable, QC]

Would it be possible to know what recommendations the directorate made for the visits added to Mr. Fergus's visit and when those recommendations were made?

[Eric Janse]

As we mentioned, we will provide you with the program, and then we can try to confirm the substance of the discussions with the international affairs team.

[Luc Berthold, Conservative, Mégantic—L'Érable, QC]

Could we also have copies of the correspondence between that team and Mr. Fergus's office so we can determine exactly when those requests were made?

We'd ultimately like to get copies of the exchanges concerning the planning for that trip. I think that's important considering that the trip was initiated by a member, and thus a partisan, of the House of Commons.

[Eric Janse]

Once again, if that's what the committee wishes, we can try to find those emails and exchanges.

[Luc Berthold, Conservative, Mégantic—L'Érable, QC]

Thank you very much.

Madam Chair, to ensure we understand each other, I'd like to note that, since Mr. Janse began testifying, there have been four requests for production of documents: the correspondence between the office of the clerk and that of the Speaker on the statement and everything that occurred after we became aware of the events; the briefing documents prepared by the office of the clerk and intended for the Speaker; the agenda of the Speaker's Washington visit; and all email and other exchanges concerning preparations for that visit.

I just want to make sure that the committee wants the office of the clerk to provide those documents to us.

[Eric Janse]

I also think there are three more items: the documentation concerning Yukon, the documentation on Prince Edward Island and Mr. Lauzon's request regarding the example of Mr. Scheer, if we can find it in our files.

[Luc Berthold, Conservative, Mégantic—L'Érable, QC]

Madam Chair, does the committee wish to obtain all those documents?

I want to be sure that the clerk is actually being directed to forward those documents to us.

[Peter Julian, NDP, New Westminster—Burnaby, BC]

It also has to be done today.

[Luc Berthold, Conservative, Mégantic—L'Érable, QC]

Yes.

[Eric Janse]

My colleague has mentioned the following, and I was thinking the same thing: we won't have all those documents in both languages. They'll have to be translated.

[Luc Berthold, Conservative, Mégantic—L'Érable, QC]

Since the House of Commons has passed a motion to the effect that all the resources of the House of Commons must be made available to this committee for the purposes of this study, I'm certain we can engage the necessary resources to get those translations today. Considering the Thursday deadline, Mr. Janse, I would appreciate that very much.

[Eric Janse]

We'll do our best.

[The Chair, Liberal, Bardish Chagger]

What's your response?

[Eric Janse]

I said we would do our best—

[The Chair, Liberal, Bardish Chagger]

So you said yes. You said you would do your best.

[Eric Janse]

—to provide all the documents in both languages today.

[The Chair, Liberal, Bardish Chagger]

Yes, because, if the documents aren't in both languages, we won't be able to accept them. You know, you use the resources as we do. So you agree.

Then does everyone agree to request the documents that Mr. Berthold has named? Mr. Julian has also requested the documents concerning the apology of the Speaker of the House of Commons. Do we also agree to request those documents in both official languages?

[Peter Julian, NDP, New Westminster—Burnaby, BC]

That follows the revelation of the video. If it's related to the apology or the procedural matters, I'd like to have all those documents.