Human Resources Committee on Dec. 13th, 2021

[Wayne Long, Liberal, Saint John—Rothesay, NB]

Yes, this is a very important one here. I move:

That the clerk of the committee, at the discretion of the Chair, be authorized to make the necessary arrangements to provide working meals for the committee and its subcommittees.

[The Chair, Liberal, Bobby Morrissey]

Is that unanimous?

(Motion agreed to)

[Wayne Long, Liberal, Saint John—Rothesay, NB]

That was a quick one.

I move:

That, if requested, reasonable travel, accommodation and living expenses be reimbursed to witnesses not exceeding two representatives per organization; and that in exceptional circumstances, payment for [one representative] be made at the discretion of the Chair.

[Bonita Zarrillo, NDP, Port Moody—Coquitlam, BC]

I'm sorry, but in my notes it says, “payment for more representatives”.

[Wayne Long, Liberal, Saint John—Rothesay, NB]

That's my mistake.

Would you like me to read it again?

[Bonita Zarrillo, NDP, Port Moody—Coquitlam, BC]

No, I just wanted to make sure, because it's my first time and I'm looking at the notes.

[The Chair, Liberal, Bobby Morrissey]

Yes, the notes are correct.

Do we have agreement then?

(Motion agreed to)

[Wayne Long, Liberal, Saint John—Rothesay, NB]

I move:

That, unless otherwise ordered, each committee member be allowed to be accompanied by one staff member at in camera meetings and that one additional person from each House officer's office be allowed to be present.

(Motion agreed to)

[Wayne Long, Liberal, Saint John—Rothesay, NB]

I move:

That one copy of the transcript of each in camera meeting be kept in the committee clerk's office for consultation by members of the committee or by their staff; and that the analysts assigned to the committee also have access to the in camera transcripts.

(Motion agreed to)

[Wayne Long, Liberal, Saint John—Rothesay, NB]

I move:

That a 48-hour notice, interpreted as two nights, be required for any substantive motion to be moved in committee, unless the substantive motion relates directly to business then under consideration, provided that: (a) the notice be filed with the clerk of the committee no later than 4:00 p.m. from Monday to Friday; (b) the motion be distributed to Members and the offices of the whips of each recognized party in both official languages by the clerk on the same day the said notion was transmitted if it was received no later than the deadline hour; (c) notices received after the deadline hour or on non-business days be deemed to have been received during the next business day; and that when the committee is holding meetings outside the Parliamentary Precinct, no substantive motion may be moved.

(Motion agreed to)

[Wayne Long, Liberal, Saint John—Rothesay, NB]

Next, I move:

That in relation to orders of reference from the House respecting bills,

(a) The clerk of the committee shall, upon the committee receiving such an order of reference, write to each member who is not a member of the caucus represented on the committee to invite those members to file with the clerk of the committee, in both official languages, any amendments to the bill, which is the subject of the said Order, which they would suggest that the committee consider;

(b) Suggested amendments filed, pursuant to paragraph (a), at least 48 hours prior to the start of clause-by-clause consideration of the bill to which the amendments relate shall be deemed to be proposed during the said consideration, provided that the committee may, by motion, vary this deadline in respect of a given bill; and

(c) During the clause-by-clause consideration of the bill, the Chair shall allow a member who filed suggested amendments, pursuant to paragraph (a), an opportunity to make brief representations in support of them.

(Motion agreed to)

[Wayne Long, Liberal, Saint John—Rothesay, NB]

Next, I move:

That the clerk inform each witness who is to appear before the committee that the House administration support team must conduct technical tests to check the connectivity and the equipment used to ensure the best possible sound quality; and that the Chair advise the committee, at the start of each meeting, of any witness who did not perform the required technical tests.

(Motion agreed to)

[Wayne Long, Liberal, Saint John—Rothesay, NB]

Next, I move:

That all documents submitted for committee business that do not come from a federal department, members’ offices, or that have not been translated by the Translation Bureau be sent for prior linguistic review by the Translation Bureau before being distributed to members.

(Motion agreed to)

[The Chair, Liberal, Bobby Morrissey]

Before we get to other routine motions adopted in 43-2, I'm going to ask the clerk to speak to why there is a recommendation that we do not adopt this next motion.

[The Clerk]

In the package that was circulated to all members, there was a routine motion that was adopted in the previous Parliament that was related to in camera sittings. There could be modifications if the committee chooses, but in terms of that section, it says:

That all votes taken in camera, with the exception of votes regarding the consideration of draft reports, be recorded in the Minutes of Proceedings, including how each member voted when recorded votes are requested;

That any motion to sit in camera is debatable and amendable.

That often goes against the current practices of committees and House of Commons Procedure and Practice, so it is the decision of the committee as to how they wish to proceed with this. It was adopted last year, but there were some inconsistencies with the practices of the House of Commons.

It is up to the committee as to how they wish to move forward with this motion.

[The Chair, Liberal, Bobby Morrissey]

I believe we have Madam Zarrillo.

[Bonita Zarrillo, NDP, Port Moody—Coquitlam, BC]

Thank you, Mr. Chair.

I had a question that maybe relates to this. Is this the right time to table a motion around in camera or witnesses?

[The Chair, Liberal, Bobby Morrissey]

Is it a new motion or related to this routine motion?

[Bonita Zarrillo, NDP, Port Moody—Coquitlam, BC]

I believe it's a new motion.

[The Chair, Liberal, Bobby Morrissey]

Then no.

[Bonita Zarrillo, NDP, Port Moody—Coquitlam, BC]

I have two.

[The Chair, Liberal, Bobby Morrissey]

That would be under committee business, but if it's relating to this motion—

[Bonita Zarrillo, NDP, Port Moody—Coquitlam, BC]

Do you mind if I check with my support?

I understand that it's related to routine motions, so I'm not sure if it can wait for the other committee business.

[The Chair, Liberal, Bobby Morrissey]

Routine motions would be movable at this time.

[Bonita Zarrillo, NDP, Port Moody—Coquitlam, BC]

Okay, so I have two, if I can read them.