Evidence of meeting #90 for Human Resources, Skills and Social Development and the Status of Persons with Disabilities in the 44th Parliament, 1st Session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was workers.
A recording is available from Parliament.
5:50 p.m.
Conservative
Rosemarie Falk Conservative Battlefords—Lloydminster, SK
Thank you very much, Chair.
It's long-standing practice, as we all know, in each committee to have estimates. I know, as Ms. Gray said, we do have a new minister too, who hasn't had the opportunity to come to this committee yet to express himself or speak to the mandate that he has, so I think it's completely reasonable that we have these ministers come to committee, preferably in this session here.
5:50 p.m.
Conservative
Michelle Ferreri Conservative Peterborough—Kawartha, ON
I was wondering if I could add an amendment to the current motion, so that we could start the meetings in December. Are we able to do that at all, or is that...?
5:50 p.m.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Bobby Morrissey
An amendment is totally in order. Are you proposing an amendment to this phrase?
5:50 p.m.
Conservative
5:50 p.m.
Conservative
Michelle Ferreri Conservative Peterborough—Kawartha, ON
—do it before we rise for the Christmas break, basically, to get these ministers in.
5:50 p.m.
Liberal
5:50 p.m.
Conservative
Michelle Ferreri Conservative Peterborough—Kawartha, ON
I'm sorry. To follow up with that, Chair, I'm going to echo what my colleagues have said.
Regarding the Minister of Citizens' Services, who now oversees passports, with the holiday season upon us and estimates and all of these things, we haven't seen this minister yet, so I think that getting them in ASAP and before we rise in December would be ideal. Hopefully, we have the support of the committee on this.
5:50 p.m.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Bobby Morrissey
Okay. At the moment, we have an amendment to the motion that was under discussion. The amendment is to have those meetings before the House rises—before our Christmas period.
Is there any discussion on the amendment by Ms. Ferreri?
5:50 p.m.
Liberal
Peter Fragiskatos Liberal London North Centre, ON
Chair, can I ask for a three- or four-minute suspension?
5:50 p.m.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Bobby Morrissey
Sure.
The committee will suspend for three minutes.
We're suspended.
The meeting has now resumed.
Mr. Fragiskatos, you called for the suspension.
5:55 p.m.
Liberal
Peter Fragiskatos Liberal London North Centre, ON
I'd like to go to a vote. I think we're ready to proceed to a vote on the amendment.
5:55 p.m.
Conservative
Michelle Ferreri Conservative Peterborough—Kawartha, ON
I just want to clarify that I'm asking for a start date for this study of December 1.
Thank you very much for that specific date for the estimates.
5:55 p.m.
Conservative
Rosemarie Falk Conservative Battlefords—Lloydminster, SK
Before December or starting in December...?
5:55 p.m.
Conservative
Michelle Ferreri Conservative Peterborough—Kawartha, ON
We're saying “started on” as opposed to “before”.
5:55 p.m.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Bobby Morrissey
I'll allow it on the clarification. You cannot amend your own amendment, but I will allow it on a clarification.
5:55 p.m.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Bobby Morrissey
Okay. Ms. Ferreri has clarified her amendment.
I have Ms. Chabot on screen with her hand up.
Go ahead, Ms. Chabot.
5:55 p.m.
Bloc
Louise Chabot Bloc Thérèse-De Blainville, QC
Could you clarify something, please, Mr. Chair? The motion we got last week was about inviting five ministers for two hours each. Is that the motion we are debating right now? If I understand correctly, there is now an amendment on the floor to have the study start on December 1.
I agree with the substance of the motion—to invite the ministers—but when we get into time frames, I think it undermines committee business and the priorities we've set. At six o'clock, so in three minutes, we are supposed to deal with committee business. Is it possible to keep discussing that and put the current discussion on hold?
Inviting five ministers for two hours each starting on December 1 would obviously delay our agenda for December.
5:55 p.m.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Bobby Morrissey
That's correct, Madame Chabot. Provided that the committee voted to accept the amendment of Ms. Ferreri, it would then change the agreed-to calendar. The motion has six ministers in it, not five, so that would be longer.
Are we okay to go to a vote on the....
Madame Chabot.
5:55 p.m.
Bloc
Louise Chabot Bloc Thérèse-De Blainville, QC
Does the main motion still call for two hours with each minister?