Evidence of meeting #1 for Medical Assistance in Dying in the 45th Parliament, 1st session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was states.
A recording is available from Parliament.
The Joint Clerk of the Committee Matthieu Boulianne
Honourable Senators and members of Parliament, there is quorum.
As the Senate joint clerk of your committee, it is my duty to preside over the election of the Senate joint chair. I'm ready to receive a nomination to that effect.
The Honourable Pierre Dalphond Senator, Quebec (De Lorimier), PSG
I propose Senator Yonah Martin.
The Joint Clerk Matthieu Boulianne
It is moved by the Honourable Senator Dalphond and seconded by Senator Wallin that Senator Martin be the joint chair of this committee.
Is it agreed, honourable members?
(Motion agreed to)
I invite Senator Martin to the chair.
The Joint Chair Hon. Yonah Martin (Senator, British Columbia, C)
Good evening, colleagues.
We made it on time. There was a vote pending in the Senate, and changes were happening on the fly. It's nice to be here.
Welcome to some of our new members. I've been the co-chair with my colleagues, some of whom are also returning for this third round—for us, in any event.
Thank you very much for your confidence and for your nomination, Pierre Dalphond and my colleagues.
We're going to proceed to the election of the Senate deputy chair. I'm ready to receive a nomination to that effect.
Senator Wallin.
The Joint Chair Hon. Yonah Martin
The Honourable Senator Wallin moved that the Honourable Senator Dalphond be the Senate deputy chair of this committee.
Is it agreed to adopt this motion?
(Motion agreed to)
I will turn it over to our joint clerk from the House.
The Joint Clerk of the Committee Jean-François Lafleur
Thank you, Madam Co-Chair.
Honourable members of the committee, pursuant to Standing Order 106(3)(a), as the joint clerk of the committee, I will now preside over the election of the joint chair and the vice-chairs from the House of Commons.
I must inform members that the joint clerk of the committee can only receive motions for the election of the chair. The clerk cannot participate in debate or receive other types of motions.
Pursuant to the motion adopted by the House of Commons on November 20, 2025, the chair must be a member of the government party.
I am ready to receive motions for the chair.
Mr. Maloney, you have the floor.
Liberal
The Joint Clerk Jean-François Lafleur
Thank you very much, Mr. Maloney.
It has been moved by Mr. Maloney that Mr. Powlowski be co-chair of the special joint committee.
Are there any other nominations? I don't see any.
(Motion agreed to)
I declare Mr. Powlowski duly elected. Congratulations.
Liberal
The Joint Chair Liberal Marcus Powlowski
Thank you all.
This is a new one for me. I've done many things in my life, but this is my first time being the chair of a committee. I would say I have a particularly unenviable job, considering I have a bunch of real lawyers here, and Judge Dalphond, who was previously a judge at the Court of Appeal.
It's a little difficult for me to be in charge here, but thank you for voting for me.
Now we're going to choose the two vice-chairs from among opposition party members.
I need a nominee from the Conservative Party of Canada.
Conservative
Liberal
The Joint Chair Liberal Marcus Powlowski
Tamara Jansen is elected vice-chair.
We're going to vote for the second vice-chair.
Is there a nominee for second vice-chair?
Liberal
Liberal
The Joint Chair Hon. Yonah Martin
Congratulations to all our colleagues who were duly elected to be part of the executive.
There are a few routine motions to go through. These are the proposed routine motions in your package.
The first motion states:
That the committee retain, as needed and at the discretion of the joint chairs, the services of one or more analysts from the Library of Parliament to assist it in its work.
Do I have a mover of this motion? I see Senator Moodie.
Is it agreed to adopt the motion?
(Motion agreed to)
Liberal
The Joint Chair Liberal Marcus Powlowski
We're going to alternate.
The second routine motion states:
That the Subcommittee on Agenda and Procedure be composed of the joint chairs, the vice-chairs, one additional member from the Senate and one additional member from the government; and that the subcommittee work in a spirit of collaboration.
Who would like to move that? Ms. Koutrakis moves it. As a seconder, we have Jeremy.
(Motion agreed to)
The Joint Chair Hon. Yonah Martin
As a joint chair, I would like to nominate Senator Moodie for the subcommittee.
Senator Wallin, I know you were going to do it.
