Afghanistan Committee on Dec. 13th, 2021

[The Clerk of the Committee, Ms. Miriam Burke]

Honourable members of the committee, I see quorum.

I must inform the members that the clerk of the committee can only receive motions for the election of the chair. The clerk cannot receive other types of motions, entertain points of order or participate in debate.

We can now proceed to the election of the chair.

Pursuant to the order adopted by the House on December 8, 2021, the chair must be a member of the government party.

I am ready to receive motions for the chair.

Ms. Zahid.

[Salma Zahid, Liberal, Scarborough Centre, ON]

I would like to nominate Mr. Dhaliwal for the position of the chair.

[The Clerk]

It has been moved by Ms. Zahid that Mr. Dhaliwal be elected as chair of the committee.

Are there further motions?

None being seen, is it the will of the committee to adopt the motion?

(Motion agreed to)

I declare the motion carried and Mr. Dhaliwal duly elected chair of the committee.

I invite the chair to take the chair.

[The Chair, Liberal, Sukh Dhaliwal]

Good evening.

I want to thank each and every one of you for giving me an opportunity to chair this meeting. I would also like to thank Madam Clerk for presiding over the meeting earlier.

I also welcome two analysts. We have Ms. Allison Goody and Ms. Julie Béchard, as well as the other support staff.

If the committee is in agreement, I will invite the clerk to proceed with the election of the vice-chairs. The first vice-chair will be from the official opposition. The second vice-chair will be from an opposition party other than the official opposition party.

[The Clerk]

Pursuant to the order adopted by the House on December 8, 2021, there shall be one vice-chair from each of the other recognized parties.

I am now prepared to receive motions for the vice-chair from the official opposition.

Ms. Findlay.

[Kerry-Lynne Findlay, Conservative, South Surrey—White Rock, BC]

Madam Clerk, I nominate the honourable Michael Chong as vice-chair.

[The Clerk]

It has been moved by Ms. Findlay that Mr. Chong from the official opposition be elected as vice-chair of the committee.

Are there any further motions?

None being seen, is it the will of the committee to adopt the motion?

(Motion agreed to)

I declare the motion carried and Mr. Chong duly elected vice-chair of the committee from the official opposition.

I'm now prepared to receive motions

for the position of vice‑chair of the committee for the Bloc Québécois.

Mr. El‑Khoury, the floor is yours.

[Fayçal El-Khoury, Liberal, Laval—Les Îles, QC]

I nominate Mr. Duceppe.

[The Clerk]

Mr. El‑Khoury moved that Mr. Duceppe—

[Alexis Brunelle-Duceppe, Bloc, Lac-Saint-Jean, QC]

My name is Brunelle‑Duceppe. Otherwise, you will have my father, and that may not be a good idea.

[The Clerk]

I apologize.

Mr. El‑Khoury moved that Mr. Brunelle‑Duceppe be elected vice‑chair of the committee for the Bloc Québécois.

(Motion agreed to)

I declare the motion carried and Mr. Brunelle‑Duceppe duly elected vice‑chair of the committee for the Bloc Québécois.

I'm now prepared to receive motions for the vice-chair from the NDP.

Mr. Chong.

[Michael Chong, Conservative, Wellington—Halton Hills, ON]

Mr. Chair, I nominate Ms. Jenny Kwan for the position of vice-chair.

[The Clerk]

It has been moved by Mr. Chong that Ms. Kwan be elected vice-chair of the committee from the NDP.

Is it the will of the committee to adopt the motion?

(Motion agreed to)

Ms. Kwan is duly elected NDP vice-chair.

Mr. Chair.

[The Chair, Liberal, Sukh Dhaliwal]

Thank you, Madam Clerk.

Welcome to meeting number one of the House of Commons Special Committee on Afghanistan.

Today's meeting is taking place in a hybrid format, pursuant to the House order of November 25, 2021. Members are attending in person in the room and remotely using the Zoom application, but of course all of them are present here today. Regardless, for the speaking list, the committee clerk and I will do the best we can to maintain a consolidated order of speaking for all members, whether participating virtually or in person.

I would like to take this opportunity to remind all participants to this meeting that screenshots or taking photos of your screen is not permitted.

The proceedings will be made available via the House of Commons website.

Given the ongoing pandemic situation and in light of the recommendations from public health authorities, as well as the directive of the Board of Internal Economy on October 19, 2021, to remain healthy and safe, the following is recommended for all those attending the meeting in person. Anyone with symptoms should participate by Zoom and not attend the meeting in person. Everyone must maintain two metres of physical distance, whether seated or standing. Everyone must wear a non-medical mask when circulating in the room. It is recommended in the strongest possible terms that members wear their masks at all times, including when seated. Non-medical masks, which provide better clarity over cloth masks, are available in this room at the back.

Everyone present must maintain proper hand hygiene by using the hand sanitizer at the room entrance. Committee rooms are cleaned before and after each meeting. To maintain this, everyone is encouraged to clean surfaces such as desks, chairs and microphones with the provided disinfectant wipes when vacating or taking a seat.

As chair, I will be enforcing these measures for the duration of the meeting, and I thank all members in advance for their co-operation.

I also would like to congratulate Mr. Chong, Mr. Brunelle-Duceppe and Madam Jenny Kwan on being the vice-chairs. I'm looking forward to working with each and every one of you.

Is there any other business?

I have Madam Zahid.

[Salma Zahid, Liberal, Scarborough Centre, ON]

Thank you, Chair, and congratulations on being elected as chair. I'm looking forward to working with you.

With your permission, may I read the routine motions?

[The Chair, Liberal, Sukh Dhaliwal]

Yes. Please go ahead.

[Salma Zahid, Liberal, Scarborough Centre, ON]

I'll read them one by one and then we can go from there.

The first one is on analyst services. I move:

That the committee retain, as needed and at the discretion of the Chair, the services of one or more analysts from the Library of Parliament to assist it in its work.

[The Chair, Liberal, Sukh Dhaliwal]

Madam Clerk, do you want to elaborate on these routine motions?

[The Clerk]

No, thank you.

[Salma Zahid, Liberal, Scarborough Centre, ON]

Should I read them one by one or all together?

[The Chair, Liberal, Sukh Dhaliwal]

We can do them all together if that is the will of the committee.

[Michael Chong, Conservative, Wellington—Halton Hills, ON]

Why don't we just adopt them one by one?

[The Chair, Liberal, Sukh Dhaliwal]

Okay.

(Motion agreed to)

[Salma Zahid, Liberal, Scarborough Centre, ON]

On the subcommittee on agenda and procedure, I move:

That the Subcommittee on Agenda and Procedure be established and be composed of the Chair, one member from each recognized party; and that the subcommittee work in a spirit of collaboration.

(Motion agreed to)

[Salma Zahid, Liberal, Scarborough Centre, ON]

On meeting without a quorum, I move:

That the Chair be authorized to hold meetings to receive evidence and to have that evidence published when a quorum is not present, provided that at least four members are present, including two members of the opposition parties and two members of the government party, but when travelling outside the Parliamentary Precinct, that the meeting begin after 15 minutes, regardless of members present.

(Motion agreed to)