Afghanistan Committee on Dec. 13th, 2021

[Salma Zahid, Liberal, Scarborough Centre, ON]

Thank you.

The next one is with regard to technical tests for witnesses. 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 advises the committee, at the start of each meeting, of any witness who did not perform the required technical tests.

(Motion agreed to)

[Salma Zahid, Liberal, Scarborough Centre, ON]

The last one is with regard to linguistic review. I move:

That all documents submitted for committee business that do not come from a federal department, member's 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, Sukh Dhaliwal]

Thank you, Madam Zahid.

Madam Kwan has the floor. I will ask Mr. Brunelle-Duceppe to speak second.

[Jenny Kwan, NDP, Vancouver East, BC]

Thank you very much, Mr. Chair.

I'd like to move an additional motion for the committee's consideration in relation to the in camera meetings. It would be helpful for us to have clear parameters on what items should be dealt with in camera, so that we don't end up spending valuable time debating what should and shouldn't be in camera.

To that end, I move:

That the committee may meet in camera only for the following purposes:

(a) to consider a draft report;

(b) to attend briefings concerning national security;

(c) to consider lists of witnesses; and

(d) for any other reason with the unanimous consent of the committee.

[The Chair, Liberal, Sukh Dhaliwal]

Thank you.

I'll recognize Mr. Brunelle-Duceppe.

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

We'll wait for that.

[The Chair, Liberal, Sukh Dhaliwal]

Thank you.

Is there any discussion on this motion?

If there is no discussion, I would like to take a vote.

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

Mr. Chair, could I speak?

On this proposal, the difficulty with it is that it says that all votes taken in camera....

[Jenny Kwan, NDP, Vancouver East, BC]

I didn't move that part.

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

You didn't move that part. That's what I have here in front of me.

[Jenny Kwan, NDP, Vancouver East, BC]

I only moved (a) to (d). Shall I repeat it, Mr. Chair?

[The Chair, Liberal, Sukh Dhaliwal]

Sure. I think it's better to be clear.

Go ahead, Madam Zahid.

[Salma Zahid, Liberal, Scarborough Centre, ON]

Do we have that motion? Is it available in both languages?

[The Chair, Liberal, Sukh Dhaliwal]

I'll ask Madam Clerk. In the meantime, I would acknowledge Mr. Brunelle-Duceppe.

Did you want to add something?

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

We'll have to wait and see what happens to Ms. Kwan's motions, because I have another motion.

[The Chair, Liberal, Sukh Dhaliwal]

I would like to deal with Madam Kwan's motion first, and then I'll come back to yours.

Mr. El-Khoury, you have.... Is it on Madam Kwan's motion?

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

Mr. Chair, if it's possible, I would like to receive the motion in writing to understand it perfectly, and then we could discuss it.

[The Chair, Liberal, Sukh Dhaliwal]

Okay.

I'm going to suspend the meeting for a few minutes so we can solve this issue here.

We're suspended.

[The Chair, Liberal, Sukh Dhaliwal]

Madam Clerk has already circulated the motion, which you should have received on your P9 account. It's pretty clear.

Mr. Chong, is it clear now?

Can we take a vote on this now?

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

Mr. Chair, with respect to Madam Kwan, I don't support the motion because I don't think going in camera should require unanimous consent. I think if it's the will of the majority of the committee to go in camera, to adjourn or to do anything, the committee should so proceed. I don't think we should subject it to unanimous consent.

There are other tools available for members who have the minority of views on this committee other than requiring unanimity.

Thanks.

[The Chair, Liberal, Sukh Dhaliwal]

Thank you.

Before I go to a vote I will give Madam Kwan the last opportunity, if she wants, to say something. Otherwise, I will call the vote.

[Jenny Kwan, NDP, Vancouver East, BC]

Thank you very much, Mr. Chair. I'm ready for the vote.

[The Chair, Liberal, Sukh Dhaliwal]

Thank you.

Do you wish to have a recorded vote?

Madam Clerk, please call the roll.

(Motion negatived: nays 10; yeas 1)

I will now give the floor to Mr. Brunelle-Duceppe.

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

Mr. Chair, does that conclude the introduction of the routine motions?

[The Chair, Liberal, Sukh Dhaliwal]

No, there are additional routine motions.

Mr. Chong, please continue.