Canada-China Relations Committee on Jan. 30th, 2020

[The Chair, Liberal, Geoff Regan]

Yes.

As colleagues will recall, the slots that were available for special committees were on Mondays, 11:00 until 1:00 or 5:30 to 7:30; Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday, 5:30 to 7:30; and Friday mornings, 8:45 to 10:45.

[Rob Oliphant, Liberal, Don Valley West, ON]

I'm just going to suggest that once these initial briefings are done and the ambassador has spoken, there should be a good subcommittee meeting to then assess and review witnesses and all that. I just don't think we can do it before then.

The other issue is that we have a preference on this side—it's a preference, not a demand—to meet once a week for three hours as opposed to twice a week for two hours each, with the option of having occasional meetings added to that. We would like our default to be one meeting, three hours a week, because of committee responsibilities. Almost all of our members have a second committee that they are on, so we are trying to balance that.

We feel we need to keep it within the times allotted by the House for special committees. We think that, on occasion, we could do an extra evening meeting, but our preference is to meet on Monday and our preference is to have a three-hour meeting.

[The Chair, Liberal, Geoff Regan]

Members will recall, of course, that if we are outside the times I indicated a moment ago, we might have a problem with its being televised. Of course, we also talked about the fact that we can always be webcast.

Mr. Warkentin.

[Chris Warkentin, Conservative, Grande Prairie—Mackenzie, AB]

I understand the joy of being a Chair and trying to figure out what works for everybody.

I think we probably have to stick to the two-hour increments, for a couple of reasons. One is the technical aspects of scheduling, but also, two-hour increments are what other committees have, so if we start overlapping into other committees, it would make it that much more difficult for our members to schedule and to be able to attend.

Our preference is probably for two two-hour meetings, if there is a way. We're not adamantly opposed to the one three-hour meeting, but I think it's that much more difficult to plan.

[The Chair, Liberal, Geoff Regan]

It's one thing that members would want to discuss at the subcommittee next week. Either way, I need to know when that should happen, when we have that meeting.

[Chris Warkentin, Conservative, Grande Prairie—Mackenzie, AB]

Let's plan. I'm available starting Monday, but if we'd like to have an initial subcommittee meeting on Monday just to simply nail that down, then we'll have another subcommittee meeting to talk about the work plan.

[The Chair, Liberal, Geoff Regan]

What time on Monday do you have in mind?

[Chris Warkentin, Conservative, Grande Prairie—Mackenzie, AB]

Monday morning or afternoon work fine for me.

[The Chair, Liberal, Geoff Regan]

Mr. Bergeron, the afternoon does not suit you? Okay. You have the floor.

[Stéphane Bergeron, Bloc, Montarville, QC]

Thank you.

I just want to say that I agree with the first part of what Mr. Oliphant said and I disagree with the second part. I agree that it is perhaps appropriate to first hold the committee meeting with the second series of briefings, to have the meeting with the ambassador, and then to have the subcommittee meeting. As I see it, that could perhaps happen on Thursday morning or Thursday afternoon.

I repeat my preference for two meetings of two hours rather than one meeting of three hours. I also remind you that Mondays are much more difficult for me.

[The Chair, Liberal, Geoff Regan]

We could discuss that, of course, at the subcommittee. I guess the question is that Mr. Bergeron has suggested Thursday morning or afternoon for the subcommittee, as opposed to perhaps Monday or Tuesday.

Mr. Harris.

[Jack Harris, NDP, St. John's East, NL]

I prefer the two meetings instead of one. I'm looking at Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday and the committee meetings—as was mentioned, some people are on two committees, including me—on both Tuesday and Thursday. The exact slots, I don't know.

It seems to be that, with all consideration to Mr. Bergeron's position, Monday, for me at least, is wide open. I'm willing to come here and to be here for that, whatever time of day it is. I can do it in the afternoon or whenever else we can potentially accommodate Mr. Bergeron's situation. I'd be happy to do that. That's really all I have to add to this, but I agree with waiting until after Mr. Barton speaks to have a subcommittee meeting.

[The Chair, Liberal, Geoff Regan]

I'm hearing Thursday morning, at least from one member. Is Thursday morning a good time for the subcommittee to meet and try to work out an ongoing time or times for regular meetings?

[Rob Oliphant, Liberal, Don Valley West, ON]

That would be fine. What I would ask also is that there be a meeting of the whips to look at the convention that we have around special meetings and special committee times. Our whips have worked that out over many years and we think it needs the respect of members.

We work here Monday to Friday. That is our reality. We would like to respect the fact that other committees have times that are required. We have members in all the time slots of all the other committees, so we would like that respected. We think that probably is a whips' discussion to make sure that we are in agreement on that and then also have our subcommittee meeting.

[The Chair, Liberal, Geoff Regan]

That's a request for the whips to deal with.

[Rob Oliphant, Liberal, Don Valley West, ON]

That's a request.

[The Chair, Liberal, Geoff Regan]

I also want to ask Mr. Bergeron, given that it involves him.

Could you tell me what time on Thursday morning would suit you for the meeting? As for the length, would you prefer one hour or two hours?

Mr. Bergeron, you have the floor.

[Stéphane Bergeron, Bloc, Montarville, QC]

The time does not matter at all. I will be there when and where you would like us to meet. I am fine if the meeting has to go for two hours.

I would just like to react to what Mr. Oliphant has just said. Unless I am mistaken, I do not think we need to refer this to the whip. Time slots for special committees have already been reserved and they do not conflict with the time slots for the standing committees. Like most of my colleagues, I also sit on another standing committee. But I do not believe that there is the slightest possibility of conflict between the time slots for standing committees and those scheduled for special committees. We just have to reserve two time slots for the special committees. Normally, everything should work perfectly.

[The Chair, Liberal, Geoff Regan]

Mr. Fragiskatos.

[Peter Fragiskatos, Liberal, London North Centre, ON]

I was just going to say, on the point about consulting the whips, that I think it makes sense, because this is a special committee, and they have the institutional knowledge. I certainly know that on our side, the official who we worked with from the whip's office has been here since the 1990s. There's plenty of experience on all sides for us to tap into that institutional knowledge to figure out how we can plan these meetings from a logistical perspective. We would be very wise to go back and consult them. I think that's a very reasonable suggestion.

[Rob Oliphant, Liberal, Don Valley West, ON]

Mr. Chairman, I might not have been clear. My comment about consulting the whips had to do with whether we were encroaching upon any other committee's time. That's all.

[Peter Fragiskatos, Liberal, London North Centre, ON]

Yes, and that's how I took it.

[Rob Oliphant, Liberal, Don Valley West, ON]

If we're staying within the times that have been agreed to over the years by parties for special committees, I have no trouble, but if somehow someone is suggesting that we should not be meeting on days that are allotted for that, then that's my concern.

[The Chair, Liberal, Geoff Regan]

I have an immigration committee at 8:45 next Thursday. Could we meet in subcommittee from 11 until 12?

I'm getting some nods and thumbs up. Mr. Harris is hoping to be able to join us for that time.

[Jack Harris, NDP, St. John's East, NL]

I'm hoping to be able to come.