Canada-China Relations Committee on Aug. 6th, 2020

[The Chair, Liberal, Geoff Regan]

I call this meeting to order.

Welcome to meeting number nine of the House of Commons Special Committee on Canada-China Relations.

Pursuant to the order of reference of July 20, 2020, the committee is meeting on its study on Canada-China relations.

To ensure an orderly meeting, here are a few rules to follow.

Interpretation in this video conference will work very much as it does in a regular committee meeting.

You have the choice, at the bottom of your screen, of either floor, English or French. As you're speaking, if you plan to alternate from one language to the other, you'll need to also switch the interpretation channel so that it aligns with the language you're speaking. You may want to allow for a short pause when switching languages.

Before speaking, please wait until I recognize you by name. When you're ready to speak, you can click on the microphone icon to activate your microphone. A reminder that all comments by members and witnesses should be addressed through the chair.

If a member wishes to speak outside the time provided for their questions, they must turn on their microphone and state that they wish to raise a point of order. If a member wishes to address a point of order raised by another member, they must use the “raise hand” function to inform the chair that they want to speak. To do so, you must click on “participants” at the bottom of the screen. When the list appears beside your name, you'll see an option to raise your hand.

Make sure that you speak slowly and clearly. I'll try to do the same. When you aren't speaking, your microphone should be on mute. The use of headsets is strongly encouraged.

I should mention that the clerk has informed me that there was a major Internet outage today in Ottawa. We're hoping that it will not reoccur and cause us any problems, but the technicians are aware of that. I don't think they can do much about it, but hopefully it won't reoccur.

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

I have a point of order, Mr. Chair.

You made reference to an option at the bottom of the screen allowing you to raise your hand with some device. I don't have such a thing. I have a “Reactions” button, which allows me to clap one hand or give a thumbs-up, but no raising of the hand, so I don't know....

[Dan Albas, Conservative, Central Okanagan—Similkameen—Nicola, BC]

You should hit “Participants”. Then it will open up another screen and it will say “Raise Hand”.

[The Chair, Liberal, Geoff Regan]

You know, I could ask Mr. Albas to wait until he is recognized, but I think that was a very helpful intervention.

Could you go over that again, Dan?

[Dan Albas, Conservative, Central Okanagan—Similkameen—Nicola, BC]

In the centre of the screen, you should see “Participants”. Right now I see one that has 26 participants. Next to the “English” button, or your language button, you click on “Participants”, and it will have a menu of all the people who are on there. At the bottom, I believe on the right, it will say “Raise Hand”.

[The Chair, Liberal, Geoff Regan]

Mr. Harris, is that helpful?

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

No. There are three icons on the bottom: “Participants”, “English”, and next to that is “Reactions”. When I press on “Participants”, I don't get anything other than.... Hold on, there's a list on the right-hand side. Is that what you're talking about, Dan?

[Dan Albas, Conservative, Central Okanagan—Similkameen—Nicola, BC]

Yes, at the bottom right.

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

Okay. You have the actual list of the names of the participants. I see it now, sir.

[The Chair, Liberal, Geoff Regan]

Beneath that list are three words: “Invite”, “Mute Me” and “Raise Hand”—

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

I have my hand raised there now.

[The Chair, Liberal, Geoff Regan]

Excellent. I don't see it, but you know how to do it, so I think we're all right.

Thank you very much.

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

It's raised there now.

[The Chair, Liberal, Geoff Regan]

Apparently the clerk is indicating that she sees it. I don't see it. That's odd. Is it raised on the list of participants? I'm sorry, but....

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

It isn't now. Mr. Williamson's is, but mine is not.

Oh, it is now. Yes, okay.

[The Chair, Liberal, Geoff Regan]

I'm sorry for the confusion about this, but it's important to work this out. My expectation would be that we would see the raised hand on your screen. I wonder if that's not correct.

Perhaps the clerk could clarify this.

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

I can see it on my screen now, yes.

[The Clerk of the Committee, Ms. Christine Holke]

Mr. Chair, I see both raised hands, on Mr. Williamson's video and Mr. Harris's, as well as in the participants list.

[The Chair, Liberal, Geoff Regan]

All right. Well, I'm going to ask Mr. Harris to do that again, because I didn't see it and I'm going to need to see it, obviously.

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

I'll lower it now. Now it's gone. I'll press “raise hand” again, and now it's back up again.

[The Chair, Liberal, Geoff Regan]

Okay, I see where it is. I'll have to have that off to the side then. That's going to be one more thing to have open here.

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

That was my same problem. I did not have that list open.

[The Chair, Liberal, Geoff Regan]

I'm sorry for the delay here, but that's very useful. That's going to be challenging, perhaps, but I'll try to keep my eye on that. Thank you very much.

Since my colleagues insist that the meeting stems from a recommendation by the Subcommittee on Agenda and Procedure, we need to ratify this recommendation before proceeding further. I understand that Mr. Oliphant is prepared to move a motion to do this.

Go ahead, Mr. Oliphant.

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

Yes, thank you, Mr. Chair. It's good to see everybody.

I begin by apologizing for not having a tie on. I would normally wear a tie, but I am at the cottage and the meeting was called while I was still at the cottage. I could do up my button, and hang something funny from my neck, but I thought that was ruder than not having a tie on.

I'm going to begin with a motion, and this is, as the chair said, in light of the fact that the subcommittee met but has not yet had a report ratified. We'll be able to do it at the end of the meeting, but to facilitate this meeting happening, I would move that the committee meet from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m. today, Thursday, August 6, 2020; that former ambassadors David Mulroney, John McCallum and Robert Wright, as well as Dr. Lobsang Sangay, be invited to appear from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m.; and that the committee discuss committee business from 6 p.m. to 7 p.m.

That is the motion.

Thank you, Mr. Chair.

[The Chair, Liberal, Geoff Regan]

Thank you, Mr. Oliphant.

As stipulated in the latest order of reference from the House, all motions shall be decided by way of a recorded vote. I will now ask the clerk to proceed—