Evidence of meeting #1 for Canada-China Relations in the 43rd Parliament, 2nd Session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was chair.

A recording is available from Parliament.

On the agenda

MPs speaking

Also speaking

Clerk of the Committee  Ms. Marie-France Lafleur
Allison Goody  Committee Researcher

1:05 p.m.

Conservative

Michael Chong Conservative Wellington—Halton Hills, ON

Mr. Chair, I nominate Mr. Harris for the position of vice-chair of the committee.

1:05 p.m.

The Clerk

If we can just go back to the second nomination for a vice-chair,

If we step back….

1:05 p.m.

Bloc

Stéphane Bergeron Bloc Montarville, QC

We're an eager bunch, Madam Clerk.

1:05 p.m.

The Clerk

For the vice-chair from the Bloc Québécois, it has been moved by Mr. Dubourg that Mr. Bergeron be elected as vice-chair. Is it the pleasure of the committee to adopt the motion?

Excellent.

Thank you very much.

I declare Mr. Bergeron duly elected vice-chair of the committee.

(Motion agreed to)

1:05 p.m.

Bloc

Stéphane Bergeron Bloc Montarville, QC

Thank you to my fellow members.

1:05 p.m.

The Clerk

If we go to the vice-chair from the New Democratic Party, Mr. Chong nominated Mr. Harris.

Are there any further motions?

Seeing none, is it the pleasure of the committee to adopt the motion?

(Motion agreed to)

I declare the motion carried, and Mr. Harris duly elected as vice-chair of the committee.

Congratulations to all of you.

Mr. Chair, it's back to you.

1:05 p.m.

Liberal

The Chair Liberal Geoff Regan

Thank you, Madam Clerk, for giving me the indication of when it's the right time to go on to questions about future business.

I see Mr. Fragiskatos has his hand up. I'll try to keep an eye out and make a list of those who use the “raise hand” function. Hopefully, I'll be able to see it if you use it, but I see Mr. Harris after that, for the moment. Let's carry on.

Mr. Fragiskatos.

1:05 p.m.

Liberal

Peter Fragiskatos Liberal London North Centre, ON

Mr. Chair, if I could, I propose to read routine motions into the record to structure the committee.

1:10 p.m.

Liberal

The Chair Liberal Geoff Regan

All right. I guess we can go ahead with that now. After that, I'll go to Mr. Harris, but we may have to discussions once those are read in.

Mr. Fragiskatos, why don't you go ahead and read those. I think that's proper procedure.

1:10 p.m.

NDP

Jack Harris NDP St. John's East, NL

On a point of order, Mr. Chair, we did this yesterday in PROC, where there were some suggested amendments. The initial motion was to approve them all as one, but perhaps it might be helpful to identify the particular motions that may have a suggested amendment before Mr. Fragiskatos moves a motion for the entirety of them. I wasn't sure what his plan was.

1:10 p.m.

Liberal

The Chair Liberal Geoff Regan

I think Mr. Oliphant has his hand up on the same point of order.

Mr. Oliphant.

October 9th, 2020 / 1:10 p.m.

Liberal

Rob Oliphant Liberal Don Valley West, ON

By procedure, I would like to hear the motion, and then it would be open to amendment. It's very hard for us not to have the motion and then to discuss amendments. I think it would be best if we could get a motion out and then hear any proposed amendments.

1:10 p.m.

Liberal

The Chair Liberal Geoff Regan

I think Mr. Fragiskatos has the option of reading the whole motion, and then we can go to discussion after that. There are a variety of ways, of course, that the committee can handle this.

Mr. Fragiskatos.

1:10 p.m.

Liberal

Peter Fragiskatos Liberal London North Centre, ON

I'll go through them one by one, Mr. Chair. If colleagues have thoughts on what's been raised, of course they are free to speak. I'm happy to hear views. These are basic routine motions that we've seen in other committees and in this one as well.

The first routine motion relates to analyst services, as follows: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.

1:10 p.m.

Liberal

The Chair Liberal Geoff Regan

Maybe the clerk can assist me.

Do we normally read them all and then go on? I thought that was the process that Mr. Fragiskatos was proposing. What's normal in these cases?

1:10 p.m.

The Clerk

Just so that it's clear for everyone, it's easier to go through them one by one and then ask if there's amendment or debate, and then adopt it and move on to the next one.

1:10 p.m.

Liberal

The Chair Liberal Geoff Regan

That's great.

Is there amendment or debate in relation to the first motion we just heard?

(Motion agreed to)

Let's go on to the next one, Mr. Fragiskatos.

1:10 p.m.

Liberal

Peter Fragiskatos Liberal London North Centre, ON

Thank you, Chair.

This is regarding the subcommittee on agenda and procedure:That the subcommittee on Agenda and Procedure be established and be composed of five members; the chair, one Member from each Party, and that the subcommittee work in a spirit of collaboration.

1:10 p.m.

Liberal

The Chair Liberal Geoff Regan

Mr. Harris.

1:10 p.m.

NDP

Jack Harris NDP St. John's East, NL

The motion adopted in February said that it “be composed of five members: the Chair, the three Vice-Chairs, and one other member from the government, and that the Subcommittee on Agenda and Procedure work in a spirit of collaboration.” I suggest that we adopt that wording for this committee.

1:10 p.m.

Liberal

The Chair Liberal Geoff Regan

Does anyone else wish to comment on this?

Mr. Oliphant, did I see your hand up?

1:10 p.m.

Liberal

Rob Oliphant Liberal Don Valley West, ON

I was ready to vote.

1:10 p.m.

Liberal

Peter Fragiskatos Liberal London North Centre, ON

I'd consider it a friendly amendment, Mr. Chair. I'm fine with that.

1:10 p.m.

Liberal

The Chair Liberal Geoff Regan

That's what I was hoping.

Is it agreed, as amended by Mr. Harris?

1:10 p.m.

Conservative

Garnett Genuis Conservative Sherwood Park—Fort Saskatchewan, AB

Mr. Chair, I have a point of order. I wonder if we can do the voting by asking if it's agreed or if there are objections. Then we can proceed to a vote if there are objections. If these are mostly going to be carried unanimously, we can just....