Canada-China Relations Committee on June 13th, 2022

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

I might present the next routine motion. I'm not quite sure how to do it, because I would like to amend the routine motion slightly to follow the model that we had in the last Parliament for this committee.

I'll explain it before I move the motion, which is not really good procedure. The last time, we gave the chair the authorization to adjust the time of the opening statement, in consultation with the vice-chairs.

That was to allow discretion, because there could be some times when we have one witness and instead of giving them five minutes, we gave them 10, because that could be useful. Other times, using your discretion, it could be five minutes or seven minutes, or whatever. It worked well, I think, in the last Parliament for this committee.

What I will do is read it with that change in it. It would read:

That witnesses be given five minutes to make their opening statement; and that the Chair be authorized to adjust the time of the opening statement, in consultation with the vice-chairs; that whenever possible, witnesses provide the committee with their opening statement 72 hours in advance; that at the discretion of the Chair, during the questioning of witnesses, there be allocated six minutes for the first questioner of each party as follows for the first round:

Conservative Party

Liberal Party

Bloc Québécois

New Democratic Party

For the second and subsequent rounds of questioning, the order and time for questioning be as follows:

Conservative Party, five minutes

Liberal Party, five minutes

Bloc Québécois, two and a half minutes

New Democratic Party, two and half minutes

Conservative Party, five minutes

Liberal Party, five minutes.

(Motion agreed to)

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

Mr. Chair, I'll take over for the next few and then I'll yield to Ms. Yip. That's an early warning, I guess.

Regarding document distribution:

That only the clerk of the committee be authorized to distribute documents to members of the committee and only when such documents exist in both official languages, and that witnesses be advised accordingly.

(Motion agreed to)

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

This is a really important one. Regarding working meals:

That the clerk of the committee, at the discretion of the chair, be authorized to make the necessary arrangements to provide working meals for the committee and its subcommittees.

[The Chair, Liberal, Ken Hardie]

Who would object to that? I'm sorry. What I just said is not official.

Is there any discussion?

Are all in favour? Are any opposed?

(Motion agreed to)

Thank you.

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

The next one is on travel, accommodation and living expenses of witnesses:

That, if requested, reasonable travel, accommodation and living expenses be reimbursed to witnesses not exceeding two representatives per organization; and that, in exceptional circumstances, payment for more representatives be made at the discretion of the Chair.

[The Chair, Liberal, Ken Hardie]

Are there any comments?

Mr. Oliphant.

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

I think there is a problem with the translation. In my opinion, it has been cut and pasted. It is a translation of the other motion. I think the clerk is aware of the problem.

[The Chair, Liberal, Ken Hardie]

Do we have a solution for this?

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

He read it, so it's fine.

[The Chair, Liberal, Ken Hardie]

Are all in favour? Are any opposed?

(Motion agreed to)

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

I'll continue:

That, unless otherwise ordered, each committee member be allowed to be accompanied by one staff person at an in camera meeting and that one additional person from each House officer's office be allowed to be present.

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

Mr. Chair, I believe “House officer” is a euphemism for “the whip”, is it not?

[The Chair, Liberal, Ken Hardie]

We called him that to be polite.

The clerk advises me that “House officer” could also include the House leader's office. Which do we prefer? Let's make this a little bit simpler.

Are any opposed?

(Motion agreed to)

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

I'll continue:

That one copy of the transcript of each in camera meeting be kept in the committee clerk’s office for consultation by members of the committee, or by their staff; and that the analysts assigned to the committee also have access to the in camera transcripts.

In our previous committee, we did not authorize the analysts to access in camera transcripts.

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

Frankly, we think that is dumb.

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

We thought it was bizarre, so we're suggesting that the opposite happen here.

[The Chair, Liberal, Ken Hardie]

You're suggesting that the routine motion as you read it be the one that stands, without the additional cutting out of the analyst. Is that correct?

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

Yes.

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

Mr. Chair, none of us can remember why the analysts were not allowed to have access to the transcripts of in camera meetings. We can't remember why and we think it was probably not a good reason. We think the analysts should have access to in camera transcripts.

[The Chair, Liberal, Ken Hardie]

That's the motion.

Are any opposed?

(Motion agreed to)

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

Just before I pass it off to Ms. Yip, this is on notice of motion:

That a 48-hour notice, interpreted as two nights, be required for any substantive motion to be considered by the committee, unless the substantive motion relates directly to business then under consideration, provided that: (a) the notice be filed with the clerk of the committee no later than 4:00 p.m. from Monday to Friday; (b) the motion be distributed to Members and the offices of the whips of each recognized party in both official languages by the clerk on the same day the said notice was transmitted if it was received no later than the deadline hour; (c) notice received after the deadline hour or on non-business days be deemed to have been received during the next business day; and that when the committee is travelling on official business, no substantive motion may be moved.

I hope I read that in a way that helped the translators.

[The Chair, Liberal, Ken Hardie]

Thank you.

Are there any comments? Are any opposed?

(Motion agreed to)

Ms. Yip.

[Jean Yip, Liberal, Scarborough—Agincourt, ON]

I'll just carry on with the motion on technical tests for witnesses:

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 advise the committee, at the start of each meeting, of any witness who did not perform the required technical tests.

[The Chair, Liberal, Ken Hardie]

I believe we jumped over one, but we can handle this one now and then go back to the other.

[Voices]

We're not going to get at the bills. The other one's not necessary to move forward yet.