Declaration of Emergency Committee on March 14th, 2022

[Peter Harder]

Very quickly, I think Matthew Green has given us some good advice. I think we are now getting into that which we would have had our procedure and agenda committee deal with, and I think that should be the subject of the next meeting.

What we might want to conclude today is that part of what we must report to comply with the order that has been given, which is what has to be tabled next Tuesday.... I think we've done a good job thus far in terms of the interim of that report and the motions we've already passed. If there are other routine motions that we could deal with in short order, fine, but we have only limited time today.

I agree that we have to indicate that we're making progress quickly, but the best way of doing that is to develop a work plan and get it adopted, so that people can see that we're being deliberative as well as expeditious. I would suggest that we finish today in the spirit of the motions that we've already adopted—and others, if necessary, that are routine—and have an agenda that is more procedural and scheduling as soon as possible.

[The Joint Chair, Hon. Gwen Boniface]

Madam Bendayan.

[Rachel Bendayan, Liberal, Outremont, QC]

Thank you, Madam Chair.

It sounds to me like there is some consensus around the table. I wonder if I could ask the clerks to let us know what might be included in the report that we are contemplating.

[The Joint Chair, Hon. Gwen Boniface]

We would obviously set it as a priority, and we'll ask the clerk to look at the anticipated interim report that will be required to be tabled, I understand, in the House on Tuesday and in the Senate on Wednesday.

[The Joint Clerk, Mr. Paul Cardegna]

Thank you, Madam Chair.

The analysts have prepared a brief draft report, which I have just sent by email to all members. Hopefully, all members will receive it electronically and be able to look at the text that's in it, and then the analysts can speak to it as necessary.

Thank you.

[The Joint Chair, Hon. Gwen Boniface]

Madam Bendayan.

[Rachel Bendayan, Liberal, Outremont, QC]

Can I ask the clerks to clarify something in the draft report that was just sent out?

[The Joint Chair, Hon. Gwen Boniface]

Yes, Madam Bendayan.

[Rachel Bendayan, Liberal, Outremont, QC]

Thank you, Madam Chair.

The report refers to the meeting being held today, March 14, as an organization meeting. As I see it, this is a committee meeting, not necessarily an organization meeting. Is there a difference between a meeting and an organization meeting?

[The Joint Clerk, Mr. Paul Cardegna]

An organization meeting is the meeting when the committee begins its work. Only one item appears on the agenda for the organization meeting, the election of the chairs. The committee cannot be properly constituted until the chairs have been elected. That meeting is referred to as the organization meeting to indicate that no prior meetings have been held. Basically, it's the first meeting, at which the chairs are elected. Once the chairs are elected, the committee can proceed with its work as it sees fit.

[The Joint Chair, Hon. Gwen Boniface]

Are there any comments on the report?

[Rachel Bendayan, Liberal, Outremont, QC]

Madam Chair, I understand the explanation now, but I would still like to propose that we use the term “a first meeting”.

[The Joint Chair, Hon. Gwen Boniface]

I am not seeing anybody disagree with “first meeting”. Is there agreement?

Instead of saying “held as an organization meeting”, it would say “held as a first meeting”.

We're seeing agreement around the table and thumbs-up on the screen. Thank you very much.

[The Joint Chair, NDP, Matthew Green]

I'm happy to move the report as amended.

[The Joint Chair, Hon. Gwen Boniface]

Are we all in agreement?

(Motion agreed to [See Minutes of Proceedings])

Excellent. Thank you.

Mr. Motz.

[Glen Motz, Conservative, Medicine Hat—Cardston—Warner, AB]

I'd like to go back to some comments from Mr. Virani and some of our Liberal colleagues. I have to agree that items one and two, as Mr. Virani sent, and my first motion as well, are routine matters that could be dealt with today. We've already dealt with the report.

I don't know how much time we have, Mr. Clerk, before we have to be gone, but if we have 10 or 15 minutes, we can deal with them, and then they are out of our way. Then we can get on to more substantive stuff next time we meet, whenever that is, which I suppose is another issue we have to deal with as well: When is that going to be, and where?

That's just my observation. I might be out of line, but I think they fall within the category of routine motions.

[The Joint Chair, Hon. Gwen Boniface]

I look to the committee.

[The Joint Chair, Bloc, Rhéal Fortin]

Are you talking about this motion, Mr. Motz?

[Glen Motz, Conservative, Medicine Hat—Cardston—Warner, AB]

That one, yes, Mr. Fortin, as well as numbers one and two from Mr. Virani, which I think could also be categorized there, unless I'm missing something—number one for sure.

[The Joint Chair, Hon. Gwen Boniface]

Mr. Green.

[The Joint Chair, NDP, Matthew Green]

Yes, this is again a reference to the routine motions we deleted that would have constituted an agenda meeting. To me, it feels like these two motions, one and two, would have been appropriate had we not disregarded the subcommittee nature of the agenda and process committee.

We're now contemplating this as a whole, and I believe my friend Mr. Fortin raised an important point, which is that if we're overly prescriptive without first contemplating the work plan, there may be scenarios in which some people would require greater scrutiny, and there may be situations in which having a panel that's more varied might be better. My caution is against being overly prescriptive before we've contemplated the work plan and, given that we're already going to be deciding this on a case-by-case basis in terms of who our selected witnesses are, it's going to be agreed on by consensus anyway, so it seems to be moot at this point.

[The Joint Chair, Hon. Gwen Boniface]

I see a lot of nodding. I'm wondering if we would be best to reflect on this, and we could deal with it as a priority and either move ahead with the motions at the next meeting or, once you've had a chance to reflect on it, deal with it as time permits as we move along.

Does that sound more agreeable to everyone?

I'm hearing agreement.

Mr. Clerk, are there other matters?

[The Joint Clerk, Mr. Paul Cardegna]

I'm not aware of any other matters that have to be raised at the committee at this time.

Thank you.

[The Joint Chair, Hon. Gwen Boniface]

Mr. Motz.

[Glen Motz, Conservative, Medicine Hat—Cardston—Warner, AB]

Would the motion I distributed about legal counsel be something that would be discussed at the next meeting as well?