Declaration of Emergency Committee on May 31st, 2022

[Rachel Bendayan, Liberal, Outremont, QC]

Mr. Chair, I think our colleague Senator White has moved an amendment. I would just like that to be clarified.

[The Joint Chair, Bloc, Rhéal Fortin]

You're right, he moved to reverse the order of the third and fourth groups.

[Rachel Bendayan, Liberal, Outremont, QC]

To be clear, I'll add that we would be supportive of the amendment.

[The Joint Chair, Bloc, Rhéal Fortin]

Is there unanimous consent to reversing the order of the third and fourth groups?

(Amendment agreed to [See Minutes of Proceedings])

[The Joint Chair, Bloc, Rhéal Fortin]

There is another point I would like to bring to your attention. In the event that one of these witnesses isn't available, or that the meeting is postponed, for various reasons, then the joint chairs, working with the clerks, should have the option of amending the list, for example by adding witnesses to replace the ones who aren't available. That would avoid pointlessly convening the committee. That's what I am proposing.

Is that agreeable, Ms. Bendayan?

[Rachel Bendayan, Liberal, Outremont, QC]

Yes.

[The Joint Chair, Bloc, Rhéal Fortin]

Mr. Brock, the floor is yours.

[Larry Brock, Conservative, Brantford—Brant, ON]

I'm proposing another amendment with respect to clause 4.

[The Joint Chair, Bloc, Rhéal Fortin]

Could we first finish dealing with my proposal?

You're saying you have another amendment to propose, is that right?

[Larry Brock, Conservative, Brantford—Brant, ON]

I missed what you're putting forward and what you're proposing. Can you repeat it, please?

[The Joint Chair, Bloc, Rhéal Fortin]

You didn't click on your mike, so I didn't hear you.

[Larry Brock, Conservative, Brantford—Brant, ON]

I'm sorry.

[The Joint Chair, Bloc, Rhéal Fortin]

Ms. Bendayan's motion has already been amended by Mr. White's amendment, to reverse the order of the third and fourth groups. Now, do you agree that if the witnesses were not available, the three joint chairs and the clerks could agree on other witnesses to call for those meetings?

Is that agreeable to everyone?

[Voices]

Agreed.

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

I have a question about the motion and the amendment.

[The Joint Chair, Bloc, Rhéal Fortin]

The floor is yours, Mr. Motz.

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

First of all, I know that 3 and 4 now have been flipped around, and I'm fine with that, but who will come from the Ottawa Police Service and who from the Ontario Provincial Police? That's pretty ambiguous. We need names, because I can't support an Ottawa Police Service, and I can't support an OPP.... Who are they?

We have lists of witnesses from both of those agencies who should be called. You can't have a motion like this with that.... It's not my motion, but I can't support a motion when we don't know who is going to be here.

[Rachel Bendayan, Liberal, Outremont, QC]

Are you proposing an amendment? You can easily specify who you would like in the motion.

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

Sure. I'd love to.

I would also suggest, once I give you the names, that our time allotment for that is certainly not enough. I know we're talking about one and a half hours for both individuals, as I read what's written here as being in number 4. That is not sufficient time for either one of those agencies, quite honestly, and if I look back over our previous discussions, we talked about expanding the number of Ottawa Police Service people who were going to be here, so that would be my suggestion.

Ottawa Police Service Deputy Chief Ferguson as well as Interim Chief Steve Bell should be included in the Ottawa Police Service list. The OPP has Commissioner Carrique and any senior officials he might bring. They should have one and a half hours each. That's an hour and a half for each session, and they need to be open to bringing officials from both agencies. The invitation should be open enough that they can bring officials who can speak to the invocation like we talk about it here. They could add some value to our meeting.

[The Joint Chair, Bloc, Rhéal Fortin]

Mr. Motz, I want to make sure I understood what you're proposing regarding the Ottawa Police Service properly. Do you want the committee to have the current chief and also its previous chief, Mr. Sloly?

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

No, I'm indicating Interim Chief Bell and Deputy Chief Ferguson for an hour and a half. Then I'm proposing Commissioner Carrique from the OPP and any senior officials for an hour and a half.

[The Joint Chair, Bloc, Rhéal Fortin]

Commissioner Carrique and then....

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

With senior officials.

[A voice]

[Inaudible—Editor] cancel the parliamentary security, because there's no other time.

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

They're listed above that, are they not?