Economic Relationship between Canada and the United States Committee on Feb. 23rd, 2021

[The Clerk of the Committee, Ms. Erica Pereira]

Honourable members of the committee, I see that we have a quorum.

First of all, I must inform members that the clerk of the committee can receive motions only for the election of the chair. The clerk cannot receive other types of motions, entertain points of order or participate in debate.

We can now proceed to the election of the chair. Pursuant to Standing Order 106(2) and the motion adopted by the House of Commons on February 16, 2021, the chair must be a member of the government party.

I am ready to receive motions for the position of chair.

[Randeep Sarai, Liberal, Surrey Centre, BC]

Madam Clerk, I'd like to nominate MP Raj Saini for chair.

[The Clerk]

Thank you, Mr. Sarai.

It's been moved by Mr. Sarai that Mr. Saini be nominated for the position of chair.

(Motion agreed to)

I declare the motion adopted and Mr. Saini duly elected chair of the committee.

Mr. Saini, I will turn it over to you.

[The Chair, Liberal, Raj Saini]

Thank you very much, everybody.

I'm really excited to be joining this committee. I'm thankful for and humbled by your confidence in me. It's an honour for me to have the opportunity to work with all of you. Some of you I've worked with on other committees.

To strengthen our relationship with our oldest friend and ally, I hope we can do a lot of good work together, unified in our shared Canadian values, and strengthen our economic relationship with the United States.

In this committee I consider us all Canadians, and I look forward to working with all of you as members of team Canada. We shall serve Canadians and our constituents with great ability and confidence.

I now will take any recommendations for vice-chair.

Mr. Lewis.

[Chris Lewis, Conservative, Essex, ON]

Mr. Chair, first and foremost, congratulations. I'm very much looking forward to working with you, sir.

Sir, I would put forward MP Mark Strahl as vice-chair of this committee.

[The Chair, Liberal, Raj Saini]

Are there any other nominations?

[The Clerk]

Mr. Chair, if I may jump in here, just so members know, pursuant to the motion adopted in the House on February 16, 2021, the committee may elect three vice-chairs, one from the official opposition, one from the Bloc Québécois and one from the New Democratic Party.

We'll proceed in that order.

It has been moved by Mr. Lewis that Mr. Mark Strahl be elected vice-chair of the committee.

(Motion agreed to)

Mr. Chair, I declare that Mr. Mark Strahl has been elected vice-chair of the committee.

Would you like me to continue with the other vice-chairs?

[The Chair, Liberal, Raj Saini]

Yes.

[The Clerk]

Thank you, Mr. Chair.

I'm now prepared to receive motions for the election of the vice-chair from the Bloc Québécois.

Ms. Romanado, you have the floor.

[Sherry Romanado, Liberal, Longueuil—Charles-LeMoyne, QC]

I'd like to nominate Mr. Savard-Tremblay.

[The Clerk]

Thank you.

It has been moved by Ms. Romanado that Mr. Savard-Tremblay be elected vice-chair of the committee.

(Motion agreed to)

I declare the motion carried and Mr. Savard-Tremblay

duly elected vice-chair of the committee.

I'm now prepared to received motions for the vice-chair from the New Democratic Party.

Ms. Bendayan.

[Rachel Bendayan, Liberal, Outremont, QC]

Madam Clerk, it is a pleasure and an honour to nominate my colleague, Mr. Blaikie, from the NDP, as vice-chair of this committee.

[The Clerk]

Thank you.

It's been moved by Ms. Bendayan that Mr. Blaikie be elected as vice-chair of the committee.

(Motion agreed to)

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

Mr. Chair, I will turn it back to you.

[The Chair, Liberal, Raj Saini]

Thank you very much.

Ms. Bendayan.

[Rachel Bendayan, Liberal, Outremont, QC]

Thank you.

With the permission of the chair I would like to move some routine motions.

[The Chair, Liberal, Raj Saini]

Go ahead.

[Rachel Bendayan, Liberal, Outremont, QC]

Thank you very much.

I will begin with analyst services. I move:

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.

[The Chair, Liberal, Raj Saini]

Is there any debate?

I don't see any.

(Motion agreed to)

[Rachel Bendayan, Liberal, Outremont, QC]

Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Here is the motion regarding the Subcommittee on Agenda and Procedure:

That the Subcommittee on Agenda and Procedure be established and be composed of five members, namely the Chair, the three vice-chairs and one other member from the government; and that the Subcommittee work in a spirit of collaboration.

[The Chair, Liberal, Raj Saini]

Is there any debate?

(Motion agreed to)

[Rachel Bendayan, Liberal, Outremont, QC]

Next is the motion regarding meeting without a quorum:

That the Chair be authorized to hold meetings to receive evidence and to have that evidence printed when a quorum is not present, provided that at least four members are present, including two members of the opposition and two members of the government, but when travelling outside the parliamentary precinct, that the meeting begin after 15 minutes, regardless of members present.

[The Chair, Liberal, Raj Saini]

Is there any debate?

(Motion agreed to)

[Rachel Bendayan, Liberal, Outremont, QC]

Here is the motion concerning the time for opening remarks and questioning of witnesses:

That witnesses be given five minutes for their opening statements; that the Chair be authorized to adjust the time of the opening statement, in consultation with the vice-chairs; 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, 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 a half minutes; Conservative Party, five minutes; Liberal Party, five minutes.

[The Chair, Liberal, Raj Saini]

Is there any debate?

Mr. Strahl.

[Mark Strahl, Conservative, Chilliwack—Hope, BC]

Mr. Chair, I would like to propose that we ensure that every member of the committee is given a chance to ask questions of witnesses before another member is given two opportunities to ask questions. I would propose that we amend the proposal regarding the wording for the second and subsequent rounds as follows: “For the second and subsequent rounds the order and time for questioning be as follows: Conservative Party, five minutes; Liberal Party, five minutes; Conservative Party, five minutes; Liberal Party, five minutes; Bloc Québécois, two and a half minutes; New Democratic Party, two and a half minutes”.

The times would be the same, but we would ensure that each member of this committee, who are all equal, is given an opportunity to question before any other member is given a second opportunity. I would move that friendly amendment.