Evidence of meeting #1 for Electoral Reform in the 42nd Parliament, 1st Session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was chair.
A recording is available from Parliament.
Conservative
Scott Reid Conservative Lanark—Frontenac—Kingston, ON
This is on an entirely different subject.
I know we don't want to presuppose or get ahead of the steering committee in terms of suggesting witnesses, but seeing as everybody else got in the game, I would suggest that any normal committee studying a legislative proposal or a change to the system would start with the relevant minister as a witness.
I suggest that we try to get Minister Monsef at the earliest convenient opportunity. I think the nature of the work the analysts are submitting to us means it's reasonable for them to appear ahead of her, but I do think we should be attempting to get Minister Monsef at the earliest reasonable opportunity, with regard always to considerations of availability, as we would with any minister in any similar situation.
Thank you.
NDP
Nathan Cullen NDP Skeena—Bulkley Valley, BC
I agree entirely with Mr. Reid. Through Mr. Holland—it's the traditional role of the parliamentary secretary to be a liaison between the committee and the minister—I think it would be very helpful for us to start with any comments Minister Monsef might have about what this committee is engaged in.
Liberal
Matt DeCourcey Liberal Fredericton, NB
I would tend to agree that we have Mr. Holland here to help us through that process. We've also, to my count, heard from the minister many, many, many times in the House of Commons. Now we have work that we need to do—speaking with academics, speaking with international experts, getting a sense of this process—before we endeavour to go down that road, to my mind.
Liberal
Ruby Sahota Liberal Brampton North, ON
I think this is a question of witnesses as well, so we should leave it up to the steering committee to schedule the minister, if possible. It's not a discussion we should have here at this time.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Francis Scarpaleggia
Mr. Holland, do you have something to add from the perspective of—
Liberal
Mark Holland Liberal Ajax, ON
I would just say that the minister obviously would look forward to speaking before the committee. I know that the steering committee will look at availability, the hearing of witnesses, and appropriate scheduling. We'll look forward to the committee's guidance on when it would be most valuable to appear.
Liberal
Conservative
Gérard Deltell Conservative Louis-Saint-Laurent, QC
I think it's a tremendous opportunity for everybody to know exactly what's in the mind of the minister. We certainly asked her plenty of questions, day after day after day, but we had only 30-second answers. Now we'll have plenty of time and plenty of questions. It will also give her plenty of time to explain what the target is with this bill, especially for this committee.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Francis Scarpaleggia
Duly noted. Of course, we will hold other discussions on those issues, especially as part of the steering committee's work.
If there's nothing else on the....
Yes, Madam May.
Green
Elizabeth May Green Saanich—Gulf Islands, BC
I'd just like to congratulate the chair on his election. I didn't get a chance to take the floor to congratulate the first vice-chair or the second vice-chair. I'd also like to say that I think this committee has started out in an excellent fashion. I think every single motion was approved unanimously. May it continue to be so.
Liberal
