Electoral Reform Committee on June 21st, 2016

[Some hon. members]

Agreed.

[The Chair, Liberal, Francis Scarpaleggia]

(Motion agreed to)

In that case, we need to suspend the meeting for three minutes.

[The Chair, Liberal, Francis Scarpaleggia]

I want to let my colleagues know that the meeting is now being televised and we can continue.

Mr. Deltell, go ahead.

[Gérard Deltell, Conservative, Louis-Saint-Laurent, QC]

Thank you, Mr. Chair.

We don't want to make things personal, but we are surprised to see Mr. Holland participating in this meeting. I will explain why.

Mr. Holland is parliamentary secretary to the Minister of Democratic Institutions. However, the Prime Minister said that parliamentary committee meetings would be run and attended only by members of Parliament who are neither parliamentary secretaries nor executive council members. That's why I'm asking the question.

[The Chair, Liberal, Francis Scarpaleggia]

You're right. However, Mr. Holland does not have the right to vote as part of our work and will not get involved in the proceedings. I don't know whether the committee objects to him being seated at the table to follow our discussion.

Does everyone agree that Mr. Holland can sit at the table during committee meetings?

Mr. Kenney, go ahead.

[Jason Kenney, Conservative, Calgary Midnapore, AB]

Mr. Chair, I don't think a specific person is the issue here, but parliamentary secretaries overall. I think Mr. Deltell wanted to point out that a commitment has been made. I think, in general, all rules must be followed, without targeting any person in particular.

[The Chair, Liberal, Francis Scarpaleggia]

Okay. Does anyone else want to share their opinion?

Mr. Cullen, go ahead.

[Nathan Cullen, NDP, Skeena—Bulkley Valley, BC]

I only want to say that we have the same situation at the Standing Committee on Environment and Sustainable Development with Mr. Aldag. The parliamentary secretary attends the meetings, but can't vote or make comments.

I understand Mr. Deltell's potential concern, which Mr. Kenney has reiterated. There's nothing personal, but I have seen this arrangment work fine on the environment committee, where the parliamentary secretary is there simply as an observer. It's the right of any MP, I believe, to come to the committee. As I'm sure Mr. Holland or Mr. DeCourcey will confirm, there is no voting and all of that good stuff, but he gets to watch our deliberations, which I think is fine for him to be able to do.

[The Chair, Liberal, Francis Scarpaleggia]

Thank you.

Go ahead, Mr. DeCourcey.

[Matt DeCourcey, Liberal, Fredericton, NB]

I wanted to make the same point as Mr. Cullen.

[The Chair, Liberal, Francis Scarpaleggia]

Ms. Romanado, I assume you wanted to address the same issue.

I see that everyone agrees. Thank you.

Mr. Holland, welcome to the meeting.

We will now continue with the adoption of certain routine motions. I will start with the first motion.

Ms. Sahota, go ahead.

[Ruby Sahota, Liberal, Brampton North, ON]

I'd like to move:

That the Committee retain, as needed and at the discretion of the Chair, the services of two analysts from the Library of Parliament to assist it in its work.

[The Chair, Liberal, Francis Scarpaleggia]

We can go to debate. Does anyone want to speak on this motion?

Go ahead, Mr. Reid.

[Scott Reid, Conservative, Lanark—Frontenac—Kingston, ON]

I'm not speaking against or for it; I'm just trying to confirm that this is different from the routine draft that was passed out. Is that correct?

[Ruby Sahota, Liberal, Brampton North, ON]

Yes, that is correct. I noticed from the House orders that two have been assigned to this committee. Because of that fact, I figured that it would be more accurate to state it in this way, so that at the very least we would have two, and, if needed from time to time, perhaps more.

[Scott Reid, Conservative, Lanark—Frontenac—Kingston, ON]

Would you be able to repeat the wording? I have a sense that the clerk may not have heard it. Have you already given a text to the clerk?

[Ruby Sahota, Liberal, Brampton North, ON]

I can repeat it, absolutely:

That the Committee retain, as needed and at the discretion of the Chair, the services of two analysts from the Library of Parliament to assist it in its work.

[The Chair, Liberal, Francis Scarpaleggia]

Thank you.

Is there agreement with this motion? Are there any objections? I don't see any.

(Motion agreed to)

I deem the motion adopted, and I would invite our two analysts to join us.

Welcome. Congratulations.

The second motion concerns the possible creation of a subcommittee on agenda and procedure.

Would anyone like to put forward a motion?

Mr. Cullen, go ahead.

[Nathan Cullen, NDP, Skeena—Bulkley Valley, BC]

Thank you, Mr. Chair.

I have a suggestion. When I look at it, this is a pro forma version of how the subcommittee.... I've seen subcommittees work well, and for a committee potentially as complicated and as unique as this one, I think a subcommittee would serve us well.

I'd like the committee members to consider the inclusion on the subcommittee of a member from the Bloc and of Madam May as well, to allow for input. The subcommittee typically takes care of things like scheduling and vetting witness lists. I think it would be unfortunate if the subcommittee made a decision on either of those types of topics and then had to return to the main committee and try to pass a motion that in fact did not work for our colleagues.

I can move the specific motion, Mr. Chair, but—

[The Chair, Liberal, Francis Scarpaleggia]

Do you have it written down?

[Nathan Cullen, NDP, Skeena—Bulkley Valley, BC]

I do have the actual terminology, but I don't have enough copies for the members. The one explicit change is to add two members, one being from the Bloc Québécois and one being Madam May.

[The Chair, Liberal, Francis Scarpaleggia]

Okay. Then it would read:

That a Subcommittee on Agenda and Procedure be established and be composed of the Chair, the two Vice-Chairs, two members of the government named by the Whip and a Member from the Bloc québécois and from the Green Party; that the Chair of the Committee be the Chair of the Subcommittee.

Is that correct?

[Nathan Cullen, NDP, Skeena—Bulkley Valley, BC]

That is the addition that I would look to make.

[The Chair, Liberal, Francis Scarpaleggia]

Are there any comments or questions?

[Elizabeth May, Green, Saanich—Gulf Islands, BC]

I'd like to thank Nathan very much for that proposal, because I was going to ask if I could please play a role on the subcommittee on agenda and procedure.

The same is true for my colleague from the Bloc Québécois.

Thank you.