Electoral Reform Committee on July 26th, 2016

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

The second point, of course, is that there's no suggestion here that this is an issue of the committee having impeded Mr. Dion. I think I am right in saying—and the preamble to the motion does say this—that we will be willing to go to considerable lengths to accommodate Mr. Dion, including holding a meeting at an extraordinary time, adding a meeting into our schedule. It certainly is the case for members for my own party, and it sounds as if it's the case for Ms. May, and I'm just going to guess that it would be the case for any of the members here.

So that's just to clarify on those points.

[The Chair, Liberal, Francis Scarpaleggia]

Go ahead, Mr. Cullen.

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

Let's just be clear as to how this works and what the subcommittee does with witnesses, because typically, as was said, it's at that level that we seek the witness list from different MPs. We had a subcommittee meeting just yesterday to try to discern what comes next for the committee hearings. We're essentially working with three lists right now; I don't think this is in confidence or anything. We have witnesses who are suggested by the various parties; we have witnesses who have written to the committee asking to appear; and we also have witnesses from our analysts who have been collected over time.

What we're talking about with Mr. Reid's motion today is adding Mr. Dion to that process, right? I ask that through you to Mr. Reid, Chair.

[The Chair, Liberal, Francis Scarpaleggia]

Could you give me a second?

He was invited; he just declined.

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

So this motion is simply to suggest that we invite him again?

[The Chair, Liberal, Francis Scarpaleggia]

No, my understanding is Mr. Reid wants to discuss it further in subcommittee.

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

Okay. We can't compel—

[The Chair, Liberal, Francis Scarpaleggia]

Ms. May.

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

With your permission, Chair, because it is a recorded vote that we'll be having and this is all in open session, I want to make it clear that I want to discuss it in the subcommittee, but I don't want to associate myself with Mr. Reid's preamble about impeding.... I don't see any conspiracies. If there's a way to have Mr. Dion testify, I'm all for it. In private, in our subcommittee, in camera, the clerk can provide more details as to why he declined. He's entitled to decline. I don't want to create the notion that, in supporting Mr. Reid on this motion, I think there's anything nefarious going on.

[The Chair, Liberal, Francis Scarpaleggia]

Understood.

Are there any more questions or comments, or should we just vote on the motion?

(Motion agreed to: yeas 7; nays 4)

As I understand it, we'll be discussing it in the subcommittee at a later date.

Thank you.

We do have some housekeeping to discuss in camera. It'll take about five minutes at the most. If we could go in camera and get these other issues off the table, that would be appreciated.

[Proceedings continue in camera]