Environment Committee on Feb. 18th, 2020

[The Clerk of the Committee, Mr. Alexandre Roger]

Honourable members of the committee, I see a quorum.

I must inform members that the clerk of the committee can only receive motions for the election of the chair. The clerk cannot receive other types of motions, cannot entertain points of order nor participate in debate.

We can now proceed to the election of the chair. Pursuant to Standing Order 106(2), the chair must be a member of the governing party. I am ready to receive motions for the chair.

Mr. Scarpaleggia.

[Francis Scarpaleggia, Liberal, Lac-Saint-Louis, QC]

Thank you.

I would like to nominate Yasmin Ratansi.

[The Clerk]

It has been moved by Mr. Scarpaleggia that Ms. Ratansi be elected chair of the committee.

(Motion agreed to)

I declare the motion carried and Yasmin Ratansi duly elected chair of the committee. I invite Ms. Ratansi to take the chair.

[Some hon. members]

Hear, hear!

[The Chair, Liberal, Yasmin Ratansi]

Thank you very much.

If the committee is in agreement, I would invite the clerk to proceed with the election of the vice-chairs. Is the committee in agreement?

Proceed.

[The Clerk]

Pursuant to Standing Order 106(2), the first vice-chair must be a member of the official opposition. I am now prepared to receive motions for the first vice-chair.

Mr. Aitchison.

[Scott Aitchison, Conservative, Parry Sound—Muskoka, ON]

I nominate Kerry-Lynne Findlay.

[The Clerk]

It has been moved by Mr. Aitchison that Ms. Findlay be elected first vice-chair of the committee.

(Motion agreed to)

I declare the motion carried and Ms. Findlay the duly elected first vice-chair of the committee.

[Some hon. members]

Hear, hear!

[The Clerk]

Pursuant to Standing Order 106(2), the second vice-chair must be a member of an opposition party other than the official opposition.

I am now prepared to receive motions for the second vice-chair.

Ms. Collins.

[Laurel Collins, NDP, Victoria, BC]

I'd like to move that we postpone the election of the second vice-chair until after PROC has made its decision, in much the same way the finance committee has done.

[The Chair, Liberal, Yasmin Ratansi]

I would like to ask committee members for their concurrence. If they are in agreement, we can proceed that way. The others have done the second vice-chair, but the third vice-chair will come after PROC has made its decision. If it's the committee's will, I am willing to accept it.

Is it the committee's will to postpone it?

[An hon. member]

Yes.

[The Chair, Liberal, Yasmin Ratansi]

Fair enough. We will postpone it.

Welcome, everyone. I think we have some routine motions that need to be done.

[Francis Scarpaleggia, Liberal, Lac-Saint-Louis, QC]

Yes, Madam Chair. I'd like to propose some routine motions.

Has everyone received a copy of the routine motions? I see that you have.

Madam Chair, I will read the first motion, and then we will vote on each motion individually.

The first motion concerns the analysts, and it reads as follows:

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.

(Motion agreed to)

[The Chair, Liberal, Yasmin Ratansi]

I invite the analysts to now come forward, please. Thank you.

You may continue with the next motion.

[Francis Scarpaleggia, Liberal, Lac-Saint-Louis, QC]

Thank you. I move:

That the Subcommittee on Agenda and Procedure be established and be composed of five (5) members, namely the chair and one member from each recognized party; and that the subcommittee work in the spirit of collaboration.

(Motion agreed to)

[Francis Scarpaleggia, Liberal, Lac-Saint-Louis, QC]

Here is the motion on a reduced 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 (4) members are present, including one member of the opposition and one member of the government, but when travelling outside the parliamentary precinct, that the meeting begin after fifteen (15) minutes, regardless of members present.

(Motion agreed to)

[The Chair, Liberal, Yasmin Ratansi]

Please, proceed.

[Francis Scarpaleggia, Liberal, Lac-Saint-Louis, QC]

This motion deals with the protocol for questioning witnesses. I move:

That the witnesses be given ten (10) minutes to make their opening statement; that, at the discretion of the chair, during the questioning of witnesses, there be allocated six (6) minutes for the first questioner of each party as follows: for the first round: Conservative Party, Liberal Party, Bloc Québécois and New Democratic Party. For the second and subsequent rounds, the order and time for questioning be as follows: Conservative Party, five (5) minutes, Liberal Party, five (5) minutes, Conservative Party, five (5) minutes, Liberal Party, five (5)minutes, Bloc Québécois, two and a half (2.5) minutes, New Democratic Party, two and a half (2.5) minutes.

(Motion agreed to)

[Francis Scarpaleggia, Liberal, Lac-Saint-Louis, QC]

Now we have the motion on documents distribution:

That the Clerk of the Committee be authorized to distribute documents to members of the Committee only when the documents are available in both official languages and that witnesses be advised accordingly.

(Motion agreed to)

[Francis Scarpaleggia, Liberal, Lac-Saint-Louis, QC]

The motion on working meals reads as follows:

That the Clerk of the Committee be authorized to make the necessary arrangements to provide working meals for the Committee and its Subcommittees.

[The Chair, Liberal, Yasmin Ratansi]

This is very important. Does everybody agree?

(Motion agreed to)

[Francis Scarpaleggia, Liberal, Lac-Saint-Louis, QC]

Related to witnesses' expenses, I move:

That, if requested, reasonable travel, accommodation and living expenses be reimbursed to witnesses not exceeding two (2) representatives per organization; that, in exceptional circumstances, payment for more representatives be made at the discretion of the chair.

(Motion agreed to)

[Francis Scarpaleggia, Liberal, Lac-Saint-Louis, QC]

Now here is the motion on staff at in camera meetings:

That, unless otherwise ordered, each Committee member be allowed to have one staff member at an in camera meeting and that one additional person from each House officer's office be allowed to be present.

(Motion agreed to)