Environment Committee on Oct. 8th, 2020

[Laurel Collins, NDP, Victoria, BC]

I move that for the second and subsequent rounds, the order and time for questioning be as follows: one, Conservative Party for five minutes; two, Liberal Party for five minutes; three, Bloc Québécois for two and a half minutes; four, New Democratic Party for two and a half minutes; five, Conservative Party for five minutes; and six, Liberal Party for five minutes.

[The Chair, Liberal, Yasmin Ratansi]

Ms. Pauzé, you have the floor.

[Monique Pauzé, Bloc, Repentigny, QC]

I agree with Ms. Collins. However, I would like to move an amendment to the beginning of the motion. I propose that the witnesses have five minutes for their opening statement. This would always let us successfully complete the two rounds of questions.

[The Chair, Liberal, Yasmin Ratansi]

Mr. Longfield, did you read “10 minutes” for the witnesses?

[Lloyd Longfield, Liberal, Guelph, ON]

Yes. It says, "That witnesses be given ten (10) minutes for 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”.

[The Chair, Liberal, Yasmin Ratansi]

Okay.

Madame Pauzé, what are you proposing? Sorry, I didn't get clarity on this.

[Monique Pauzé, Bloc, Repentigny, QC]

I propose that witnesses have five minutes and not 10 minutes for their opening statement.

[The Chair, Liberal, Yasmin Ratansi]

That's for their presentation. Okay.

We have two suggestions. One is that the witnesses be given five minutes, depending on the number of witnesses or whatever.

Madame Pauzé, was it to a maximum of 10 minutes? Is that what you said?

[Monique Pauzé, Bloc, Repentigny, QC]

No. I propose that the opening statement be limited to five minutes.

[The Chair, Liberal, Yasmin Ratansi]

Okay.

[Monique Pauzé, Bloc, Repentigny, QC]

The rest of the paragraph stays the same. That would let everyone participate in the second round. It's about the equal opportunity to speak.

[The Chair, Liberal, Yasmin Ratansi]

Okay.

Mr. Longfield.

[Lloyd Longfield, Liberal, Guelph, ON]

Chair, seeing as how technology sometimes does not go in our favour, I think it's a good idea to get the Bloc Québécois and the New Democratic Party moved up in the schedule. Given the work that we are trying to accomplish, I think giving witnesses 10 minutes but still moving the Bloc Québécois and the NDP up in the schedule will not only give the witnesses time to present to us for up to 10 minutes—they don't need to use it, of course—but also make sure that in the second round the NDP and the Bloc Québécois get a chance.

I would say that holding to the 10 minutes but moving them up might accomplish what Madame Pauzé was looking for.

[The Chair, Liberal, Yasmin Ratansi]

Madame Pauzé is looking for five minutes per witness.

[Lloyd Longfield, Liberal, Guelph, ON]

Yes, but if we moved the NDP....

Sorry.

[The Chair, Liberal, Yasmin Ratansi]

I am just trying to clear up the confusion.

If witnesses were to be given five minutes instead of 10 minutes, would everyone be in agreement with that? It would give the committee more time to ask questions. If you are not in agreement, then we'll have to go to a recorded vote.

[Dan Albas, Conservative, Central Okanagan—Similkameen—Nicola, BC]

Five minutes is adequate.

[The Chair, Liberal, Yasmin Ratansi]

Is everybody in agreement with Madame Pauzé's suggestion of five minutes for the witnesses?

(Amendment agreed to [See Minutes of Proceedings])

Okay.

Next, Madame Collins was suggesting a change to the speaking order in the second round.

Madame Collins, would you repeat what you said, please? What was your speaking order?

[Laurel Collins, NDP, Victoria, BC]

It was that, 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, Yasmin Ratansi]

Do you agree?

[Dan Albas, Conservative, Central Okanagan—Similkameen—Nicola, BC]

Madam Chair, I have a quick question for committee members. If this is the wrong stage, perhaps the clerk could clarify.

I think it's great that we're going to a five-minute structure where people can get their points out, but I also believe in doing my homework. Is there anything in this motion or a subsequent motion for routine procedures that would have someone, if they are going to come to the committee, submit early enough, such as three days prior, so that we can have their opening statement translated? I'm a big believer.... In some cases we are funding people to attend in person. I would just like that ability so that we can have the benefit of their opening statement when they come.

[The Chair, Liberal, Yasmin Ratansi]

Mr. Roger can correct me on this, but I think in this virtual Parliament we will only have witnesses virtually. Normally, witnesses do submit their material in advance and we do get it in advance.

Mr. Roger, the floor is yours.

[The Clerk]

Thank you, Madam Chair.

We don't have a routine motion in committee, and we did not have a routine motion in committee to that effect, to submit the documents three days in advance. The committee can adopt such a motion if it wishes. I would just caution the committee that witnesses don't always want to give their documents three days in advance. Sometimes they want to give the documents the day of their presentation. Sometimes meetings are cancelled, and they don't want their documents presented if they're not appearing before the committee.

I can certainly ask. If the committee passes a motion, I'll do whatever is in my power to get the documents three days in advance. It's just that it might not always be possible to do so.

[The Chair, Liberal, Yasmin Ratansi]

Mr. Longfield, go for it.

[Lloyd Longfield, Liberal, Guelph, ON]

Now that we have five-minute witness presentations, I'm confident that you can manage our committee time in keeping the routine motions the way they are for the other committees as well—that is, the speaking order in the second round being Conservative, Liberal, Conservative, Liberal, Bloc and NDP, the way we have it in front of us.

So I would be against the motion of changing that. I'd like to stay with what we have.