Evidence of meeting #2 for Access to Information, Privacy and Ethics in the 43rd Parliament, 1st Session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was study.
A recording is available from Parliament.
3:35 p.m.
Conservative
The Chair (Ms. Rachael Harder (Lethbridge, CPC)) Conservative Rachael Thomas
I call the committee to order.
I will acknowledge hands momentarily here. I'll just welcome you to the committee.
The purpose of today, according to the committee business that is in front of you—yes?
3:35 p.m.
Liberal
Brenda Shanahan Liberal Châteauguay—Lacolle, QC
I have a point of order. As we just had a chance to discuss briefly, I want to put it on the record that the chair made a decision for this meeting to be taped, to be audible, where we had thought it would be in camera. I just want to have it on the record that it's a decision that the committee can make interchangeably, depending on the topic, for the whole meeting or part of the meeting. It's something we can decide together, whether the proceedings will be in camera or recorded, but it's audible, taped.
3:35 p.m.
Conservative
Michael Barrett Conservative Leeds—Grenville—Thousand Islands and Rideau Lakes, ON
Madam Chair, I'd like to move a motion.
3:35 p.m.
Liberal
Michael Levitt Liberal York Centre, ON
Further to our discussion in the last meeting, I think we said that the first thing we were going to do was address the issue of the vice-chair. I think that was the spirit of what we concluded, that it was going to be the first thing on our agenda in this meeting, so if the committee is okay with that, before we get.... I know there are lots of motions to discuss, but could we do that first? I had sort of raised the issue and it was hanging there, but we did say we were going to deal with it first.
3:35 p.m.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Rachael Thomas
Mr. Levitt, thank you. I appreciate your bringing that to my attention. The issue was brought forward to PROC and it has not come to any sort of conclusion. During our last meeting, you'll recall that I said I was waiting for that decision to come forward from PROC before we discuss that further here. However, I am at the will of this committee.
3:35 p.m.
Liberal
Michael Levitt Liberal York Centre, ON
No, it's my recollection that what we actually said was that we were going to wait but if it hadn't been dealt with by the time we came back for the first meeting, we were going to elect a vice-chair with the knowledge that, should it happen later on in the week, there is always the ability to add a third chair. I think what we said was, if it had been sorted in PROC by the time we sat today, fine; if not, we would still proceed with electing a vice-chair, again knowing we will be adding an additional one if it gets passed. I think we said we weren't going to hold off, even if it hadn't been heard. That was my recollection.
3:35 p.m.
Conservative
3:35 p.m.
Liberal
Michael Levitt Liberal York Centre, ON
Sure. I'd like to move that we deal with the election of a second vice-chair at this time.
February 24th, 2020 / 3:35 p.m.
NDP
Charlie Angus NDP Timmins—James Bay, ON
I thought we were waiting for PROC, but if we're not.... Since I have no friends on the committee, I'll nominate myself, having spent eight years on this committee. I would hope that PROC decides on two second vice-chairs. I think it's only respectful.
If they want to make a motion now, I'll put my name forward.
3:35 p.m.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Rachael Thomas
I apologize, Mr. Levitt. I have acted out of order here. Mr. Levitt, you drew a point of order and, within that, you actually cannot move a motion, so I will have to return to Mr. Barrett to finish his motion.
3:35 p.m.
Conservative
Michael Barrett Conservative Leeds—Grenville—Thousand Islands and Rideau Lakes, ON
Thanks, Madam Chair.
Having initiated the moving of my motion, following that I would be amenable to whatever else the committee desires.
My motion is:
That the Committee commence a study on the Trudeau II Report. That the Conflict of Interest and Ethics Commissioner be invited to the first meeting of the study to brief the Committee on his Report and that he be given 30 minutes for a prepared statement; and that the Committee invite a Law Clerk of the House of Commons to provide a brief on the principle of the Cabinet Confidences and that he be given 20 minutes for a prepared statement. Also, that the Committee invite other witnesses as required and that the Committee table a report in the House of Commons.
3:35 p.m.
Bloc
Marie-Hélène Gaudreau Bloc Laurentides—Labelle, QC
Excuse me. I didn't really understand what Mr. Angus said. We're making progress, and I don't understand what we've been talking about for the last two minutes.
Could you—
3:35 p.m.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Rachael Thomas
Sorry, but I just have to interrupt there for a moment.
Until I acknowledge you, could you please refrain from speaking until you are acknowledged by the chair? That would be really helpful, and then I could be sure that I understand what you're saying and that this committee meeting is run efficiently.
Just give me one moment, please.
At this point in time, Mr. Barrett has moved a motion. I have a speakers list started here. We have a motion on the floor, and I do have a speakers list here, but I'm uncertain as to whether or not the speakers want to speak on the motion that has been put forward.
Out of respect for the list that I have in front of me, the first person here is Mr. Kurek.
Do you want to speak to the motion on the floor?
3:35 p.m.
Conservative
Damien Kurek Conservative Battle River—Crowfoot, AB
Thank you very much, Madam Chair.
Certainly, with regard to the motion that my colleague has moved, I believe it is incredibly important that this committee look fully at the Trudeau II Report, as it is the responsibility of this committee to study the findings and report of one of the officers of Parliament, who is responsible for reporting to this committee.
I took the liberty of reviewing the Trudeau II Report prior to this meeting, and there are many aspects of it that lead to unanswered questions. I believe that having the commissioner address specific aspects of the report and engaging this entire committee through that process would be incredibly helpful for what our mandate is and to ensure that Canadians have answers to the very serious questions that have been asked over approximately the past 12 months with regard to this matter.
Thanks.
3:40 p.m.
Conservative
3:40 p.m.
NDP
Charlie Angus NDP Timmins—James Bay, ON
Thank you. I don't want to complicate things overly, but I'd like to start with almost a point of clarification and then I'll go into the motion.
There are two points. I'm certainly willing to hold off the discussion of the second vice-chair, out of respect for my colleague, until PROC comes back. I had no intention of jumping ahead of anything. If we did that, I think it would be more respectful. So we didn't get that concluded, but I'm asking that.
Second, in terms of how the motions are going to be brought forward, I always thought that at committee, they were brought forward in the order in which they were delivered, because otherwise we'd have people jumping in and pushing their motions to the front. We have so many motions that I would prefer, Madam Chair, if you would call the motions in the order in which they came in. That would prevent us from jumping on each other.
So, to the motion, can I do that?