Evidence of meeting #1 for Access to Information, Privacy and Ethics in the 43rd Parliament, 2nd Session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was chair.
A recording is available from Parliament.
Liberal
Brenda Shanahan Liberal Châteauguay—Lacolle, QC
Mr. Chair, I didn't want to interrupt. I just wanted to confirm that the friendly amendment was accepted for the five to seven minutes, back in number four, for presentation time.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative David Sweet
Colleagues, are we okay with this motion on working lunches?
Colleagues, also with this pandemic, rather than going into a lot of nuances in the wording, let's just keep it to the discretion of the clerk, because there have been some complications with the parliamentary restaurant, etc.
If you're going to be in Ottawa and you're going to be at the hybrid meeting, then just do your best to notify the clerk. Obviously, if you're calling in on Zoom, then it's pretty tough for us to get a working meal to you anyway. But if you do that, then this motion should suffice for all of our nutritional needs.
Liberal
Conservative
The Chair Conservative David Sweet
Please continue, Mr. Fergus. I will assume that the motion on working meals is accepted by the committee.
(Motion agreed to)
Liberal
Greg Fergus Liberal Hull—Aylmer, QC
Thank you.
The seventh motion concerns the travel, accommodation and living expenses of witnesses. The motion reads as follows:
That, if requested, reasonable travel, accommodation and living expenses be reimbursed to witnesses not exceeding two representatives per organization; provided that, in exceptional circumstances, payment for more representatives be made at the discretion of the chair.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative David Sweet
Are there any questions or comments on this motion?
I suspect, obviously, with this pandemic, that the vast majority of our witnesses will be via Zoom anyway, and that will eliminate any need for expenses.
(Motion agreed to)
Mr. Fergus. You can continue.
Liberal
Greg Fergus Liberal Hull—Aylmer, QC
Thank you, sir.
Next is access to 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.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative David Sweet
Madam Clerk, this is one of the changes with a Zoom meeting. I know we always did that with live meetings, but I assume that when we're talking about staff members, they would Zoom in. They're not going to be in the actual hybrid room on the Hill. Is that correct?
The Clerk
I assume that's correct. Still, the question is about how many can actually be present, whether on Zoom or in person.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative David Sweet
Yes, absolutely. I just wanted to make sure, with regard to health and safety, for future direction.
Are those numbers good for everyone?
(Motion agreed to)
As I said, with regard to health and safety, when we have the hybrid meetings, I know there's always a limit to the number of individuals in the actual committee room, and so we'll have to deal with that on a case-by-case basis. If you're in Ottawa and you're going to be attending and we end up in camera, then most likely your staff will have to Zoom in and not be present in the actual room.
Please proceed, Mr. Fergus.
Liberal
Greg Fergus Liberal Hull—Aylmer, QC
Thank you.
The ninth motion concerns the transcripts of in camera meetings. The motion reads as follows:
That one copy of the transcript of each in camera meeting be kept in the committee clerk's office for consultation by members of the committee or by their staff.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative David Sweet
I see agreement.
(Motion agreed to)
Mr. Fergus, you can continue.
Liberal
Greg Fergus Liberal Hull—Aylmer, QC
The tenth motion concerns the notice of motion. The motion reads as follows:
That a 48 hours' notice, interpreted as two nights, shall be required for any substantive motion to be considered by the committee, unless the substantive motion relates directly to business then under consideration, provided that (1) the notice be filed with the clerk of the committee no later than 4:00 p.m. from Monday to Friday; that (2) the motion be distributed to members in both official languages by the clerk on the same day the said notice was transmitted if it was received no later than the deadline hour; and that (3) notices received after the deadline hour or on non-business days be deemed to have been received during the next business day and that when the committee is travelling on official business, no substantive motions may be moved.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative David Sweet
Are there questions or comments on this one, colleagues?
I see none. Do we have agreement on this motion?
(Motion agreed to)
Thank you, colleagues.
Mr. Fergus, you can continue.
Liberal
Greg Fergus Liberal Hull—Aylmer, QC
On other in camera meetings, I move “That the committee may meet in camera only for the following purposes: (a) to consider a draft report; (b) to attend briefings concerning national security; (c) to consider lists of witnesses; (d) for any other reason with the unanimous consent of the committee. That all votes taken in camera, with the exception of votes regarding the consideration of draft reports, be recorded in the minutes of proceedings, including how each member voted when recorded votes are requested. That any motion to sit in camera is debatable and amendable.”
NDP
Charlie Angus NDP Timmins—James Bay, ON
Thank you.
It came up theoretically in the WE study, I believe, in the discussions at the finance committee and hasn't been tested out, but whether or not there may be a time when you want to have an in camera session with a witness who may—
Liberal
Greg Fergus Liberal Hull—Aylmer, QC
I'm sorry, but is anybody else having trouble hearing Mr. Angus or is it just my connection?
Conservative
The Chair Conservative David Sweet
My audio is fine.
Mr. Angus, would you just begin again to make sure Mr. Fergus can hear you?
NDP
Charlie Angus NDP Timmins—James Bay, ON
Thank you.
In terms of in camera meetings, it was a hypothetical with the WE study at finance whether or not certain witnesses might provide testimony in camera because of their concerns and our ability to receive that information.
As well, in the last Parliament with the ethics study, we had in camera presentations on key investigations that were going on in other jurisdictions and it was felt that an in camera briefing to our committee allowed us to know what was going on without compromising investigations that were taking place. I'm not sure if the language around this motion covers the ability of a committee to receive extraordinary information in cases where the source needs to be protected as part of an in camera meeting.