Information & Ethics Committee on Dec. 7th, 2020

[The Chair, Conservative, David Sweet]

Is everybody clear on the nature of the amendment? Yes. Okay.

The clerk will take a recorded vote now on Madam Shanahan's amendment to the motion.

We have a tie vote.

I'll vote against the amendment to maintain the status quo.

(Amendment negatived: nays 6; yeas 5)

(Motion agreed to: yeas 7; nays 3 [See Minutes of Proceedings])

Colleagues, to give you some assurance...and I like Mr. Angus's comment in regard to how we shepherd these documents. Again, I'm always careful to say things in case I put the clerk in an impossible situation. My suggestion is that we have these documents in limited printing in a committee meeting that's in camera. We would look at the information and decide amongst ourselves what are trade secrets and what pertains specifically to the operations of what we're studying in regard to the motion that was passed that we're hearing witnesses on.

Is that clear and fair enough? That way everybody has a say in it.

Mr. Dong.

[Han Dong, Liberal, Don Valley North, ON]

Chair, I just want to quickly make a comment. I understand that this is a very important committee and it's a high-profile committee, especially on this case, but judging from the behaviour of the members on this committee in the last little while, I'm not so confident that there will not be unintended or intended consequences that will harm private businesses in this country. I made this comment in my previous debate. I have been the target of all kinds of negative comments. I saw that Mr. Angus has been a target as well. That's fair game; we're public officials. We are members of this committee, and that's all fair, but I just have to raise this concern.

We heard today from the witness that there are a lot of harmful things being said and done on this issue. Just going forward, can we keep that in mind and make sure that no further harm is done, especially to our witnesses and innocent—well, I shouldn't say innocent. I don't know but I would like to give the benefit of the doubt to all witnesses who come forward to this committee and not put them in an even worse situation, given that it's COVID and they're trying to survive.

Thank you.

[The Chair, Conservative, David Sweet]

On that note, I have three people who are on the speakers list right now: Madam Lattanzio, Mr. Fergus and Mr. Angus. We're getting into the weeds on the details of this and I have concerns because we're not in camera. What you're actually saying, Mr. Dong, might happen as we're getting into the weeds on this. If it's okay—because we are already set up to go in camera—with all of my colleagues here, we'll go in camera to discuss further the finer details of this so that something doesn't happen to be said that will do harm to someone. Do I see consensus on that?

[Some hon. members]

Agreed.

[The Chair, Conservative, David Sweet]

Colleagues, you've all been emailed the new link as well as the new password to go in camera. It will probably take us about 10 or 15 minutes, but we'll go through that transition now and we'll deal with what we're discussing right now as well as a couple of small things that I want to deal with in regard to upcoming witnesses and our schedule.

[Proceedings continue in camera]