Evidence of meeting #1 for Finance 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
Peter Fragiskatos Liberal London North Centre, ON
Mr. Chair, if it's helpful, I think I did see Ms. Dzerowicz's hand go up first, but in any case, as you said, we can discuss that in a moment.
This is the second-last motion. It relates to transcripts of in camera meetings:
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.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Wayne Easter
Is there any discussion on that?
(Motion agreed to)
Now, we'll go to some motions.
Liberal
Peter Fragiskatos Liberal London North Centre, ON
Mr. Chair, as you know, this one, on notice of motion, is a lengthier one, so just bear with me here:
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. (EST) 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.
Liberal
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Wayne Easter
I do have the three other motions on the screen. Mr. Julian's hand came up first. I was informed first by Ms. Dzerowicz.
Mr. Fraser, you have your hand up too.
NDP
Peter Julian NDP New Westminster—Burnaby, BC
My point of order, Mr. Chair, is that with the “raise hand” function, you can actually see the order in which people raise their hands, so all members of the committee can see that I'm first up after the routine motions.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Wayne Easter
I'll be honest with you, Mr. Julian, that I haven't figured this system out yet and I lost you once. I'm going to go offline and try to figure this system out when this meeting is over.
There is a point of order from Mr. Fraser first, if it's a point of order.
Liberal
Sean Fraser Liberal Central Nova, NS
It's actually on the same point of order, Mr. Chair, about going through the “raise hand” exercise, which I think could be a good practice, though one we're not used to. I thank Mrs. Jansen for the suggestion.
I used the “raise hand” function myself to make a previous comment when I posed a question to Mr. Julian. After I had asked that question, I saw that Ms. Dzerowicz had her hand up as well previously. They were both cleared. I didn't clear it myself. I'm curious to know whether the chair or someone else has the ability to do that. Both of ours were removed and Mr. Julian used the “raise hand” function subsequent to that.
What I don't know is whether Ms. Dzerowicz's initial hand raise was for her intended motion or for a comment she was making in the previous debate.
It's obvious this is not a rule that existed. We don't really know how to work this, but I thought I would offer my own testimony, I suppose, because I checked when Mrs. Jansen said we had to lower our hand and mine had already been lowered.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Wayne Easter
I'm going to let Ms. Dzerowicz come in here, because I was informed by Ms. Dzerowicz first by the old way of doing things, and now we're into a new way of doing things.
Go ahead, Ms. Dzerowicz, and make your point, and then we'll have to make a decision here on which one we're going with. I have Mr. Julian up as well. I want to be fair.
Liberal
Julie Dzerowicz Liberal Davenport, ON
Thank you so much, Mr. Chair.
To be after routine motions, I did raise my hand. Then Ms. Jansen mentioned we should raise and drop and raise and drop. I think there was a bit of a use there of the raise and drop. And then I put it back on again, and then—this is to Mr. Fraser's comment—I think it was taken down. I think I had spoken, but whoever took it down didn't understand that I was trying to raise my hand to speak as soon as the routine motions were over.
It's unfortunate that we're left where we are here, but it was very genuine. I actually had it up for the most part even before anybody else was putting up their raised hand, and then I think it was eliminated when we were going into the raised hand and dropping hand. Once I noticed it was eliminated, I put it back up right away, so I've been there from the beginning.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Wayne Easter
I really see no reason why we can't deal with all three.
We have committee time till what time, Madam Clerk?
Liberal
Peter Fragiskatos Liberal London North Centre, ON
On a point of order, Mr. Chair, we're talking about the “raised hand” function, which as far as the efficiency of meetings is concerned could prove to be a very valuable tool. However, where in the Standing Orders, where in the very good text that all members of Parliament are assigned when they become MPs, in the chapter on committees, does it say anything about the Zoom “raised hand” function? That sentence has never been spoken in committee before, Mr. Chair, which proves the point that we can't make rules on the fly, as Mr. Julian is trying to do.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Wayne Easter
On a point of order, Mr. Poilievre, I'll hear you, but getting to the first motion as quickly as possible and then maybe dealing with all three is where I'm trying to go.
Mr. Poilievre.
Conservative
Pierre Poilievre Conservative Carleton, ON
I'm sure our constituents would be very proud to see us dealing with this important matter of state. I'm reminded that the definition of a committee is a group of people who by themselves can do nothing and who together agree that nothing can be done.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Wayne Easter
I don't believe that is a point of order.
I am going to go to Ms. Dzerowicz first, then Mr. Julian and then Mr. Poilievre.
Ms. Dzerowicz.
Liberal
Julie Dzerowicz Liberal Davenport, ON
Thank you so much, Mr. Chair.
I'd like to present a motion on pre-budget consultations.
As Mr. Poilievre said, those witnessing us today will probably find this to be a very important motion for us to be presenting.
I do have it translated into both languages and my staff should be sending this over to the clerk as we speak. I'm happy to read it in French as well.
I can speak both languages. In addition, it allows me to practise my French.
It goes as follows:
That, pursuant to its mandate under Standing Order 83.1, the Standing Committee on Finance begins the Pre-Budget Consultations 2021 on Tuesday, October 13, 2020, and that a) the Deputy Prime Minister and departmental officials appear before the committee; b) the evidence and documentation received by the committee during the first session of the 43rd Parliament on pre-budget consultations be taken into consideration by the committee in the current session; c) the committee allow witnesses to change their testimony if they feel so obliged based on the rapidly evolving situation around COVID-19; d) each party submit a preliminary witness list no later than 6:00 p.m. on Wednesday, October 14, 2020; e) each party submit a final witness list no later than 6:00 p.m. on Friday, October 16, 2020; and f) the committee request permission from the House to table its report on Pre-Budget consultations no later than Tuesday, December 8, 2020.
I wonder—