Fisheries Committee on Aug. 13th, 2020

[The Chair, Liberal, Ken McDonald]

We don't know yet, Gord. The number of meetings was passed in an earlier motion, the number that we were supposed to do in July and August. For September, I'm sure there are ongoing discussions, I would think, as to whether or not the House is going to open on September 21. There will be discussions, I guess, on how often and at what times committees can meet. As we know, at the beginning of this, we were limited on the times we could meet because other committees were meeting. We could only do so many of these virtual meetings at one time.

I think we have to try to get this in as soon as possible. The 22nd, 24th and 29th are probably options for us to start meeting, but that would depend on what happens with the discussion on whether it's everybody back in Ottawa or everybody the way we are right now. I think we need to try to that out first before we can nail down the actual dates, but at least we can get our request in for those particular days to try to make sure that we're early on the list.

[The Clerk]

Mr. Chair, would you want some clarifications from me?

[The Chair, Liberal, Ken McDonald]

Yes, if you can. That would be great.

[The Clerk]

Just to make sure that procedurally you have all the correct information, the committee is now meeting by video conference on Zoom, according to the motion that was adopted by the House on May 26. That motion does not prevent the committee from meeting again in August or September.

It has not been scheduled yet because the motion adopted by the committee on June 1 was to meet specifically in July and August. If it is the will of the members, they can talk to their whips, and they can try to meet sooner, or to wait until after the 21st. Procedurally speaking, nothing is preventing the committee from requesting more meetings.

[The Chair, Liberal, Ken McDonald]

Okay. You mentioned, Nancy, talking to the various party whips about that. Do we need the permission of the various party whips in order to meet again, whether it be in August or early in September?

[The Clerk]

If the committee were to say today that they want to meet sooner—because from what I hear, this committee would want to discuss the Pacific salmon sooner than later—then the committee can definitely discuss adding more meetings anywhere between now and later in early September before the House resumes. That would have to be a decision of the committee. If the committee decides to have them, then the suggestion would be to send that to the whips of the parties with a date, and we would try to find a place for the meetings.

[The Chair, Liberal, Ken McDonald]

Thank you for that, Nancy.

You've all heard this. I shouldn't have to explain it. The option is here if we decide we want to meet earlier and put in some meetings before the House is actually scheduled to sit. Of course, that would require a motion from somebody and a discussion and a vote. I don't know if anybody has looked at a calendar and has decided on that today or if you want to put forward suggestions that we can send out to everybody. If it has to come to a vote, we'll have to get the committee together.

Mr. Hardie.

[Ken Hardie, Liberal, Fleetwood—Port Kells, BC]

Mr. Chair, I think you mentioned September 22, 24 and 29, when we'll probably be back to a little bit more normal, whatever that looks like. I suggest we stick with that rather than trying to shoehorn in additional meetings now, before Parliament comes back. I think we need to obviously respect the work that has to be done to get the witnesses all lined up. It would give us a little time, too, to digest what we've heard so far and really be primed for the next round of questioning that we'll be putting out there.

[The Chair, Liberal, Ken McDonald]

Madam Gill.

[Marilène Gill, Bloc, Manicouagan, QC]

Mr. Chair, please correct me if I am wrong.

During our last discussions, it was mentioned a few times that the issues of salmon and Big Bar were urgent. There have been a lot of delays in our study.

So would it be possible to schedule meetings to properly complete the study and make our recommendations more quickly, given the importance and urgency of this issue?

[The Chair, Liberal, Ken McDonald]

Anybody else? No.

Do we have a comment on Madam Gill's view to do it earlier or even on Mr. Hardie's view of September 22, 24 and 29?

Go ahead, Mr. Arnold.

[Mel Arnold, Conservative, North Okanagan—Shuswap, BC]

If we can...not make the decision today, so that we can consult with our teams and whips before we move forward, but certainly be prepared for September 21, when the House is set to resume.

[Jaime Battiste, Liberal, Sydney—Victoria, NS]

I agree with Ken Hardie on September 22 as a starting point. I think it gives us time to digest this, to make sure we're prepared and to get good witnesses to follow through on this. We're all looking at a very unsure time as well, when we're sending our kids back to school and there's talk of a second wave. Let's see how that settles before we start getting into taking things on too early.

[Bobby Morrissey, Liberal, Egmont, PE]

I agree.

[The Chair, Liberal, Ken McDonald]

Thanks, everyone.

I think we'll go ahead, Mel, as you mentioned, and plan on September 22, 24 and 29. That will give us a chance to talk to the various leadership teams and whatnot to see whether it will be suitable and whether we can get those dates. If we want to add some along the way, we can. As somebody said, it will give us a chance to recharge, I guess, and review some of what we've already heard before we hear from more witnesses again or get in any names that we want to put on that witness list.

Hearing nothing else, we'll leave it at that.

Nancy, we will try to get a request in to make sure we get time allotted for September 22, 24 and 29— virtually, if necessary; we won't know that, I guess, until everybody finalizes what Parliament will look like on September 21, when it comes back. Hopefully, if by chance it's with everybody in Ottawa, fine, but if not, we'll have our request already in for September 22, 24 and 29. I will leave it at that.

Does anyone else have any other comment?

Hearing none, I will bid farewell to everyone. There was great participation from all.

Thank you to Nancy, the analysts and the interpreters for another great job.

Thanks, everyone. We'll be in touch.