Evidence of meeting #6 for Fisheries and Oceans in the 43rd Parliament, 1st Session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was amendment.
A recording is available from Parliament.
12:45 p.m.
Conservative
Mel Arnold Conservative North Okanagan—Shuswap, BC
Mr. Chair, I just wanted to make it clear that this study would not be put ahead of any other motions that we already have on the books as a committee. I didn't hear anything in the motion itself that it was immediate. We have 11 studies on the books already. We've already identified that those studies are vitally important to the sectors they represent.
Is this motion, as it is, going to preclude any of the other studies that are already passed?
12:50 p.m.
Liberal
Serge Cormier Liberal Acadie—Bathurst, NB
I think I was very clear after I read my motion that I put this forward to be studied when we come back in the fall or even during the winter.
The fishing is going on right now, but I wanted to put that out there. This is not only important to me, but, as all members of the committee know, it's a situation with the right whale that we've lived with since 2017. I was very clear reading that motion that it is going to be when we come back in the fall or the first couple of weeks of winter.
12:50 p.m.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Ken McDonald
I believe it's the will of the committee which one they do first. Unless it's expressed in the motion that it be done immediately, the committee will sit down and decide which one they'll do next and next and so on. I think that's the way we've always done it.
Go ahead when you're ready, Mr. Arnold.
12:50 p.m.
Conservative
Mel Arnold Conservative North Okanagan—Shuswap, BC
Mr. Chair, I am certainly not opposed to the intent of the motion. I just want to recognize that we believed the other motions that have been put forward were of timely importance, and this should not be taking precedence over any of the other meetings. I'll put that on the record now.
I will support the motion because of its intent, but not putting a timeline on it.
12:50 p.m.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Ken McDonald
That's duly noted.
If there is no further discussion, we'll go to the vote.
(Motion as amended agreed to: yeas 11; nays 0 [See Minutes of Proceedings])
Thank you.
In a matter of a few minutes, we will close up for the day, but on Wednesday, we have committee again. What would we like to see on the agenda for the meeting this coming Wednesday?
Mr. Arnold.
12:50 p.m.
Conservative
Mel Arnold Conservative North Okanagan—Shuswap, BC
Mr. Chair, before we move on any further, I'd like more clarification on the estimates and whether the committee can study or discuss the estimates at this point in time.
I don't see anything in the government motion that was passed prohibiting the committee from considering the estimates or asking questions. I would just like clarification on whether we are prohibited from discussing the estimates, and if so, where that is noted.
12:50 p.m.
The Clerk
Yes, I have the answer. Mr. Arnold, thank you for the question.
The answer I have here is that the motion adopted on May 26 states that if the supplementary estimates for the period ending March 31, 2021, are tabled during the period the House stands adjourned, they will be dealt with in a committee of the whole on Wednesday, June 17, 2020. However, committees have until Friday, November 27, 2020, to report the main estimates for the period ending March 31, 2021, to the House.
Hence, the questions to the ministers on the main estimates would be in order.
12:55 p.m.
The Clerk
Mr. Arnold, does that answer your question?
12:55 p.m.
Conservative
Mel Arnold Conservative North Okanagan—Shuswap, BC
Thank you, Nancy. That certainly clarifies things. It sounds as though we will have the opportunity to ask questions on the estimates.
Thank you.
12:55 p.m.
Conservative
Blaine Calkins Conservative Red Deer—Lacombe, AB
On a point of order, Mr. Chair, if the committee does go ahead and it reviews the estimates, how will you be reporting that to the House?
12:55 p.m.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Ken McDonald
Actually, Mr. Calkins, the committee can report to the House electronically on Wednesdays. That is my understanding.
12:55 p.m.
The Clerk
Yes. In the special order adopted by the House on May 26, there is a specification that if the committee has an order, such as an order of reference, then the committee can present back to the House electronically.
12:55 p.m.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Ken McDonald
Is there any further discussion before we try to figure out what we're going to do on Wednesday?
12:55 p.m.
NDP
Gord Johns NDP Courtenay—Alberni, BC
Mr. Chair, would it not be appropriate for us to have senior staff from the department report to the committee and update us on the COVID response at the earliest convenience?
12:55 p.m.
Liberal
12:55 p.m.
Liberal
12:55 p.m.
Conservative
Mel Arnold Conservative North Okanagan—Shuswap, BC
Mr. Chair, I would support having the officials appear before the committee as soon as possible. This is meeting number six, and so far this committee has only done three and a half hours of actual study work since we formed as a committee. I'd like to get down to some groundwork and get some work done by the committee.
12:55 p.m.
Liberal
Ken Hardie Liberal Fleetwood—Port Kells, BC
Have we decided on which days we will be meeting over the summer? Also, have we decided the order of the studies we're going to do? Have we prioritized them? If not, we should clear up those questions for sure on Wednesday.
12:55 p.m.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Ken McDonald
I'm sure we could find some time to do some prioritization of what we are going to do going forward. Right now we're trying to figure it out for Wednesday. So far we have to invite the officials in to talk about the COVID response, as well as do some committee business for meetings going forward and prioritize some of the studies or what we have on our docket, as Mr. Fast and others have indicated. We have quite a list, so we should probably look at trying to whittle that down a little bit before we consider doing any more studies.