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.
NDP
Gord Johns NDP Courtenay—Alberni, BC
Mr. Chair, I would like to put forward an amendment that this take place by June 12.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Ken McDonald
We have an amendment for “no later than June 12”.
Is there any debate on the amendment?
Seeing no hands we'll vote on the amendment.
Nancy, when you're ready.
The Clerk
Thank you, Mr. Chair.
The amendment suggested by Mr. Johns is that we add "no later than June 12" at the end of the motion.
(Amendment agreed to [See Minutes of Proceedings])
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Ken McDonald
If there's no further discussion, we'll vote on the motion as amended.
Conservative
Mel Arnold Conservative North Okanagan—Shuswap, BC
I have a question, Mr. Chair.
Will this permit questioning on the estimates or can we request another appearance by the minister on the estimates before the date they are to be voted on in the House?
Liberal
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Ken McDonald
Yes, please.
We'll suspend for a second while I engage with the clerk, please.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Ken McDonald
We're back.
We'll move to Mr. Arnold's question of being available for the estimates.
I believe the ways of dealing with the estimates had been modified when the House was not sitting, only the hybrid Parliament. It was agreed by all parties that the estimates would be studied by committee of the whole. The minister will not be required to appear before committee to deal with the estimates. I think that goes for all the committees.
We'll get back to the voting on the motion as amended.
(Motion as amended agreed to: yeas 10; nays 0 [See Minutes of Proceedings])
We'll go on to the next topic.
Mr. Arnold.
Conservative
Mel Arnold Conservative North Okanagan—Shuswap, BC
Mr. Chair, I'd like to move another motion that, in addition to the meeting requested in the motion just passed, that we also request the minister to appear once per month through the summer until normal operations of Parliament resume.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Ken McDonald
The motion reads, “That the minister appear before committee once a month until the House starts its regular sittings.”
Is that correct, Mr. Arnold?
Conservative
Mel Arnold Conservative North Okanagan—Shuswap, BC
That's correct.
I'd like to get clarification from the clerk that the motion passed by the House prevents the committee from asking the minister about the estimates.
Does the motion passed by the House prevent the committee from asking the minister about the estimates?
The Clerk
I would have to verify the procedural details on that. Do you need an answer now?
Conservative
Mel Arnold Conservative North Okanagan—Shuswap, BC
Perhaps you could get back to us at some point in the meeting. We can deal with the motion that I addressed first, which is probably the proper order of business. We should get clarification on that.
The Clerk
We can certainly look into that during the meeting. The motion that you just mentioned, were you referring to once a month on COVID or at large?
Conservative
Bloc
Marilène Gill Bloc Manicouagan, QC
I also wanted to make a motion, but I do not know whether we should deal with this one first.
May I introduce it?
I cannot hear anything.
Liberal
Bloc
Marilène Gill Bloc Manicouagan, QC
Actually, it was another motion. That is why I raised my hand, but Mr. Arnold had the floor. So it will be a future motion.
Liberal
Terry Beech Liberal Burnaby North—Seymour, BC
Mr. Chair, while I appreciate the intent of the motion, these are unprecedented times, and certainly this committee has a lot of great work to do. We still haven't outlined what the entire summer is going to look like. I'm not sure if there is a precedent for a monthly attendance of the minister.
I'll remind committee members that this committee can call on the minister whenever it likes, so what I would recommend is this. As we've just signed up for a four-hour meeting within the next two weeks, as early as possible for the minister, let's have that meeting. Let's determine what our business is now and going into the future, and as the minister is needed, we can certainly extend an invitation to her so she can come on the business of the time, but I think having an open-ended meeting every single month is unnecessary and unprecedented.
Conservative
Mel Arnold Conservative North Okanagan—Shuswap, BC
It certainly is unprecedented to have the minister appear once per month, but we are in unprecedented times. Many have said that. The situation continues to evolve. Fishermen, harvesters, processors and retailers have all been impacted and continuously are trying to adapt to the new situation. The minister has not yet appeared before this committee and has not been accountable for any of the decisions.
The summer barbecue circuit won't be happening because of travel restrictions. There won't be any international travel and there won't be any other significant events. Therefore, certainly the minister should be able to schedule at least two hours per month to communicate with this committee, which is convened basically to look after the interests of fish and fishermen right across this country. Two hours per month certainly isn't an extraordinary demand on time. I think it's reasonable.