Evidence of meeting #100 for Fisheries and Oceans in the 44th Parliament, 1st Session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was fishery.

A recording is available from Parliament.

On the agenda

MPs speaking

Also speaking

Adam Burns  Assistant Deputy Minister, Programs Sector, Department of Fisheries and Oceans
Sylvain Vézina  Regional Director General, Quebec Region, Department of Fisheries and Oceans
Bernard Vigneault  Director General, Ecosystem Science Directorate, Department of Fisheries and Oceans
Todd Williams  Senior Director, Fisheries Resource Management, Operations, Department of Fisheries and Oceans
Clerk of the Committee  Ms. Geneviève Dubois-Richard

5:45 p.m.

Conservative

Mel Arnold Conservative North Okanagan—Shuswap, BC

Thank you.

I would also like propose, because the drafting instructions for the IUU study seem to keep getting kicked down the road, that if everyone is in agreement, we have them submitted electronically to the clerk by Friday, March 1. That's this Friday by 5 p.m.

5:45 p.m.

Liberal

The Chair Liberal Ken McDonald

That's a bit tight, but I'll leave it up to the members.

5:45 p.m.

Conservative

Mel Arnold Conservative North Okanagan—Shuswap, BC

We've had weeks to prepare for this, so it shouldn't be short notice. That's why I wanted to make sure it was presented today.

5:45 p.m.

Liberal

The Chair Liberal Ken McDonald

Ms. Barron.

5:45 p.m.

NDP

Lisa Marie Barron NDP Nanaimo—Ladysmith, BC

Thank you, Chair.

I'm not opposed to the idea. I just want to see if I can get some clarification, through you from the clerk, around the process.

Do we need to have oral drafting instructions in a meeting? Is that part of our standard process?

Could somebody answer and clarify that for me?

5:45 p.m.

Liberal

The Chair Liberal Ken McDonald

I'll ask Mr. Arnold to explain what will be done. I think it's the recommendations.

5:45 p.m.

NDP

Lisa Marie Barron NDP Nanaimo—Ladysmith, BC

Mr. Chair, I'm sorry. I'll explain.

I'm not asking for clarification on the contents of the motion. I'm asking for clarification from somebody—either the analysts or the clerk, who are process experts—on whether it is a requirement that we have oral drafting instructions in a meeting or this is an appropriate process to move forward with.

It's more about the process.

5:45 p.m.

Liberal

The Chair Liberal Ken McDonald

I think that's a decision of the committee. If the committee agrees to accept written submissions, it will avoid chewing up another meeting to do it.

5:45 p.m.

NDP

Lisa Marie Barron NDP Nanaimo—Ladysmith, BC

Yes. With respect, Chair, I'm wondering if I could get clarification about that from the clerk or the analysts.

Thank you.

5:45 p.m.

Liberal

The Chair Liberal Ken McDonald

Okay.

I'll ask the analyst or the clerk.

5:45 p.m.

The Clerk of the Committee Ms. Geneviève Dubois-Richard

There's nothing in the Standing Orders that prevents us from doing it by email.

5:45 p.m.

Liberal

The Chair Liberal Ken McDonald

Mr. Cormier.

5:45 p.m.

Liberal

Serge Cormier Liberal Acadie—Bathurst, NB

Just to make sure, what do we want to do by email?

5:45 p.m.

Conservative

Mel Arnold Conservative North Okanagan—Shuswap, BC

Submit drafting instructions for the IUU report so that the analysts will have them to work on while we're not here for two weeks.

5:45 p.m.

Liberal

Serge Cormier Liberal Acadie—Bathurst, NB

Isn't this something we usually do in camera or...?

5:50 p.m.

Liberal

The Chair Liberal Ken McDonald

We usually do it in committee business.

5:50 p.m.

Liberal

Serge Cormier Liberal Acadie—Bathurst, NB

In committee business. Yes.

5:50 p.m.

Liberal

The Chair Liberal Ken McDonald

It's up to the committee.

5:50 p.m.

Liberal

Serge Cormier Liberal Acadie—Bathurst, NB

Can we come back to the next meeting with that, just so we can think about it, or do we have to...?

5:50 p.m.

Liberal

The Chair Liberal Ken McDonald

Yes, it can be dealt with on Thursday.

I won't be here on Thursday. Mr. Arnold will have the chair. I have my medical procedure on Friday, so I'm going home tomorrow morning.

Mr. Arnold.

5:50 p.m.

Conservative

Mel Arnold Conservative North Okanagan—Shuswap, BC

Thank you, Mr. Chair.

We should have all been prepared for this. It was on the notice of meeting for the February 8 meeting that we were to provide drafting instructions. I don't believe we're cutting anybody's time short to prepare for this.

I'm just trying to get some process under way so that the analysts can start working on a draft. Hopefully, we'll have a draft back to us in a reasonable amount of time when we return here.

5:50 p.m.

Liberal

The Chair Liberal Ken McDonald

Mr. Morrissey.

February 27th, 2024 / 5:50 p.m.

Liberal

Bobby Morrissey Liberal Egmont, PE

It was on the agenda, but we didn't get to it. In fact, we're over now.

We didn't have that fulsome discussion on drafting instructions. This is a very important study that covered a lot of serious material. I, for one, want a full discussion. I want to hear from my colleagues on the points that are important to them, that have to be covered in this study and that should be highlighted.

Yes, it was on the agenda, but we're five minutes over. We're now in overtime.

5:50 p.m.

Liberal

The Chair Liberal Ken McDonald

Mr. Arnold.

5:50 p.m.

Conservative

Mel Arnold Conservative North Okanagan—Shuswap, BC

I then ask that the chair set aside time in Thursday's meeting to ensure that we get to the drafting instructions on the IUU report before we go into a two-week break with only one week when we return and then another two-week break following that.