Evidence of meeting #1 for Foreign Affairs and International Development 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
The Chair Liberal Sven Spengemann
Ms. Sahota, thank you very much.
Just on a technical point, I have been asked to let you know that the sound quality is still posing a problem for interpretation. If there is a way for you to switch devices, that would be greatly appreciated.
Mr. Bergeron, you have the floor.
Bloc
Stéphane Bergeron Bloc Montarville, QC
Thank you, Mr. Chair.
I must honestly admit that I feel a certain uneasiness about the debate we are currently having. If it's relevant to look at the composition of the Subcommittee on Agenda and Procedure in the previous session, it should be equally relevant to question whether we had a third vice-chair position in the previous session, which was the case.
In the spirit of collaboration, I am concerned that we are beginning our work with a procedural debate on whether or not to reappoint Mr. Harris as vice-chair.
If it's relevant to look at the make-up of the subcommittee, and if we want to work in the same kind of collaborative spirit that prevailed in the previous session, even though we weren't able to continue the work at any great length at the time, it is equally relevant to question whether or not there was a third vice-chair, which was the case.
So I respectfully submit to you, Mr. Chair, that I have submitted a nomination for the approval of the members of this committee. As far as I am aware, there was an agreement in the previous session that the New Democratic Party could obtain the third vice-chair's seat on the standing committees, which was the case with ours. As far as I know, unless the clerk corrects me, that was the case in all the standing committees.
So I don't understand why this is a problem this time, when it was a stumbling block that we had managed to overcome, in a spirit of collaboration, during the previous session. I don't understand why this stumbling block is coming back to haunt us this time, when we resolved it in the previous session.
I invite members, in the spirit of collaboration, to grant Mr. Harris the status he held in the previous session, that of third vice-chair of our committee, so that we can finally get down to what the Prime Minister likes to call “real business”, or what will be the work of this committee over the coming weeks and months.
Can we quickly resolve this technical issue which, if we continue to discuss it to death, will be a stumbling block that we'll have to carry for some time to come? I wouldn't want us to start this committee's work on a misperception. I'd like us to be able to begin this work in a spirit of collaboration between the four political parties on this committee.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Sven Spengemann
Now it's my turn to be on mute.
Thank you, Mr. Bergeron.
Mr. Harris, Ms. Dabrusin and Ms. Sahota are next on the list but, first, I think the clerk wants to speak on that matter.
The Clerk
Thank you, Mr. Chair.
In the previous session, we did not have a third vice-chair. The third vice-chair position was only for the Special Committee on—
The Clerk
So Foreign Affairs and International Development did not have a third vice-chair position in the previous session. It was only the Special Committee on Canada-China Relations that had that position, and that was done by motion from the House forming the special committee. The Standing Orders do not allow for a third vice-chair.
There was a report from the Standing Committee on Procedure and House Affairs in the last session. That report was never concurred in, so currently there is no mechanism by which standing committees can elect a third vice-chair.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Sven Spengemann
Madam Clerk, just before we go to the rest of the list, does that effectively render Mr. Bergeron's motion inadmissible?
The Clerk
Yes, I would suggest that it would be an inadmissible motion, as it is contrary to the Standing Orders.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Sven Spengemann
Okay.
I'd like to hear from Mr. Harris, Ms. Dabrusin, and Ms. Sahota, please.
NDP
Jack Harris NDP St. John's East, NL
Well, it's an interesting discussion. I know that there was no final concurrence in the BOIE, but that doesn't mean that a committee can't make a decision, pass a motion and let the BOIE and the House deal with it one way or the other. If it is the wish of this committee, the committee can elect a position of vice-chair, as was done in the past, and let them deal with it.
I will assure you that this has nothing to do.... In fact, it might create a situation in which the BOIE and the House may have to do something about it, because I have no intention nor would I have anything to do with accepting any money for the position. I think this would be an opportunity for the House to make a ruling on it. We have a minority Parliament, and the spirit of co-operation in a minority Parliament, the recognition of the value that each party brought to this Parliament and the hope that we would all work together were evident in the motion brought by the Conservative Party back in December. I think it was the first motion that was voted on in the House with the establishment of the Canada-China committee. It think the precedent was established there.
We are a very closely related committee. The foreign affairs committee could play a good role in doing the same thing with respect to this committee, and it may bring about the change that's required.
That's all I have to say on it.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Sven Spengemann
Mr. Harris, thank you.
I have next on the list Ms. Dabrusin, Ms. Sahota, and Mr. Oliphant.
Liberal
Julie Dabrusin Liberal Toronto—Danforth, ON
I propose that we actually move to routine motions, given that we've just been told by the clerk that the motion we're discussing is not in order. It looks as though there's a larger issue that needs to be sorted out through the BOIE with regard to the right procedure to figure it out. We don't have standing to be able to appoint a third vice-chair, so I think we should move forward.
I have a number of routine motions that—
NDP
Jack Harris NDP St. John's East, NL
On a point of order, Mr. Chair, I've just been advised by our whip's office that in fact PROC did report to the House on the third vice-chair, but the report was not concurred in by the House because the motion was not brought because of prorogation. So that's where PROC is at the moment, and that's where they were before prorogation.
Perhaps a decision by this committee or a motion by this committee that might be of use would come back to the House for consideration. It's not a question that PROC did not come to a decision. They came to a decision and they had a report to the House, but there was no motion for concurrence in the House before prorogation.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Sven Spengemann
Thank you, Mr. Harris. That may actually be helpful.
I'd like to hear the end of Ms. Dabrusin's intervention, then Ms. Sahota and Mr. Oliphant.
Liberal
Julie Dabrusin Liberal Toronto—Danforth, ON
In fact, Mr. Chair, I'd like to proceed with motions to actually constitute our committee and the rules for our committee, because we've already been told that there is no standing for this motion.
If I may, I would like to begin with bringing routine motions. The first is on analyst services:
That the committee retain, as needed and at the discretion of the Chair, the services of one or more analysts from the Library of Parliament to assist it in its work.
October 13th, 2020 / 4:05 p.m.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Sven Spengemann
I will seek the advice of the clerk.
Madam Clerk, we have a motion on the floor that has not been disposed of, and now we have a second motion for going to routine proceedings. Perhaps I could seek your assistance on the sequence that we are to deal with this, please.
The Clerk
Thank you, Mr. Chair.
Right now, the information has been put before the committee regarding the third vice-chair. It would be up to you to make a ruling on whether that motion is admissible. If it is inadmissible, then you are free to move on to other items.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Sven Spengemann
Keeping in mind the conversation that's taking place and not wanting to foreclose on arguments that need to be made, I will rule the motion inadmissible. I stand to be challenged on that. If that's the case, then that may well be resolved at a later time. The points have been made thoughtfully and have been heard by all members, but Ms. Dabrusin has put a motion forward to do really what we are here to do today, which is to go through the routine motions to constitute our committee and to get us into the starting blocks.
I will rule the motion by Mr. Bergeron inadmissible. I stand to be challenged on that, if that is the will of the committee. I propose to move forward with the motion by Ms. Dabrusin to go into routine motions.
Liberal
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Sven Spengemann
Would you reread the motion just for clarity, Ms. Dabrusin, please?
Liberal
Julie Dabrusin Liberal Toronto—Danforth, ON
I'll read it in French because Mr. Bergeron has heard a lot of English so far.
That the committee retain, as needed and at the discretion of the Chair, the services of one or more analysts from the Library of Parliament to assist it in its work.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Sven Spengemann
Is there debate on this motion? Seeing none, all in favour?
(Motion agreed to)
If I could take the prerogative of the chair to intervene very briefly, Ms. Dabrusin, with my apologies, as there are many other routine motions that we need to get through. At this point the committee is officially formed, and I would like to take a moment to welcome and thank our hard-working and amazing House of Commons team, beginning with our clerk, Erica Pereira, and then also our analysts, Nadia Faucher, Allison Goody and Billy Joe—B.J.—Siekierski.
I would like to give them the opportunity to make a few remarks to the committee should they choose to.
The Clerk
Thank you, Mr. Chair. I'll start.
I'm Erica Pereira. I've been a clerk here at the House of Commons for 14 years, and I will be your clerk for this session. I'm looking forward to it.