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.
4:30 p.m.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Sven Spengemann
Thank you very much, Ms. Fry.
I see no further hands raised on this part of the debate.
Are there any other comments waiting on this issue?
If not, could I ask either Ms. Sahota or perhaps Madam Clerk to reread the text of the amended motion?
4:30 p.m.
Liberal
October 13th, 2020 / 4:30 p.m.
The Clerk
Thank you, Mr. Chair.
What I have right now is as follows:
That, at the discretion of the Chair, witnesses be given 5 or more minutes for their opening statement, that wherever possible the witnesses provide their statement to the Committee 72 hours in advance; that, at the discretion of the Chair, during the first round of questioning of witnesses, there be allocated six minutes for the first questioner of each party as follows: Conservative Party, Liberal Party, Bloc Québécois and New Democratic Party.
Then, in the second half, we have:
For the second and subsequent rounds, the order and time for the questioning be as follows: Conservative Party, five minutes, Liberal Party, five minutes, Bloc Québécois, two and a half minutes, New Democratic Party, two and a half minutes, Conservative Party, five minutes, Liberal Party, five minutes.
4:30 p.m.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Sven Spengemann
Thank you so much.
(Amendment agreed to)
(Motion as amended agreed to)
Ms. Dabrusin, thank you.
4:30 p.m.
Liberal
Julie Dabrusin Liberal Toronto—Danforth, ON
This one deals with document distribution:
That the clerk of the committee be authorized to distribute documents to members of the committee only when the documents are available in both official languages and that witnesses be advised accordingly.
4:30 p.m.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Sven Spengemann
Thank you, Ms. Dabrusin.
Is there any debate on this motion?
(Motion agreed to)
Ms. Dabrusin.
4:30 p.m.
Liberal
Julie Dabrusin Liberal Toronto—Danforth, ON
I love this one: “Working Meals”. Maybe we can get snacks delivered.
That the clerk of the committee be authorized to make the necessary arrangements to provide working meals for the committee and its subcommittees.
4:30 p.m.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Sven Spengemann
Is there any debate on this motion, which was conceived pre-COVID but will be relevant as we go into a hybrid setting?
I see none.
(Motion agreed to)
Ms. Dabrusin.
4:30 p.m.
Liberal
Julie Dabrusin Liberal Toronto—Danforth, ON
Here's the motion concerning the travel, accommodation and living expenses of witnesses:
That, if requested, reasonable travel, accommodation and living expenses be reimbursed to witnesses not exceeding two representatives per organization; provided that, in exceptional circumstances, payment for more representatives be made at the discretion of the Chair.
4:30 p.m.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Sven Spengemann
We have heard the motion.
Is there any debate?
(Motion agreed to)
The motion carries.
Ms. Dabrusin.
4:35 p.m.
Liberal
Julie Dabrusin Liberal Toronto—Danforth, ON
The next motion is on access to in camera meetings:
That, unless otherwise ordered, each committee member be allowed to have one staff member at an in camera meeting and that one additional person from each House officer's office be allowed to be present.
4:35 p.m.
Liberal
4:35 p.m.
Liberal
Julie Dabrusin Liberal Toronto—Danforth, ON
The next is on transcripts of in camera meetings:
That one copy of the transcript of each in camera meeting be kept in the committee clerk's office for consultation by members of the committee or by their staff.
4:35 p.m.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Sven Spengemann
Is there any debate on transcripts?
(Motion agreed to)
Ms. Dabrusin.
4:35 p.m.
Liberal
Julie Dabrusin Liberal Toronto—Danforth, ON
The next is on notices of motion, which reads as follows:
That 48 hours' notice, interpreted as two nights, shall be required for any substantive motion to be considered by the committee, unless the substantive motion relates directly to business then under consideration, provided that (1) the notice be filed with the clerk of the committee no later than 4:00 p.m. (EST) from Monday to Friday; that (2) the motion be distributed to Members in both official languages by the clerk on the same day the said notice was transmitted if it was received no later than the deadline hour; and that (3) notices received after the deadline hour or on non-business days be deemed to have been received during the next business day and that when the committee is travelling on official business, no substantive motions may be moved.
4:35 p.m.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Sven Spengemann
Thank you, Ms. Dabrusin.
Members have heard the text of this slightly longer motion. Is there any debate on this motion?
(Motion agreed to)
Ms. Dabrusin.
4:35 p.m.
Liberal
Julie Dabrusin Liberal Toronto—Danforth, ON
Here is the motion on purchasing gifts.
That the committee be authorized to purchase gifts to be presented to foreign hosts and visiting delegations.
4:35 p.m.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Sven Spengemann
Is there any debate on this motion on gifts?
I see none.
(Motion agreed to)
Ms Dabrusin.
4:35 p.m.
Liberal
Julie Dabrusin Liberal Toronto—Danforth, ON
The next is a longer one on orders of reference from the House respecting bills:
That, in relation to Orders of Reference from the House respecting Bills, (a) the clerk of the committee shall, upon the committee receiving such an Order of Reference, write to each Member who is not a member of a caucus represented on the committee to invite those Members to file with the clerk of the committee, in both official languages, any amendments to the Bill, which is the subject of the said Order, which they would suggest that the committee consider; (b) suggested amendments filed, pursuant to paragraph (a), at least 48 hours prior to the start of clause-by-clause consideration of the Bill to which the amendments relate shall be deemed to be proposed during the said consideration, provided that the committee may, by motion, vary this deadline in respect of a given Bill; and (c) during the clause-by-clause consideration of a Bill, the Chair shall allow a Member who filed suggested amendments, pursuant to paragraph (a), an opportunity to make brief representations in support of them.
4:35 p.m.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Sven Spengemann
Thank you, Ms. Dabrusin.
The members of the committee have heard the motion.
Is there debate on the motion?
Mr. Bergeron, you have the floor.
4:35 p.m.
Bloc
Stéphane Bergeron Bloc Montarville, QC
Correct me if I'm wrong, Mr. Chair, but I don't recall seeing this routine motion. Would it be possible to read it again before we proceed?
4:35 p.m.
Liberal
Julie Dabrusin Liberal Toronto—Danforth, ON
Okay. I'll read it again.
Here's the routine motion dealing with orders of reference from the House respecting bills:
That, in relation to Orders of Reference from the House respecting Bills,
(a) the clerk of the committee shall, upon the committee receiving such an Order of Reference, write to each Member who is not a member of a caucus represented on the committee to invite those Members to file with the clerk of the committee, in both official languages, any amendments to the Bill, which is the subject of the said Order, which they would suggest that the committee consider;
(b) suggested amendments filed, pursuant to paragraph (a), at least 48 hours prior to the start of clause-by-clause consideration of the Bill to which the amendments relate shall be deemed to be proposed during the said consideration, provided that the committee may, by motion, vary this deadline in respect of a given Bill; and
(c) during the clause-by-clause consideration of a Bill, the Chair shall allow a Member who filed suggested amendments, pursuant to paragraph (a), an opportunity to make brief representations in support of them.
4:40 p.m.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Sven Spengemann
Thank you very much, Ms. Dabrusin.
Is there any debate on the motion?
Go ahead, Mr. Chong.
4:40 p.m.
Conservative
Michael Chong Conservative Wellington—Halton Hills, ON
For Mr. Bergeron's benefit, I will say that this rule was created for Ms. May and the Green Party in the House of Commons.
Two Parliaments ago, Ms. May introduced almost 2,000 budget amendments in the House of Commons. We voted on each amendment for two days. At that time, there was no rule allowing the Green Party to table amendments in committee, which is why this rule now exists in all committees.
