Evidence of meeting #36 for Health in the 40th Parliament, 2nd session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was supplies.
A recording is available from Parliament.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Joy Smith
Thank you, Ms. O'Brien.
If the committee doesn't mind, may I ask a question of the clerk?
Thank you.
As an addendum, or a continuation of what Dr. Bennett was saying, this is the first time I've ever heard any concern about members of Parliament being trained. I did see it up on the website, and I thought it was quite clear, but--
Clerk of the House of Commons, House of Commons
Madam Chair, forgive me for interrupting. We could certainly make available our chief nurse-counsellor, who can talk to people and answer questions they may have relative--
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Joy Smith
Well, you've already answered my question, because my question was going to be that if there is a concerned member of Parliament who really feels a burning desire for a need for this training, can you provide someone? You've just answered that. Thank you.
Clerk of the House of Commons, House of Commons
Sure. We would be happy to do that. We weren't planning it on a grand scale, but we'd be happy to answer individual needs.
Bloc
Nicolas Dufour Bloc Repentigny, QC
Thank you very much, Madam Chair.
That was, as usual, a good question. I had that question in mind myself.
Ms. O'Brien, I learned of the plan this morning and I would like to congratulate you. I believe that the work done is extraordinary and I would like to point this out. Doing such preparatory work must not have been easy. The operations continuity plan has been established and approved by the Board of Internal Economy.
Could you tell us which activities will be given priority if ever there is a severe pandemic?
Clerk of the House of Commons, House of Commons
We are talking about a hypothetical situation here, but I can tell you that the top priority is to ensure that the House be able to continue sitting, as well as the committees. Dr. Bennett asked me how it would be possible to determine which committees should be given priority. However, it is not up to us to make such a decision. This is a political issue that must be resolved at the political level.
Should there be a pandemic, absenteeism is what concerns us the most. For example, it is clear that we depend a great deal on our technology services. These services would also become a priority for us, so that we can ensure that the network is operating 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. This is a potential problem. We will have to reassign people to various services in the technology branch so that essential services are covered. That might mean, for example, that the information call line will be operational only from 9 to 5 o'clock rather than 24 hours a day. Adjustments such as these might be necessary.
Similarly, if financial services had a very high absenteeism rate, we would have to inform the members of Parliament that it might take some time to process their invoices. We are prepared to assess the situation on a case-by-case basis. What is important for us is that essential services, the interpreters, the premises, security, all of that be taken care of so that the House can continue sitting.
However, if at some point, there is a severe outbreak in the region, or if there are two or three such outbreaks in the country, a political decision will have to be made to determine whether or not the parliamentary calendar should be amended. This decision would be made, I believe, between the parliamentary leaders, and the House will make a formal decision further to a special motion that will have to be presented to the House.
Bloc
Nicolas Dufour Bloc Repentigny, QC
There are procedures within the departments to test these continuity plans, which have already been prepared. Have we tested the continuity procedures or do we intend to do so?
Clerk of the House of Commons, House of Commons
I will ask my colleague Kathryn, who is the chair of the main committee, to answer your question.
Kathryn Butler Malette Director General, Human Resources, Corporate Planning and Communications, House of Commons
Thank you.
As far as the administration's pandemic plan is concerned, we carried out tests on October 6 from 9 to 12. This was a three-hour test. Advisors from Vanguard Emergency Services were present. They had prepared exercises ranging from moderate to high risk. We tested the impact of an absenteism rate of approximately 30%.
We did this exercise around a table. We did not conduct the exercise as EDC had done, when people did not show up for work, but we did in particular examine our IT services, because this is very important. We looked at the delegation of human resources, employees. If ever we did not have employees on a certain service, how are we going to be aware of the absentee rate in the House? Our human resources system will monitor and forward this information.
In addition, we took a look at our communications plans. How will we continue communicating with the members of Parliament, the employees and our partners throughout the House? Everything went very well. It was a tough test, particularly at the end. We discovered, for example, that we need to pay close attention to communications. As for our IT services, we must realize that not everybody can work from home. We do not have enough portable computers, we do not have a network that would allow this to happen. We want to keep the network in good shape, so we have to pay attention. We talked at great length about the impact on the IT plan. The employees sitting around the table held relatively significant positions and we found aspects of the plan that needed to be changed, because this plan is evolving. We are prepared should something happen, such an outbreak in the region.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Joy Smith
No, I'm sorry.
Thank you so much.
Now we'll go to Ms. Wasylycia-Leis.
NDP
Judy Wasylycia-Leis NDP Winnipeg North, MB
Thank you, Madam Chairperson.
I want to add my thanks for this thorough briefing and the work you've done.
I really don't have a lot of questions because my sense is that the precinct is well looked after in terms of a preparedness plan. I know our offices have been getting information since the spring. I can remember employees on the Hill talking about going to training sessions. Cleaning has certainly been a major preoccupation. There are hand sanitizers in the entrance of every building and all over the place in different buildings. There are big signs in washrooms. I think your tool kit will probably add to that.
We have a 24-hour nurse on site. We have someone to turn to for information. You've indicated your willingness to speak to different caucuses and be available for MPs. I think it's an amazing plan.
My one comment would be, given what we've been hearing from first nations communities, that I think some of those communities would given an arm and a leg just to have a portion of what we have here.
If I have any question it really goes back to the question Kathryn was answering—and you've already done that—on the trial run of having 30% of your employees off. Say this thing hit in different regions, and some MPs couldn't get into Ottawa and it became difficult to hold Parliament as we know it.
Audrey, have you ever thought about a different way to hold Parliament by using technology? Could we meet as a Parliament if we couldn't all get here and conduct business?
Conservative
Clerk of the House of Commons, House of Commons
Yes. I'm a big worrier from way back, so it's not beyond my scope.
Clerk of the House of Commons, House of Commons
We have thought about how to use video teleconferencing and other techniques to bring people together for decisions. A variety of measures and options could be brought into play.
It's important to realize that in our day-to-day operations we're used to an extremely high level of service from every source. We have a lot of options to exercise before there is danger to the core work of the House or its committees. The levels of service allow people to work efficiently, but there are also a lot of add-ons we could bring in if we had to cut back to essentials. I could use a piece of paper and a pen, and we could make copies of an order paper. People can meet pretty well anywhere—it doesn't have to be in the chamber.
I think it's important not to overstate the case in our rush to be ready for anything. I'm trying to make sure we're well prepared. But there are places where we can cut back without affecting the essential work of Parliament and members. There are some things that are urgent, but there are others that could wait a week and it wouldn't be the end of the world. It's the same thing in most services.
NDP
Judy Wasylycia-Leis NDP Winnipeg North, MB
If this thing hits at full capacity and we lose a third of our parliamentarians, life can go on. But if we lose a third of our translators and interpreters, it might be hard to replace them with skilled professionals. In light of that prospect, without wanting to spread fear or exaggerate....
Clerk of the House of Commons, House of Commons
If you have fewer interpreters available, you might be able to work fewer hours. Maybe you'd just have to make the hours more productive.
NDP
Judy Wasylycia-Leis NDP Winnipeg North, MB
Maybe we could reform Parliament in the process. Then there'd be some good that came out of it.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Joy Smith
Ms. Wasylycia-Leis, is that the end? Okay, thank you. You've surprised me—you usually don't go under time.