Health Committee on Jan. 29th, 2020

[The Chair, Liberal, Ron McKinnon]

Mr. Jeneroux.

[Matt Jeneroux, Conservative, Edmonton Riverbend, AB]

I'm happy to go through these routine proceedings. I'm hoping they're relatively quick because we do have officials here, and I'm looking to be briefed. I would refer you, Mr. Chair, to the unanimous consent motion where it reads, “following the election of the Chair and Vice Chairs, the committee shall proceed to a briefing from officials”.

Although the routine proceedings are helpful, if they are going to continue like this I'd rather just get to the officials, who have spent valuable time coming here today.

[The Chair, Liberal, Ron McKinnon]

I appreciate that. However, we have to have certain processes in place before we can actually conduct the meeting.

Is there any more discussion?

(Amendment agreed to [See Minutes of Proceedings])

[Darren Fisher, Liberal, Dartmouth—Cole Harbour, NS]

Thank you, Mr. Chair. I'll move along more quickly.

With regard to the questioning of witnesses, the motion reads:

That witnesses be given ten (10) minutes for their opening statement; that, at the discretion of the Chair, during the questioning of witnesses, there be”—

[The Chair, Liberal, Ron McKinnon]

We only voted on the amendment.

[Darren Fisher, Liberal, Dartmouth—Cole Harbour, NS]

Oh, we only voted on the amendment.

[The Chair, Liberal, Ron McKinnon]

Is there any discussion on the reduced quorum motion as amended?

(Motion as amended agreed to [See Minutes of Proceedings])

[Darren Fisher, Liberal, Dartmouth—Cole Harbour, NS]

Okay, the motion on the questioning of witnesses reads:

That witnesses be given ten (10) minutes for their opening statement; that, at the discretion of the Chair, during the questioning of witnesses, there be allocated six (6) minutes for the first questioner of each party as follows: Round I:

Conservative Party

Liberal Party

Bloc Québécois

New Democratic Party

For the second and subsequent rounds, the order and time for questioning be as follows:

Conservative Party, five (and that thereafter five (5)) minutes,

Liberal Party, five (5) minutes,

Conservative Party, five (5) minutes,

Liberal Party, five (5) minutes,

Bloc Québécois, two and a half (2.5) minutes,

New Democratic Party, two and a half (2.5) minutes.

[The Chair, Liberal, Ron McKinnon]

Is there any discussion?

(Motion agreed to)

[Darren Fisher, Liberal, Dartmouth—Cole Harbour, NS]

With regard to documents distribution, the motion reads:

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.

[The Chair, Liberal, Ron McKinnon]

Is there any discussion?

(Motion agreed to)

[Darren Fisher, Liberal, Dartmouth—Cole Harbour, NS]

With regard to working meals:

That the Clerk of the Committee be authorized to make the necessary arrangements to provide working meals for the Committee and its Subcommittees.

[The Chair, Liberal, Ron McKinnon]

Is there any discussion?

(Motion agreed to)

[Darren Fisher, Liberal, Dartmouth—Cole Harbour, NS]

With regard to witnesses' expenses:

That, if requested, reasonable travel, accommodation and living expenses be reimbursed to witnesses not exceeding two (2) representatives per organization; provided that, in exceptional circumstances, payment for more representatives be made at the discretion of the Chair.

[The Chair, Liberal, Ron McKinnon]

Is there any discussion?

(Motion agreed to)

[Darren Fisher, Liberal, Dartmouth—Cole Harbour, NS]

With regard to staff at 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.

[The Chair, Liberal, Ron McKinnon]

Is there any discussion?

(Motion agreed to)

[Darren Fisher, Liberal, Dartmouth—Cole Harbour, NS]

With regard to in camera meetings transcripts:

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.

[The Chair, Liberal, Ron McKinnon]

Is there any discussion?

(Motion agreed to)

[Darren Fisher, Liberal, Dartmouth—Cole Harbour, NS]

Finally, Mr. Chair, with regard to notice of motions:

That a forty-eight (48) hours notice, interpreted as two (2) 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. 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.

[The Chair, Liberal, Ron McKinnon]

Is there any discussion?

(Motion agreed to)

Thank you, everybody.

Ms. Sidhu.

[Sonia Sidhu, Liberal, Brampton South, ON]

Mr. Chair, I would like to suggest that the committee agree that we continue our briefing next week, on Monday and Wednesday, with some witnesses like CBSA, Public Safety, Global Affairs Canada and Transport Canada. We can continue the discussion.

[The Chair, Liberal, Ron McKinnon]

Thank you. I think we'll defer that for just a moment.

I'm going to ask if it is the will of the committee to be in a session televised by the House of Commons.

Mr. Davies.

[Don Davies, NDP, Vancouver Kingsway, BC]

On a point of order, Mr. Chair, if I may, I have further amendments to the routine motions. We're not finished yet. I have three other motions.

[The Chair, Liberal, Ron McKinnon]

I apologize. Carry on.