Health Committee on July 20th, 2020

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

I'm just putting it out there that it's the same as with the last motion. This one is very much covered in the OGGO one. I won't read that back into the record again. It's the same one that covers all this.

I'm just putting it out there to see if Mr. Jeneroux would be willing to withdraw this motion and have the information that OGGO collects, and we can put that on our website.

[The Chair, Liberal, Ron McKinnon]

Mr. Jeneroux, perhaps you wish to respond quickly.

[Matt Jeneroux, Conservative, Edmonton Riverbend, AB]

Again, no. It's the same reasoning, Mr. Chair. We're our own committee, and it's important that we get this information as it pertains to the differences in this motion.

[The Chair, Liberal, Ron McKinnon]

Thank you, Mr. Jeneroux.

We go now to Dr. Powlowski.

[Marcus Powlowski, Liberal, Thunder Bay—Rainy River, ON]

I have a motion to amend the original motion, and that is by pushing the date from August 31 to September 7. The motion was moved on July 7, so that's pretty recently. It would just allow the department a little more time in producing the required documents.

[The Chair, Liberal, Ron McKinnon]

Just to clarify, I think Mr. Jeneroux incorporated that change in his motion as moved.

[Matt Jeneroux, Conservative, Edmonton Riverbend, AB]

Yes, I did. I asked Mr. Powlowski to move to the second amendment he has on his piece of paper there provided to him by the whip's office, as opposed to the first one. We've already dealt with that one.

[Marcus Powlowski, Liberal, Thunder Bay—Rainy River, ON]

Okay. My apologies if the dates are already right.

[The Chair, Liberal, Ron McKinnon]

Thank you, Doctor.

I have Mr. Kelloway next.

[Mike Kelloway, Liberal, Cape Breton—Canso, NS]

In terms of the motion, I would make an amendment around the removal of “emails” in the first paragraph, the first line.

[The Chair, Liberal, Ron McKinnon]

We have a motion to amend the motion, as previously, by removing “emails” and making appropriate grammatical adjustments.

The discussion now is on Mr. Kelloway's amendment.

Ms. Jansen, please go ahead.

[Tamara Jansen, Conservative, Cloverdale—Langley City, BC]

I hate to waste time here, but I have to say again that perhaps not everybody is talking to the right people when they're going out into their constituencies to find out how upset Canadians are and how little trust they have in what we've done on this pandemic. Again, the idea of not allowing emails to be part of this discussion is going to continue to hurt the trust of Canadians. It is not transparent. It is actually holding back information that would help people believe—actually believe—that what you guys are saying is absolutely true.

We have to really look at the fact that people don't believe what's being said. How are we going to get them to believe what's being said? Lay it out on the table, open up the books, and show them what was said and what was done. That's the way to gain their trust. Transparency is absolutely critical.

[The Chair, Liberal, Ron McKinnon]

Thank you, Ms. Jansen.

We have Mr. Kelloway next.

[Mike Kelloway, Liberal, Cape Breton—Canso, NS]

Allow me to be transparent. I have no talking notes or briefing notes on it.

I think one of the hallmarks of this committee is to have real, substantive discussion, whether it's from the NDP, the Conservatives, the Bloc, or my own party. I think we get into these generalizations that yes, Canadians are worried, and yes, Canadians want action, but when you use words like “don't trust”, there seems to be.... I wish there wasn't so much gaslighting that's happening on this committee in terms of certain terminologies that are used.

I'll stand by my belief around the removal of “emails”, as stated in the last motion, but I think we can have a really good debate without that kind of discussion.

[The Chair, Liberal, Ron McKinnon]

Thank you, Mr. Kelloway.

You should actually move your mike up a bit higher when you speak. It will be better for the interpreters.

Mr. Davies, please go ahead.

[Don Davies, NDP, Vancouver Kingsway, BC]

Mr. Chair, as a clarification, are we specifically talking about the removal of “emails” at this point and not the redaction process?

[The Chair, Liberal, Ron McKinnon]

That is correct.

[Don Davies, NDP, Vancouver Kingsway, BC]

Okay, I'll pass. My remarks will be directed towards redaction.

[The Chair, Liberal, Ron McKinnon]

Okay. Thank you.

Is there any further discussion on Mr. Kelloway's amendment?

Seeing none, we will go to the vote.

The vote is on Mr. Kelloway's amendment, which is to remove “emails” from the list of documents to be returned, and make appropriate grammatical adjustments in doing so.

Madam Clerk, please conduct the vote.

(Amendment agreed to: yeas 6; nays 5 [See Minutes of Proceedings])

[The Chair, Liberal, Ron McKinnon]

Thank you, Madam Clerk.

The discussion resumes on the main motion as amended by Mr. Kelloway. Is there any discussion?

Madam Sidhu, please go ahead.

[Sonia Sidhu, Liberal, Brampton South, ON]

Mr. Chair, is what is done after that [Technical difficulty—Editor] next speaker.

[The Chair, Liberal, Ron McKinnon]

Thank you.

I'll go to Mr. Davies.

[Don Davies, NDP, Vancouver Kingsway, BC]

Mr. Chair, I'm waiting to speak for.... I anticipate the next amendment on the redaction process.

[The Chair, Liberal, Ron McKinnon]

Very well. Is there any further discussion? We're on the main motion. There is no amendment on the floor yet.

[Sonia Sidhu, Liberal, Brampton South, ON]

Mr. Chair, I am having trouble being heard, but can I speak to Mr. Jeneroux's motion?