Evidence of meeting #5 for Health in the 43rd Parliament, 2nd Session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was chair.
A video is available from Parliament.
2:55 p.m.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Ron McKinnon
Actually, Mr. d'Entremont has a prior point of order.
Go ahead, Mr. d'Entremont.
2:55 p.m.
Conservative
Chris d'Entremont Conservative West Nova, NS
Oh, that wasn't me. I'm guessing that was Mr. Maguire.
Quite honestly, if I can have a point of order, it's that we've been sitting here and there's an hour that's already gone by. We have two hours of questioning to do. We would like to do it all in one swoop. I'm just wondering if you could recognize Ms. Rempel Garner and maybe we can run a motion and try to find another date that would work for everyone.
November 6th, 2020 / 2:55 p.m.
NDP
Don Davies NDP Vancouver Kingsway, BC
Mr. Chair, I've had my hand up to speak to the point of order.
If I may, it's more than just what people want. I'm going to read the motion that was passed, which is binding upon this committee and you. It says:
That, pursuant to the Order of Reference of October 22, 2020, the Minister of Health appear before the Committee for no fewer than 2 hours to consider the Supplementary Estimates (B) prior to November 6th 2020; and that this meeting be televised.
The motion couldn't be clearer. That's why having heard the point of order and having heard from the minister, who can only stay at this point for one hour, we would be violating the precise terms of the motion that we passed and will have no choice but to reschedule this meeting.
I appreciate the minister being here and all of the staff, and I appreciate it's not their responsibility or fault that this meeting has been truncated, although I do note that when we convened this meeting, when we started, generally the procedure would be to ask for unanimous consent to proceed with the meeting while the bells were ringing, and at least we could have had the minister's statement out and proceeded at that time. I noticed that you didn't even canvass that possibility, but just simply unilaterally said the meeting wouldn't start until now.
As the chair of the committee, you decided to start this meeting in the knowledge that we would have one hour to complete the meeting, when the motion calls for the minister to appear—not the meeting to be conducted, but for the minister to appear—for no fewer than two hours, which we all know now cannot happen.
3 p.m.
NDP
Don Davies NDP Vancouver Kingsway, BC
I know the minister has not appeared before the committee in a number of months. My honourable colleague with the Conservatives is quite right. There are massive numbers of areas to look into. It's not appropriate to have the minister come before committee, have a chance to have a statement, speak for 10 minutes, and then we have maybe enough for one round of questions before we stop the meeting.
Not only do I not think that we can go, or that we should stay for an hour today and reschedule, but in terms of the motion, we cannot. I suggest that we reschedule this meeting. The minister has graciously offered to come back for another hour. Let's just have the minister come back as soon as possible for the full two hours so that we can actually get that traction.
My final point is going to be this. I know it's hard to gather this many people together. If we were going to come together, let's spend the full two hours examining the issues that I know all members and the minister and her team want to cover, instead of breaking this up into smaller pieces.
3 p.m.
Liberal
Darren Fisher Liberal Dartmouth—Cole Harbour, NS
On that point of order, Mr. Chair, does the motion say anything about having the two hours concurrently? There's no reason we couldn't do an hour today. We have these folks here. They're all sound-checked. Let's do an hour today and invite these folks back for another hour on another day after our constituency week. That still fulfills the motion that we all supported unanimously.
3 p.m.
NDP
Don Davies NDP Vancouver Kingsway, BC
Yes, Mr. Chair, exactly. It does say that. It says no fewer than two hours on or before Friday, November 6, which is today.
3 p.m.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Ron McKinnon
Clearly, the wishes of the committee are expressed in that motion. However, I should remind the committee that we cannot compel the minister to appear. The minister was invited to appear. She graciously agreed to do so, and she has graciously agreed to come back and fulfill the other hour in which we would like to hear from her.
3 p.m.
Conservative
3 p.m.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Ron McKinnon
It does seem to be the will of the committee to have a vote on this, but I will recognize Ms. Rempel Garner to move her motion.
3 p.m.
Conservative
Michelle Rempel Conservative Calgary Nose Hill, AB
Thank you, Mr. Chair.
I move:
That the committee reschedule the two hour meeting scheduled for November 6, 2020 to the week of November 9-13, 2020, taking into consideration the minister's availability, and that the same witnesses be invited to appear.
3 p.m.
Liberal
3 p.m.
Liberal
Darren Fisher Liberal Dartmouth—Cole Harbour, NS
Thank you, Mr. Chair.
For all the reasons I outlined before.... These extremely busy, brilliant people have been here waiting for a long time. They're all sound-checked. We can do an hour now and an hour after the constituency week. Let's not continue to waste time. We have Dr. Tam, one of the busiest people in the country. We have the minister. We have deputy ministers. We have incredible people here who are set up and sound-checked. We can easily do an hour now, and an hour after the constituency week.
Mr. Chair, I move to adjourn debate.
3 p.m.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Ron McKinnon
Thank you, Mr. Fisher.
There is a motion on the floor to adjourn debate. I would ask the clerk to call the vote.
3 p.m.
Bloc
Luc Thériault Bloc Montcalm, QC
Mr. Chair, am I to understand that you are putting Ms. Rempel Garner's motion to a vote?
3 p.m.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Ron McKinnon
Everything is in order with respect to Ms. Rempel Garner's motion.
The vote—
I'm sorry, I'll have to try in English.
3:05 p.m.
Conservative
Michelle Rempel Conservative Calgary Nose Hill, AB
I have a point of clarification, Chair. My understanding is that the motion before committee right now is to adjourn debate on my motion so that it cannot pass, so that it can't be voted on, and so that the Liberals would continue with the meeting, in a spirit against this motion.
3:05 p.m.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Ron McKinnon
Thank you, Ms. Rempel Garner.
There is no debate on this. Certainly, Mr. Thériault is entitled to know what we're voting on. The motion is to adjourn the debate.
Mr. Clerk, please go ahead.
3:05 p.m.
NDP
Don Davies NDP Vancouver Kingsway, BC
I have a point of order, Mr. Chair. I'm not clear what we're voting on or what the consequences of the vote are. We can't cast a meaningful vote if we don't know what we're doing. Perhaps the clerk can clarify what the vote is and what the import of the vote is.
3:05 p.m.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Ron McKinnon
Let me clarify. Ms. Rempel Garner moved a motion. Mr. Fisher moved to adjourn debate on the motion. We've done this many times. The vote is on the question of adjourning the debate. If the motion passes, the meeting will continue; if the motion is not successful, we will debate Ms. Rempel Garner's motion.
I'm sorry, Mr. Clerk. Please start.
3:05 p.m.
Liberal
Marcus Powlowski Liberal Thunder Bay—Rainy River, ON
I have a point of clarification. Are you saying that if we vote to adjourn debate then we're going to vote on the motion itself by Ms. Rempel Garner?
3:05 p.m.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Ron McKinnon
Negative. If we adjourn the debate, then the meeting will continue as scheduled. If the motion to adjourn debate fails, then the debate will continue, and we will then debate Ms. Rempel Garner's motion. I think that should be pretty clear to everybody now.
Mr. Clerk, please conduct the vote.