Procedure and House Affairs Committee on May 24th, 2018

[Filomena Tassi, Liberal, Hamilton West—Ancaster—Dundas, ON]

It would be from 3:30 to 4:30 with either departmental officials or Elections Canada. We know we have work to do here, and I'd like to get going on the work, so we can commit to having the minister on Monday from 3:30 to 4:30 if the minister is available, and then have either departmental officials or officials from Elections Canada from 4:30 to 6:30, but we should fill the slot with the people we know we want to hear from to get going.

[Blake Richards, Conservative, Banff—Airdrie, AB]

I think I'm hearing a few different things. Let's be clear on what we are doing. From 3:30 to 4:30 it would be the minister and then what? I've heard Elections Canada and I've heard departmental officials.

[Ruby Sahota, Liberal, Brampton North, ON]

It would be Elections Canada for two hours on that same day. Sorry, I mean departmental officials.

[Scott Reid, Conservative, Lanark—Frontenac—Kingston, ON]

Departmental officials are Elections Canada officials.

[Ruby Sahota, Liberal, Brampton North, ON]

Yes, you're right.

[The Chair, Liberal, Larry Bagnell]

Privy Council officers are departmental officials for this department.

[Blake Richards, Conservative, Banff—Airdrie, AB]

Are you talking about 3:30 to 4:30 with the minister and the departmental officials from 4:30 to 6:30?

[Ruby Sahota, Liberal, Brampton North, ON]

Then we would have Elections Canada come as well. Yes.

[Blake Richards, Conservative, Banff—Airdrie, AB]

So from 3:30 to 4:30 you're talking to the minister, and from 4:30 to 6:30 it is departmental officials.

[Ruby Sahota, Liberal, Brampton North, ON]

Yes. I think that makes sense.

[The Chair, Liberal, Larry Bagnell]

Is that okay with everyone for Monday?

[Ruby Sahota, Liberal, Brampton North, ON]

Then we'll have Elections Canada as well, because we need them too.

[Filomena Tassi, Liberal, Hamilton West—Ancaster—Dundas, ON]

If you want to stretch it on that day, if we can, we could ask the Elections Canada officials to come after that on the same day, if we feel we're up to that. We have to work hard on this; we know that.

[Ruby Sahota, Liberal, Brampton North, ON]

We have to have Elections Canada, for sure—

[Filomena Tassi, Liberal, Hamilton West—Ancaster—Dundas, ON]

I'm proposing that we do 3:30 to 4:30 with the minister, 4:30 to 6:30 with the department officials, and 6:30 to 8:30 if we can get Elections Canada officials here to do that.

[The Chair, Liberal, Larry Bagnell]

Mr. Reid.

[Scott Reid, Conservative, Lanark—Frontenac—Kingston, ON]

We don't want Elections Canada officials. We want the Chief Electoral Officer. I think that's what you meant.

[Filomena Tassi, Liberal, Hamilton West—Ancaster—Dundas, ON]

Okay.

[Scott Reid, Conservative, Lanark—Frontenac—Kingston, ON]

But it would be with whichever people he chose to bring with him.

[Ruby Sahota, Liberal, Brampton North, ON]

Yes.

[Scott Reid, Conservative, Lanark—Frontenac—Kingston, ON]

I think we have to be fair about this. We—“we” meaning the PS—consulted with the minister about her availability. We have not done the same thing. Obviously, this would be high priority for the CEO, but we ought to actually confirm that this is the ideal time from his point of view.

[Nathan Cullen, NDP, Skeena—Bulkley Valley, BC]

He's still applying for the job. I'm sure he'll show up.

[Some hon. members]

Oh, oh!

[Scott Reid, Conservative, Lanark—Frontenac—Kingston, ON]

He'll do whatever he wants, but essentially he wants to provide us with the best information he can. I don't know; he may say yes.

[The Chair, Liberal, Larry Bagnell]

So it's Filomena's proposal: if he's available.