Evidence of meeting #155 for Procedure and House Affairs in the 42nd Parliament, 1st Session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was building.
A recording is available from Parliament.
11:55 a.m.
Deputy Clerk, Administration, House of Commons
We've got quite a few options, if that's the case.
11:55 a.m.
NDP
David Christopherson NDP Hamilton Centre, ON
My curiosity is around trying to make the timing work so we can make an informed decision. Parliament is not known for rushing, to start with. You, of course, are on a deadline to make these decisions. Give me your thinking on how that's going to unfold.
11:55 a.m.
Deputy Clerk, Administration, House of Commons
I'm thinking of an existing committee room, for example. Depending on the size of this chamber and how frequently it would meet, it would probably depend on rearranging some existing space.
11:55 a.m.
Deputy Clerk, Administration, House of Commons
Then maybe it's a question of blocking out the time for that facility and that space and preparing it in a way that would work for what you decide.
11:55 a.m.
Deputy Clerk, Administration, House of Commons
We've got a good team and we're able to respond. They're always up to the challenge.
11:55 a.m.
NDP
David Christopherson NDP Hamilton Centre, ON
I have no doubt.
It sounds as if you've taken the election period into account. I want to be very clear: We leave here near the end of June.
This Parliament's not coming back. It'll be the next Parliament. That could be any time in November or later, and then, once Parliament sits, it sometimes takes weeks on end to get committees running—although this one gets set up first. It wouldn't be unreasonable for that to tip us into the new year before committees are on the ground and functioning.
Have you taken that into account, that you're not going to have access to MPs for a period of months, starting Canada Day, recognizing that you've got decisions that have to be made?
11:55 a.m.
Deputy Clerk, Administration, House of Commons
Yes, we have taken that into account and have received two names for that working group, and are waiting for the third one, which I believe I'm going to receive this week. The hope is that we're going to have our first meeting following the coming constituency week, and then we'll be in a position to engage with those members and start making early decisions. Here I'm thinking of hoarding design and things like that. They'll have to look at options and see what they prefer and make recommendations. Then there's also the benefit that the Board of Internal Economy will continue to exist.
11:55 a.m.
NDP
David Christopherson NDP Hamilton Centre, ON
Here would be my concern if I were returning, which I am not. When we come back and start to ask questions, we might hear, “Oh, sorry, we had to make that decision on a deadline and you weren't around.”
We don't want to hear that. I need an assurance from you so that the 43rd Parliament doesn't get the answer: “Well, we had to make that decision because you weren't here.”
11:55 a.m.
Deputy Clerk, Administration, House of Commons
I understand that. For some of the decisions, the beauty of communication right now is that we're going to be able to reach them. We'll have to assess whether there are key decisions that affect members that would need to be made between, let's say, June and the post-election period.
From what I've seen and what I've glanced over in my discussion with our partners, with Public Works, they understand the context and that things will occur. Certain key decisions will have to wait until the post-election period. There are some decisions that I think can be made before the House rises in June, but that is going to be for the members to decide.
11:55 a.m.
Deputy Clerk, Administration, House of Commons
Obviously, there are going to be some decisions made regarding the demolition of the building, and so on. I could be wrong, but I'm not sure that you're interested in making decisions on that piece.
11:55 a.m.
NDP
David Christopherson NDP Hamilton Centre, ON
No, and that's a perfect segue to my last question. Would this committee be able to get both a list of key decisions that have to be made, and also the timing of those decisions and the process? Could we get those from you?
We're getting closer to understanding this, but it's still a little bit nebulous about who's making the final call. BOIE represents us...almost. Remember, they're under the string of command that starts with the leaders. We are not. When we sit in these committees, we are each sovereign.
Therefore, I, as a member of this committee, would like to see what that critical path is, with all the decisions listed that have to be made, what the timing is for those decisions and what the current process is, if it's different from a general process of decision-making and specific to any of the particulars. Can we get that?
Noon
Deputy Clerk, Administration, House of Commons
We can certainly provide you a list of what I would say are key elements, or eye-level elements, of the decisions that need to be made.
The timing depends also on the members, so I won't commit to timing. If a decision needs to wait until the members are ready to make that decision, we can give a general ballpark estimate of the season, and all of that. As I see it, we won't impose our schedule on members. It's not our role to impose that on members.
Noon
NDP
David Christopherson NDP Hamilton Centre, ON
I appreciate that. You did hear us, and you're responding as though you have it posted above all of your desks.
That's excellent. We appreciate that.
Noon
Deputy Clerk, Administration, House of Commons
Yes, we will provide you with a list of decisions that we believe members are interested in.
Noon
NDP
Noon
Deputy Clerk, Administration, House of Commons
You might tell us, “On this, we don't want to have any say in it”.
Noon
NDP
David Christopherson NDP Hamilton Centre, ON
I don't think for one minute that you're going to try to run out in front of us. In fact, in this current system, that's the last thing you want. If anything, you're probably going to be hounding us to make sure. There's lots of CYA here; I get it. That's good. That's what we want.
Here's the point, though: There are some decisions that are mechanical, with one following another, but again, I just want to be clear that there aren't going to be any such decisions that, because they have to be made, negate the ability of Parliament to make a further decision. This might throw things off a bit, but I just want it to be crystal-clear in the committee evidence that there won't be any decisions that preclude this committee's ability to have input and their opinion, both by virtue of optional things and things that have to be done from a construction point of view.
I just want that reassurance.
Noon
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Larry Bagnell
Before I go to Mr. Graham, I have a question.
Ms. Garrett, you mentioned some consultation with MPs.
Mr. Patrice, you mentioned two names related to the consultation process of the Board of Internal Economy.
Could you tell us who those MPs are and how they were chosen?
Noon
Deputy Clerk, Administration, House of Commons
Those names are chosen by their respective House leaders at the Board of Internal Economy, I would suspect in consultation with their parties. I won't provide you the names until I have the three names.
Noon
Liberal