Evidence of meeting #40 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 process.

A recording is available from Parliament.

On the agenda

MPs speaking

Also speaking

Clerk of the Committee  Mr. Andrew Lauzon
Vikram Vij  Provincial Member, British Columbia, Independent Advisory Board for Senate Appointments
Jeannette Arsenault  Provincial Member, Prince Edward Island, Independent Advisory Board for Senate Appointments
Brian Francis  Provincial Member, Prince Edward Island, Independent Advisory Board for Senate Appointments

12:55 p.m.

Provincial Member, Prince Edward Island, Independent Advisory Board for Senate Appointments

Brian Francis

I've met senators within my own province before. I haven't been to a Senate debate. I know that the Senate is a very important institution in Canadian democracy. It's the chamber of sober second thought, and I think it's a very important part of Canadian democracy.

12:55 p.m.

NDP

Pierre-Luc Dusseault NDP Sherbrooke, QC

I am going to put the same question to Mr. Vij.

I would like to know what you know about the role of senators, in order to determine who is best qualified to occupy that position.

12:55 p.m.

Provincial Member, British Columbia, Independent Advisory Board for Senate Appointments

Vikram Vij

Again, I will say, in India you learn democracy. You learn the role that senators and the Senate play. Obviously you have a total understanding of what their role is. Before that, we were briefed all together, all of us with the role. We were given a binder and we were given all the roles of what they're supposed to do, what roles they're supposed to fulfill, and how we can look at it. If we had any questions that we were unclear about, we were given the opportunity to ask the right questions. We did ask the right questions. Based on those answers, we were able to do it.

I do not know any senators personally. But for me, even if I did know, it was not an issue. I was purely looking for the best person, who had the experience, understanding, empathy, and knowledge of Canada, and how they were going to represent British Columbia.

12:55 p.m.

NDP

Pierre-Luc Dusseault NDP Sherbrooke, QC

I think that you all went through the same process, finally. After your appointment, you were given a briefing on the role of senators and the work they do, but you did not necessarily have an in-depth knowledge of the Senate from the outset.

1 p.m.

Provincial Member, British Columbia, Independent Advisory Board for Senate Appointments

Vikram Vij

I did deep enough. We were briefed. We were given paperwork to see and read what the role of it was. We were given a book that we had to read beforehand that talked about the role of the Senate. I read it through and through to understand what it actually meant. The book was extremely important to understand the role of it.

I think we all did the role to the best of our ability.

1 p.m.

Liberal

The Chair Liberal Larry Bagnell

Thank you very much.

I'd like to thank the witnesses for coming. It's a long haul, a long way to come. For two hours, there were a lot of questions.

Thank you very much. We really appreciate the job you're embarking on for Canada. We appreciate all the qualifications that came out during this session and in your biographies. Thank you very much.

This meeting is adjourned.