Procedure and House Affairs Committee on Feb. 2nd, 2016

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

At the end of the day, obviously this should happen as quickly as can be done. I understand that Thursday is a tight timeline. I don't know the location of the chair or the other individuals, but I would ask if the chair, or the clerks on behalf of the chair, could approach and see if they could be here for Thursday. At a minimum, the chair and maybe some of the other permanent members could be here.

If need be, we could then utilize the first meeting after the break for the remainder of the appointments. If we just couldn't make it work for Thursday, obviously we'd have to consider that. However, I think it should be this Thursday, if possible. If it's absolutely not possible, certainly it should be the first meeting after the break, at a bare minimum.

[The Chair, Liberal, Larry Bagnell]

Mr. Dusseault.

[Arnold Chan, Liberal, Scarborough—Agincourt, ON]

Perhaps I could simply move a motion and ask that the clerk look into the availability of the chair of this committee.

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

Why not the other permanent members as well? It wouldn't hurt.

[Arnold Chan, Liberal, Scarborough—Agincourt, ON]

I'll amend that to include and/or all of the other members listed in the orders in council, and then to report back to the subcommittee on the agenda, just so that we would know—

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

Well, that would prevent the possibility of Thursday. I think we should give the chair and the clerk direction to try to see if they can come for Thursday. If they can't, then I think the backup date should be the first Tuesday after the break. Let's give some specific direction on that.

[Arnold Chan, Liberal, Scarborough—Agincourt, ON]

I was just thinking of process. We don't meet until Thursday, so it's hard for us to even have a conversation about whether they're available or not.

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

But we can authorize that conversation to occur. We don't have to have it reported back. If they're available, if we've authorized them to bring them in, there's nothing preventing them from coming on Thursday if they're available.

I think our backup option could be the Tuesday following the break. We have that ability as a committee to make that direction and have it carried out.

[The Chair, Liberal, Larry Bagnell]

Mr. Lamoureux.

[Kevin Lamoureux, Liberal, Winnipeg North, MB]

Mr. Richards, just from listening to the motion, are you saying it's better that we get one or two who might be available to come as early as Thursday, or are you suggesting that we're better off to wait until the following time when they come before the committee and we have a larger number?

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

Yes, that's kind of my thinking, that it would be best if we could get some clarity around the appointments and the process before it begins. I think if we can get the chair, or one or two of the members, on Thursday, I think that would be advisable for us to do.

[Kevin Lamoureux, Liberal, Winnipeg North, MB]

I think that was Arnold's suggestion in his motion, that as opposed to going to the subcommittee, if there are a couple of committee members, particularly the chair, who are available to come as early as this Thursday, we go ahead and invite them.

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

Yes, I think we should. Exactly. I would agree.

[The Chair, Liberal, Larry Bagnell]

Do we have a motion on the table to see if any of the members can come Thursday, and if not, the first Tuesday after the break? Is that your motion?

[Arnold Chan, Liberal, Scarborough—Agincourt, ON]

That's fine. In terms of how the motion should read....

[The Chair, Liberal, Larry Bagnell]

To the clerk, I'd like to ask for clarification. It says that the standing order allows us to examine their qualifications and competence. Can we ask them any other questions? Mr. Richards referred to how the process would work, which is separate and a whole different topic.

Okay, the clerk suggests that it's a hearing on the appointment, so whether the person is the person who should be appointed, basically, or they're qualified.

Are committee members clear on what they can ask?

Is there any further discussion on the motion?

[Kevin Lamoureux, Liberal, Winnipeg North, MB]

Can we hear the whole motion, Mr. Chair?

[The Chair, Liberal, Larry Bagnell]

Mr. Chan.

[Arnold Chan, Liberal, Scarborough—Agincourt, ON]

I move that the clerk be directed to see the availability of the chair of the independent advisory board on Senate appointments and/or any of the other appointees on their availability to appear before this committee for this Thursday, and if they are not, to see if they are available to appear on the following sitting of this committee, the following Tuesday, February 16.

(Motion agreed to)

[The Chair, Liberal, Larry Bagnell]

That pretty well decides our committee business for now. I will mention that I was a little generous on the time slots today because we had enough time for the Clerk. When we're more pressed for time, I won't be so generous on your time allocations for questioning.

The meeting is adjourned.