Procedure and House Affairs Committee on Nov. 7th, 2017

[André Gagnon]

First, there is more information gathered for e-petitions, since we have to send the information back to the different signatories. There is information there regarding email address, the actual address of the individual, and the phone number. There's a lot of information that you usually don't find on paper petitions.

[Ruby Sahota, Liberal, Brampton North, ON]

No, but does—

[André Gagnon]

The numbers are also significant.

[Ruby Sahota, Liberal, Brampton North, ON]

Maybe I'm confused. I thought I heard you say that the member who supports it doesn't get that information, that the member only gets the petitioner's information. The member doesn't know anybody else who signed it.

[André Gagnon]

Exactly. That's the case. The decision not to make that information public was the decision of this committee.

[Ruby Sahota, Liberal, Brampton North, ON]

It was the decision of this committee. That's what I wanted to know.

[André Gagnon]

That was adopted by the House afterwards.

[Kennedy Stewart, NDP, Burnaby South, BC]

It wouldn't have gone through if it was a data collection exercise available to any party, and I think Mr. Reid can probably confirm that.

[Ruby Sahota, Liberal, Brampton North, ON]

That was the worry.

[Kennedy Stewart, NDP, Burnaby South, BC]

It was more to protect the citizens from having their data go everywhere.

[Ruby Sahota, Liberal, Brampton North, ON]

Yes, but in paper petitions their data is everywhere.

[Kennedy Stewart, NDP, Burnaby South, BC]

Yes, that's true. There are fewer signatures, though.

[Ruby Sahota, Liberal, Brampton North, ON]

Yes.

[The Chair, Liberal, Larry Bagnell]

There's less information. There's no phone number.

[Ruby Sahota, Liberal, Brampton North, ON]

Yes.

[The Chair, Liberal, Larry Bagnell]

Go ahead, Mr. Christopherson.

[David Christopherson, NDP, Hamilton Centre, ON]

Thanks, Chair. My question is to both you and to our witnesses.

On page 4 of the written presentation, at the beginning of the meeting, it was said, and I quote,

That being said, with certain modifications, including increased flexibility, this process and system could be made more efficient.

That suggests to me that there may be a host of recommendations that would be coming. How are we going to do that, Chair? Is there a second meeting? Are we going to ask them for the recommendations?

You guys know I don't play games. That would also provide a forum and an opportunity for Mr. Stewart to make his good arguments about looking at the idea of a next step, i.e., a trigger point. We can consider that. It seemed to me from the way I read this that there would likely be some detailed recommendations, should we ask for them. I guess I'm seeking from the witnesses and yourself, Chair, how much of my assumption is right or wrong.

[André Gagnon]

We're certainly at your disposal if you need to have more details than what we've already mentioned. I think the different items that I and the Clerk mentioned clearly serve as a basis for the committee if it wants to modify or increase the number of participants in e-petitions while maintaining the integrity of these petitions.

[The Chair, Liberal, Larry Bagnell]

Mr. Christopherson's question was whether there are more things you're going to recommend, other than what's in your opening comments.

[André Gagnon]

The—

[David Christopherson, NDP, Hamilton Centre, ON]

Correct me if I'm wrong, but what I heard was that if we ask for them, we will receive detailed recommendations from the staff. I think that sends it over to you. Is it your thinking, then, that we would ask them for that and schedule a meeting and make it a little bit open-ended to provide some opportunity for Mr. Stewart to make his arguments about going forward, whether we decide to or not, and allow him the opportunity in this Parliament to make that case?

I'm in your hands, Chair, seeking your guidance as to how you see us moving forward.

[The Chair, Liberal, Larry Bagnell]

Are there any thoughts from committee members?

Go ahead, Mr. Bittle.

[Chris Bittle, Liberal, St. Catharines, ON]

I have no issue with this. Let's get as much information as we can. We discussed it, and we clarified that there is no pressing deadline on this issue, that the rules will carry forward, so let's hear what the recommendations are. Since there is no timetable, this might be a good one- or two-day study in the new year.

[David Christopherson, NDP, Hamilton Centre, ON]

I like that. What we could do, building on that idea, is ask the staff if they would provide that to us, and as soon as the clerk receives it, you could bring it to us as a matter of business, and then we could schedule that meeting.

You're right, Mr. Bittle, that there's no real deadline, and we do have some other things that do, but we still don't want to miss the opportunity during this Parliament to do a review.

Again, if we ask the staff, through you, Chair, on our behalf, to generate those recommendations, when they're received by the clerk, they would go to you. You would bring them to us as a matter of business, and then we would schedule a meeting to delve into those recommendations and afford a chance to anyone else who wanted to make any amendments, in particular Mr. Stewart, since it's his idea we're building on.

That's just a thought, Chair.

[The Chair, Liberal, Larry Bagnell]

Can you consider yourself asked?