Procedure and House Affairs Committee on Feb. 18th, 2016

[Mary Dawson]

It's reviewed every five years.

[Brian Masse, NDP, Windsor West, ON]

The $200 limit would be put in place for five years.

[Mary Dawson]

Unless you decide to change it.

You missed the front end of this, when I said that there have been changes made over the years that weren't connected with the five-year review. You can make a change any time you want, if you can get it through Parliament.

[Brian Masse, NDP, Windsor West, ON]

All right.

Those are all my questions. Thank you very much, Mr. Chair.

[The Chair, Liberal, Larry Bagnell]

That's all for the round of formal questioning.

I do have a little committee business at the end, but if any of your helpers or senior managers would like to say anything, they can.

You probably don't get this kind of chance to speak to Parliament. Do you have any issues? No.

Mary, did you want to make some closing remarks? We'll be looking to you for a list before Tuesday of, minimally, your 13 things we didn't cover and anything else you want to add. If they could be in order of priority, that would be very helpful.

[Mary Dawson]

Okay. What I'll do is get them out of the computer and put them in some kind of order. I don't have a huge amount of time, but I'll do something and get you a document.

So that's by Monday...?

[The Chair, Liberal, Larry Bagnell]

Yes.

[Mary Dawson]

I'll get that to the clerk.

Thank you very much. I appreciate the time and I appreciate the attentive listening and the questions.

[The Chair, Liberal, Larry Bagnell]

Does anyone have one last burning question they wanted to ask? No.

Thank you very much. Perhaps you could just stay outside the room for a minute, because I'm sure committee members have individual issues they'd like to talk to you about.

[Mary Dawson]

Sure. I'll hang around for a bit.

Thank you.

[The Chair, Liberal, Larry Bagnell]

We'll take a short break.

[The Chair, Liberal, Larry Bagnell]

Members, we have some committee business.

The good news is that last meeting we did a great schedule for the next six weeks or so. The bad news is that I think we have to make some adjustments to it.

Before we do that, for the members who don't know, the clerk has given me some feedback on Mr. Christopherson's motion, that it may be more complicated than we think. Not today, but sometime when we're doing his motion, we will ask for her advice on the procedural ramifications of that motion. The wording may not be clear. Mr. Christopherson is quite aware of that and is quite happy with that.

I'd now like the clerk to report on the response from the minister about coming next Thursday.

[The Clerk of the Committee, Ms. Joann Garbig]

Thank you, Chair.

The committee at its last meeting had set aside time next Thursday, February 25, for the appearance of the Minister of Democratic Institutions. Earlier this morning I heard from the minister's office that although she had planned to attend, she now has notice of cabinet meetings that conflict with the scheduling of the committee's meeting. They have deferred and have said they would be in touch at a later date.

[The Chair, Liberal, Larry Bagnell]

Mr. Richards.

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

I'm highly disappointed. That's really completely unacceptable.

Fine, if she legitimately has something that's conflicting with that date, then propose another date. I think it's been two weeks since the request was made. I think it's highly unreasonable that the minister can't give us a date.

It seems to me as though we have a minister here who's trying to avoid coming before this committee and being accountable for decisions she's making. That's really problematic and really troublesome, and I certainly expect that she will get us a date as ASAP.

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

We could apply for Tuesday of next week.

[The Chair, Liberal, Larry Bagnell]

On Tuesday we're going to do conflict of interest. Now that we've heard from the commissioner and now that we know that the last committee recommended we do something, we're going to decide on Tuesday whether or not we do anything and what that's going to be.

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

Here's my suggestion, Mr. Chair. We now know that Thursday's available, so let's move the conflict of interest code to Thursday and invite the minister to come here on Tuesday, and we'll just hold that spot open for her. In the event she can make it, we'll have our meeting. If not or if she's unable to make it for some other reason, then we'll just get a free day or have a chance to discuss the future agenda or something like that.

[The Chair, Liberal, Larry Bagnell]

I agree with half of your suggestion, that we'll invite her for Tuesday. But I was thinking for Thursday, because it's vacant now, we would invite the Senate appointees on the Senate selection committee to come Thursday, because that would give them a week's notice.

While we're on that topic, because neither of them is in Ottawa, maybe one of them couldn't quite make it personally and would prefer to do a video conference. Personally, I am fine with that technically, but that would require us to go to one of the other buildings that has that technology.

I know some committees say they aren't overly interested in those people, but we might as well decide in advance. If the person cannot make it in person, do you want to move the committee to another room for that particular meeting? There's no problem moving, but it's up to the committee.

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

If we can, we should try to do it. It doesn't make sense to not have them simply because we can't go over to a building.

[The Chair, Liberal, Larry Bagnell]

Is that okay with everyone?

Okay.

[David Graham, Liberal, Laurentides—Labelle, QC]

Let's go for Promenade over 1 Wellington.

[The Chair, Liberal, Larry Bagnell]

Your choice is the Promenade or Valour Building over Sussex or whatever that place is by the Chateau Laurier.

[David Graham, Liberal, Laurentides—Labelle, QC]

Yes, over in Siberia.

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

The advantage is that it's almost in your riding.