Evidence of meeting #15 for Procedure and House Affairs in the 43rd Parliament, 1st Session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was point.
A recording is available from Parliament.
1:05 p.m.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Ruby Sahota
Andre can clarify, but perhaps the House has not been cancelled for any emergency reason since 1867. I think that's what Andre is trying to get at.
Andre?
May 7th, 2020 / 1:05 p.m.
Committee Researcher
Madam Chair, you're correct, and Mr. Brassard is also correct. I tried to phrase it in a way that captured both and would be able to go back past 1982. Maybe the phrasing isn't perfect.
1:05 p.m.
Conservative
John Brassard Conservative Barrie—Innisfil, ON
As long as the understanding is correct, I think we're good to go. Thank you, Andre.
1:05 p.m.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Ruby Sahota
We're still on page 2, at part ii, “Notable other decisions taken by the House of Commons related to the Committee’s study”. That one is a short section.
Thank you, Mr. Duncan. You're okay with that.
The NDP is okay. The Bloc is okay. It seems like the Liberals have gotten through that section.
Mr. Tucker and Mr. Richards? Mr. Tucker is okay with that section, section ii.
Mr. Richards?
1:05 p.m.
Conservative
John Brassard Conservative Barrie—Innisfil, ON
Madam Chair, I woke up earlier than seven o'clock this morning to read this, so you'll have to excuse me, but for Wednesdays there's no mention of the fact that there are take-note debates that occur on Wednesdays as well. If we're going to accurately reflect what's going on in the House on those days, I think we also need to reflect that take-note debates are part of that.
Andre? Okay.
1:05 p.m.
Liberal
1:10 p.m.
Conservative
1:10 p.m.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Ruby Sahota
Well, you are not too tired to raise good points, so that's fine.
All right. I think we are good to go for that section.
Now we are on section A, “The COVID-19 pandemic in Canada”.
Section A.i., “Overview of health data in Canada for COVID-19”, is slightly outdated, but it indicates here that it's outdated. It's testimony that we received from the public health official who came. It's very statistically based.
Is everyone good with this?
1:10 p.m.
Liberal
Ryan Turnbull Liberal Whitby, ON
I have just a quick suggestion.
I felt that the section was really well written, but the last line of it could have been rounded out with a conclusion. The section seems to point to the fact that the numbers continue to rise, and that there is still a serious public health threat.
1:10 p.m.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Ruby Sahota
Do you want the conclusion of that section to be that the public health threat from COVID-19 continues?
1:10 p.m.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Ruby Sahota
All right.
Is that okay with everyone?
Andre, will you be able to add that in? Okay.
We'll move on to section A.ii., “Challenges posed by COVID-19 to in-person parliamentary sittings”.
I'm very sorry, Madam Normandin; I know that in translation it might not be completely accurate.
This section is a little bit longer, so I'll give members more time.
Is everyone okay with this section? Can you indicate once you get through it?
Thank you, Mr. Duncan, Mr. Tochor....
Mr. Brassard.
1:10 p.m.
Conservative
John Brassard Conservative Barrie—Innisfil, ON
Sorry, Madam Chair, but this is with respect to the testimony of Dr. Raymond, the Speaker and Mr. Robert. I asked a question on whether they were satisfied as to whether in fact the Public Health Agency protocols and the measures that were being taken with respect to in-person parliamentary sittings had been followed. I recall that Ms. Raymond said in her testimony that to her knowledge they had. The Speaker and Mr. Robert also said that they had been satisfied with the way that was working
I don't see that reflected in this particular paragraph, and I think it is important that it is reflected, because we had the chief epidemiologist for the Public Health Agency, one senior officer and the Speaker of the House indicate that. It think it's an important part of this particular part of the report. It shows that we have been following the proper protocols. There has to be—
1:10 p.m.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Ruby Sahota
Do you think that might fit better in section A.iii., where we get into the protocols that are being taken in the House of Commons?
1:10 p.m.
Conservative
John Brassard Conservative Barrie—Innisfil, ON
I don't, Madam Chair, because section A.ii. talks about the challenges posed by COVID-19 to in-person parliamentary sittings. As much as there have been challenges....
It refers specifically to maintaining a physical distance of two metres and limiting the size of indoor and outdoor gatherings. It refers specifically to those parameters. This section speaks to in-person parliamentary sittings, so I think it's more appropriate in this section.
I think it should be added as part of the report to indicate that the measures that have taken place so far, that have been happening so far, have actually not posed a challenge to the in-person parliamentary sittings.
1:15 p.m.
Liberal
1:15 p.m.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Ruby Sahota
I don't know; maybe I'm not understanding, but we do talk about the measures. Maybe we should put it in there.
But it's up to the committee. I'm speaking from a completely topical standpoint, that it just seems to fit there.