Procedure and House Affairs Committee on May 12th, 2020

[The Chair, Liberal, Ruby Sahota]

Okay.

We're now on the language rights section.

Mr. Brassard, and then Mr. Richards.

[John Brassard, Conservative, Barrie—Innisfil, ON]

Madam Chair, I'm looking at page 30, lines 24 to 26, about the interpretation of indigenous languages. I'm just trying to think back; I don't believe there was any evidence before the committee about whether a third-language interpretation channel is possible with this type of technical set-up. Maybe Andre can clarify it for us, but I just don't recall that.

If it's not possible, then perhaps rather than place it in this report.... Obviously, more work will be done subsequent to this report being tabled. I suspect that we may look at getting further in depth on third languages as part of this platform that we're using. Maybe we'll make recommendations later on; I'm not sure.

I just need clarification on that, if you don't mind.

[The Chair, Liberal, Ruby Sahota]

Ms. Blaney has a point. Maybe we'll take that point now before the clarification.

[Rachel Blaney, NDP, North Island—Powell River, BC]

I'm not sure, but to my understanding—I apologize if I'm wrong—this is one-way interpretation. It's from the indigenous language into English and French.

[The Chair, Liberal, Ruby Sahota]

Andre?

[Andre Barnes]

I am trying to think; the issue, I think, would be that you would probably [Technical difficulty—Editor] interpretation of indigenous languages can create some issues. You have to go from one language to another, and I'm not sure how many channels that would require.

Mr. Brassard is right; as far as I can recall, I don't remember hearing anyone saying how many channels it would take to simultaneously interpret an indigenous language into English and French. It might be something that Justin, the clerk, would be able to ask the House, about whether or not the capability does exist.

I do recall that another jurisdiction, Wales, brought up the fact that they chose Zoom because it was able to have more than one channel, but we never got into how many channels there were.

[The Chair, Liberal, Ruby Sahota]

I have heard that numerous interpretations, numerous languages, can be done on Zoom, but now I can't remember where. It may not have been through testimony before the committee. Maybe it was through just something I was researching on my own before. They're looking at using Zoom for international meetings as well, where numerous languages are being used. I can't remember whether that was in his introductory remarks, though.

I don't know, but for some reason, I'm certain that many, many languages can be interpreted. I don't know if we have the capability of having the people on hand to be able to do it all.

Does anyone recall any of that?

Mr. Brassard.

[John Brassard, Conservative, Barrie—Innisfil, ON]

I don't know, Madam Chair, but perhaps what we can do to move through this, notwithstanding the Speaker's view on this, is to provide something in the report, whether it's another paragraph or another section, that in fact we didn't hear anything with respect to the capabilities of third-language interpretation using this technical set-up, and that perhaps this is something worth exploring in the future. That may satisfy us, moving on.

The Speaker clearly states his view, but I think we need something to reflect that in the committee's view, nothing was presented to us on this type of platform on third language, and that this is worthy of study in the future to see whether in fact it's possible.

That's my suggestion on how we move through this.

[The Chair, Liberal, Ruby Sahota]

Is that a recommendation that you would like to add to the report?

[John Brassard, Conservative, Barrie—Innisfil, ON]

I don't know where it would fit in a recommendation, but what I would suggest is that we at least—

[The Chair, Liberal, Ruby Sahota]

It could fit right under that section, I think. Right?

You could recommend “that in further study the committee look at accommodating indigenous languages on any platform that's used”.

[John Brassard, Conservative, Barrie—Innisfil, ON]

Okay, but I think that we should preface any recommendation with a statement in a paragraph that suggests that we did not hear of whether there is a choice for third-language interpretation. Maybe we could amend.... I don't know where we could do it, but I'll leave to Andre where we could amend the fact that third-language interpretation needs to be studied going forward as part of this platform.

So, I'd like to see a preface in the “Uphold language rights” section, and then from that—

[The Chair, Liberal, Ruby Sahota]

A recommendation from that.

[John Brassard, Conservative, Barrie—Innisfil, ON]

—a recommendation of a future study on this. I think that would satisfy us, finding out, or it would satisfy the Speaker's view on this, which—

[The Chair, Liberal, Ruby Sahota]

Maybe the recommendation can be worded.... So, we would preface it with what you've just stated, and then the recommendation would state “that any further study of a virtual Parliament include looking into exploring options of more than two languages' being used”.

[John Brassard, Conservative, Barrie—Innisfil, ON]

I think that's fair because we clearly don't have the time during this committee's proceedings to study that at this point. I think that would be a fair recommendation to make.

[The Chair, Liberal, Ruby Sahota]

Okay. Maybe when we come back to recommendations, you can propose that recommendation for that section, or we can kind of hold a spot for it.

[John Brassard, Conservative, Barrie—Innisfil, ON]

Yes, and Andre can determine how that looks, but I think the preface of the recommendation in this paragraph is critical to give a context of why.

Thank you.

[The Chair, Liberal, Ruby Sahota]

Okay. Thank you.

Is everyone okay with that?

We can now move on from the languages portion.

There are a lot of recommendations for the languages portion, so that would be the additional recommendation, Andre, for the indigenous languages. I think that many previous recommendations have already indicated that there be continued study beyond what this report recommends.

Now we're on to “Ensure digital security of proceedings”.

Sorry, I missed a section: “Ensure accessibility of proceedings”.

Just put your hand up in the participants' section of Zoom if you have anything to add.

Thank you.

Christine is good with this section.

All right, we'll go on to the next—thank you, Ms. Blaney—section: “Ensure digital security of proceedings”.

Ms. Blaney, you have your hand up. Was that for the section on accessibility?

[Rachel Blaney, NDP, North Island—Powell River, BC]

No, it's for this one.

[The Chair, Liberal, Ruby Sahota]

The digital security of proceedings. Okay, perfect.

[Rachel Blaney, NDP, North Island—Powell River, BC]

That's right.

In paragraph 3, line 11, “unless proceedings need to”, we should add “be”. It should be “be held in camera” not “to held in camera”.

Then, in paragraph 7, it has, on line 21, “simultaneous interpretation capabilities, broadcasting capabilities”. Let's just maybe get rid of the first “capabilities” and then just put “and broadcasting”. It's just a thought.

[The Chair, Liberal, Ruby Sahota]

Andre, is that good? Okay.

Is there anything else for that section?

Okay, we're on to “Prioritize the health and safety of members and all individuals...”.

Raise your hand in the participants' section of Zoom if there are any issues. It's a short section.

Now we're moving on to “Legal and procedural matters”. The first matter being discussed is quorum.

Yes, Christine.

[Christine Normandin, Bloc, Saint-Jean, QC]

We already established at the outset that quorum can be virtual. There have been representations to that effect. It seems to me that it was missing in this section, because it only talks about the fact that members must be physically present. Perhaps the balance that had been achieved through the various representations should be restored.

[The Chair, Liberal, Ruby Sahota]

Andre, in testimony, the different law clerks and former speakers had testified that it could be, but I guess it's just that it hasn't been done.

Maybe that is what your thinking was in terms of drafting this. Should we put in what their opinion of virtual quorum is?

It comes up in the recommendations as well, though, but just as Mr. Brassard is saying, there should be a process to that. I think the recommendation that is listed is also taken directly from something that was quoted from one of the witnesses.

Andre, are we good? Yes. You know this report better than all of us, though. I'm surprised how quickly you can keep up with all these thoughts.

Are we good for the quorum section? No, we have a couple of hands up. I'm sorry.

Ms. Blaney, and then Mr. Turnbull.