Procedure and House Affairs Committee on May 12th, 2020

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

Sorry, Madam Chair.

I just want to make it clear, Andre, that I'm not pointing out these as an indictment on your ability. You've done a terrific job. It's just that these little things will help finalize the report. Thank you.

[The Chair, Liberal, Ruby Sahota]

Of course we want a polished and well-written report with good grammar.

Ms. Blaney.

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

In section ii, there are a couple of things that I think need to be changed.

First, the end of the first paragraph says, “the House stands suspended” and I believe it should be, “the House stands adjourned.”

The other one is in the second paragraph, line 20. Hopefully it is the same in the French version, or close. Line 20 says, “House per week on Tuesdays and Thursdays with 90 minutes for questions.” We're at 95 minutes of questions.

[The Chair, Liberal, Ruby Sahota]

Okay. Thank you, Ms. Blaney.

Are we good to go, Andre? Okay.

We'll move on to “Background”.

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

Madam Chair.

[The Chair, Liberal, Ruby Sahota]

Yes, Mr. Brassard.

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

I had my hand raised on section ii.

[The Chair, Liberal, Ruby Sahota]

You're on section ii, okay.

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

I'm glad Ms. Blaney pointed that out. That was one of the issues.

I think a later section of the report refers to “suspension” as well, but we'll get to that.

The other issue is on line 19. It should say, “15 minute period for questions to cabinet ministers followed by Take-note debates”, as opposed to “and Take-note debates.”

[The Chair, Liberal, Ruby Sahota]

Okay.

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

Thank you.

[The Chair, Liberal, Ruby Sahota]

Is anybody opposed to that change? I guess it clarifies it a little bit.

Is everybody good with section ii?

Is everybody good with section A.i, the background and overview?

I'm going to go through these quite quickly, because we already went through them last time.

Section A.ii is “Challenges posed by COVID-19 to in-person parliamentary sittings”. That looks good.

Section A.iii had a change in line 12. Is everybody okay with section A.iii, on health and safety in the workplace?

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

Madam Chair, in line 14 I'd like to add a sentence, if I can, that reflects Mr. Patrice's evidence from May 4, noting that the same number of staff are also required for virtual sittings. If you read above, you'll see the rationale for that: “The number of individuals employed by the House administration required for normal sittings of the House and sittings with a reduced number of members is 55.” Something that reflects his evidence of May 4 suggesting that the same number of staff are required for virtual sittings is a line to be added there, Andre, if we could.

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

If I may, Madam Chair, I believe it's noted on page 13. One paragraph has been added, but it's more or less clear.

[The Chair, Liberal, Ruby Sahota]

I did read it somewhere, and that's why I'm a little.... Here it is.

[Ryan Turnbull, Liberal, Whitby, ON]

Yes, it's on page 13, in my version.

[The Chair, Liberal, Ruby Sahota]

In the clean version, it's page 12. Let me take a look.

[Ryan Turnbull, Liberal, Whitby, ON]

Yes, it's page 12, sorry.

[The Chair, Liberal, Ruby Sahota]

I have it on page 12, line 3.

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

Okay, yes, that's fine.

[The Chair, Liberal, Ruby Sahota]

There are minor corrections on page 12. I don't know if I should point them out now or wait until we get there. I'll wait until we get there.

Are we good for section A.iii?

Next, we have section B.i, “Parliamentary privilege”.

Ms. Blaney.

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

Line 4 in paragraph 4 reads “the House's right regulate”. It should read “the House's right to regulate”.

[The Chair, Liberal, Ruby Sahota]

Are you in “Parliamentary privilege”?

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

Yes, I'm in “Parliamentary privilege”, paragraph 4. At the end of line 4, it reads “the House's right regulate”. It just needs a “to”.

[The Chair, Liberal, Ruby Sahota]

Yes, it should be “the House's right to regulate”. Andre, do you see that section? That's page 7, line 4.

Are we good with “Parliamentary privilege”?

Section B.ii is “Parliamentary privilege and the courts”. It looks as though everyone is good with that one.

Section B.iii is “Quorum in the House of Commons”.

Mr. Brassard.