Evidence of meeting #17 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 recommendation.
A recording is available from Parliament.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Ruby Sahota
I mean in terms of using the consistent word. Of course, we know that you weren't....
Conservative
John Brassard Conservative Barrie—Innisfil, ON
On this particular recommendation, Madam Chair, I'm going to call for a recorded vote.
Liberal
Conservative
Conservative
Eric Duncan Conservative Stormont—Dundas—South Glengarry, ON
I mean to the motion on that. I'll be quick.
I am more comfortable, but still not comfortable or not quite there yet.
Again, this is about a conversation here. To Mr. Alghabra and Mr. Turnbull's point about what we have virtually right now, it's not in the chamber of the House of Commons. My understanding, from when I tuned in, is that the Speaker is sitting in a committee room, and we're not dealing with parliamentary business and those types of things. Right now, over the virtual aspect we do have, there is a little bit of a difference there.
Again, I think wording that talks about support for a hybrid system as the basis, and building capacity and technology out from there, better wording, would make me, as one member, more comfortable with the general direction and tone of this report. I think that when we say the words “fully virtual Parliament”, we're giving up on that physical presence. I just don't think there's enough clarity.
I'll leave it at that for now. I'm sure we'll be continuing this as well as a few other items.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Ruby Sahota
We'll have a recorded vote.
Justin, perhaps you could help us out with the vote.
(Text of recommendation as modified agreed to: yeas 6; nays 5 [See Minutes of Proceedings])
Conservative
John Brassard Conservative Barrie—Innisfil, ON
On a point of order, Madam Chair, we're at 6:24 p.m. I don't know about the rest of you, but I would like a bit of a break. I don't think we've even discussed the option of moving forward and how we are going to do that past the allotted time. I have something at seven o'clock that I need to be at. It's not physical; it's virtual. But I do need a break right now, frankly.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Ruby Sahota
Seven o'clock is not that far away either.
Can we all agree to temporarily suspend for 10 minutes?
I know that's not enough time to really grab food, but I want to have that time to discuss, because we may not be back for very long after that. Let me discuss with the clerk, the analysts and the whole support team what arrangements can be made in order to continue going through this report at this time or another.
We will suspend for 10 minutes.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Ruby Sahota
I think everyone is curious as to how long we're going to go and what our options are. Right now, I feel like I don't have many options. We've been asked to get this report in for May 15, which is this Friday, and we're not going to meet that deadline if we don't have it completed today. That's where this stands right now. If we don't get through this, the report won't be completed by the deadline because, administratively, they need the time tomorrow to turn this around and have it submitted for Friday.
I want to ask the members for general consensus about moving forward. We can try to aim for 8:00 and see how much we can get through. I think we can do it. I really do think that the really tough, meaty recommendations were the ones we spent all our time on, which is good, because now we have them done. A lot of the other ones are very good recommendations, but I think the big ones have been completed, and maybe we can move on more quickly.
This means that you may need to work with your whips to get substitutes if you need a substitute in this case.
Conservative
Conservative
Blake Richards Conservative Banff—Airdrie, AB
I'm just being told that the live stream on which people are following us has been taken down and is not back up now that we've restarted. I thought I'd better point that out. I know there are people who are following along, including people who are in support of some of us. We may want to get that resolved.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Ruby Sahota
Yes, I will get that resolved right away. Let's take a little bit of a longer break, knowing that we're going to come back and be here until eight or nine o'clock. We just need to get through this. As long as the team is there, I'm hoping we can aim for eight o'clock, but I'm just shooting that out there as a goal.
I think we can get it done. I really do. Maybe we can take a little bit of a longer recess so that you can eat something and come back when we have the video issue resolved. Go freshen up a little bit and come back at seven o'clock. Thank you.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Ruby Sahota
The committee is back in session.
I thank you all for the hard work you have done. As I was saying previously, I think we have done a lot of the heavy lifting.
We are on BQ 1 and BQ 2. These recommendations, as I noted and the analyst noted, come up again in section (c), which is entitled “Uphold the rights, immunities and privileges of the House and its members”. It's in two sections currently.
Maybe we can hear from Madame Normandin on what section she prefers this to be in. I think section (c) talks a lot more about members being able to participate fully, so perhaps it's better there. I have no preference, really, as long as it's somewhere. We can talk about the actual amendments.
Do you have a preference?
Bloc
Christine Normandin Bloc Saint-Jean, QC
No, not really. Either option is okay with me. The expansion of technological operations also applies somewhat. In fact, I am asking for something very technical in my recommendations.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Ruby Sahota
One moment. We didn't have interpretation there. I think Andre is looking into that.
Justin, are we good for both recording and translation now? Yes? Okay.
Go ahead, Madame Normandin.
Bloc
Christine Normandin Bloc Saint-Jean, QC
I have no preference. It could be either in section (b) or section (c). That also affects the expansion of technological parameters, as I am asking for a different way to intervene, other than immunities and privileges. So the two options are fine with me.
Liberal
Committee Researcher
Thank you, Madam Chair.
I am of the same mind as Ms. Normandin.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Ruby Sahota
Okay.
We know that we can have it in only one section. Should we leave it up to Andre to decide which section it goes in? We'll just look at adopting the content of the recommendation. Is everyone in favour of adopting the content of BQ 1?
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Ruby Sahota
We have general agreement on that one. BQ 1 is adopted.
We will move to BQ 2. It's about making sure an electronic system is prepared in order to hear the members who rise.
Is everyone okay with that one?
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Ruby Sahota
Okay. There's agreement on BQ 2.
Now we are on BQ 11, which reads, “That the House of Commons conduct a mock virtual parliament exercise prior to the deployment of the platform to be used for parliamentary business.”
Of course, we should always test things out before we do them.
Go ahead, Ms. Blaney.