Evidence of meeting #22 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 vote.
A recording is available from Parliament.
1:35 p.m.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Ruby Sahota
Okay.
Justin, could you just speak to the committee as to how we can proceed?
1:35 p.m.
The Clerk of the Committee Mr. Justin Vaive
Mr. Richards just moved a motion. Generally at this point the committee would open the floor for debate until such time as debate is over, and then the committee would make a decision on the motion Mr. Richards just moved. The committee can also decide to continue with the questioning and then come back to Mr. Richards' motion afterward, if that is acceptable to the committee. It's really in the hands of the committee. It would take the consent of the committee to agree to do that.
Otherwise, the normal course of things would be that once a motion is moved and proposed, debate would follow, followed by a decision once debate is finished.
1:40 p.m.
Liberal
Mark Gerretsen Liberal Kingston and the Islands, ON
Thank you, Madam Chair.
I'm very happy to discuss this motion. I wouldn't mind if we could just move to defer it until after we're done with the witnesses. I think we only have two or three more questions. Then we can let the witnesses go and do this.
Is Mr. Richards okay with that?
1:40 p.m.
Conservative
Blake Richards Conservative Banff—Airdrie, AB
I'd like to see us proceed, just to make sure that we deal with the motion.
I was hoping that maybe it could be voted on quickly. I would think that it's something we could all agree to.
1:40 p.m.
Liberal
Mark Gerretsen Liberal Kingston and the Islands, ON
Yes, I'm happy to vote on it.
To be completely honest, Madam Chair, I don't even have a problem with the motion. I just wanted to give the opportunity for people to debate it without holding up the witnesses who are here. I just thought I'd throw that out there.
1:40 p.m.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Ruby Sahota
We do have committee business time, but if the committee wishes to vote on it right now, if there isn't much debate, then I don't see why that would be an issue since we won't be holding up the witnesses if we can get to a quick vote. However, if there's a lengthy debate, maybe we can save it for committee business time.
1:40 p.m.
Liberal
Mark Gerretsen Liberal Kingston and the Islands, ON
June 15 would be Monday of this coming week. Was that the date you said, Mr. Richards?
1:40 p.m.
Liberal
Mark Gerretsen Liberal Kingston and the Islands, ON
My only concern would be that we're really only giving one business day to produce this. If they can do it, that's great. I imagine that if there is a timeline problem there they'll let us know, but I am happy to support the motion, Madam Chair. I think the more information we can get, the better.
1:40 p.m.
Liberal
Ryan Turnbull Liberal Whitby, ON
Thank you, Madam Chair.
I didn't really catch all of Mr. Richards' motion. I know he read it fairly slowly, but maybe my mind was elsewhere at the moment. I really didn't catch the full scope of the motion that Mr. Richards put forward. I wonder if we could either request it in writing or have it read out really slowly again. I'd like to write it down if possible.
1:40 p.m.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Ruby Sahota
Okay.
Before we go to that maybe we can hear from Mr. Alghabra, and then we can have Mr. Richards reread the motion.
June 11th, 2020 / 1:40 p.m.
Liberal
Omar Alghabra Liberal Mississauga Centre, ON
Thank you, Madam Chair.
Mr. Richards, I understand the idea behind it and the principle, and I'm supportive of it. Can you explain the relationship between the value of the contract and the study we're trying to do, for my own understanding and to see what the purpose is behind this tight timeline?
1:40 p.m.
Conservative
Blake Richards Conservative Banff—Airdrie, AB
Well, first of all it's not just about the value of the contract. It's about the terms and conditions of the contract, so obviously those could be material to what we're discussing.
As for the timeline, at present we're asked to report back by June 23, and we need to have the information. I don't see what the rush is, but there seem to be some members who feel there is one; therefore, this needs to be a rush too.
It still gives them two and a half business days to complete the request, and they should have this information on hand and easily available.
1:40 p.m.
Liberal
Mark Gerretsen Liberal Kingston and the Islands, ON
I was just going to add, Madam Chair, that there is the issue that, I imagine, the contract is written in English. There is going to be the issue of having that completely translated.
I think we vote in favour of it and if they are unable to produce it, then they'll give us a reason why it's going to take a couple of extra days to do that. I'm content with the date, providing that those who are responsible can come to the terms in time.
1:40 p.m.
Liberal
Ryan Turnbull Liberal Whitby, ON
Along the same lines as my colleague, Mr. Gerretsen, I was going to say that I think it's going to take some time to translate. I wonder if we could set a different date from June 15, which seems a little bit tight in terms of a time frame. Maybe we could give another three days or two days, or something reasonable like that.
Mr. Richards, would you be open to that?
1:40 p.m.
Conservative
Blake Richards Conservative Banff—Airdrie, AB
No, I'm not open to that. This should be easily available. It should be able to be done by that date.
As Mr. Gerretsen has indicated, if they feel for some reason they can't do that and they want to come back to the committee and indicate that there is a problem with that, then we can figure how to deal with it.
Frankly, you have to ask for something and you have to put a deadline on something. If they feel they can't comply, they'll have to explain why that is. I don't think we should be letting someone off the hook that easily.
1:45 p.m.
Liberal
Omar Alghabra Liberal Mississauga Centre, ON
We are also discussing whether we are going to give ourselves a week or so to write the report, so that there is a little bit more time. However, Mr. Richards seems, for one reason or another, determined about the date. I don't know if I'm going to die on this hill, so I have no problem with it. I was looking for a way for all of us to compromise on moving forward, but I'm not going to fight hard.
If the House of Commons says it can't meet the deadline, it can write to us and explain why.
1:45 p.m.
NDP
Rachel Blaney NDP North Island—Powell River, BC
I just want you to know that I am ready to have a vote at any moment here. I think I would like to get on to the witnesses as quickly as possible.