Evidence of meeting #9 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 meeting.
A recording is available from Parliament.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Ruby Sahota
Okay, that's an interesting point. I'll try to explore with the analyst and the clerk as to how health and security or safety can go into that. I also see that we'd be talking about the IT and technology perspective as well, but I think it can fit into both.
Could I have feedback from the NDP and the Bloc about whether you'll be okay with a three-hour meeting on Thursday, with those two different parts to the meeting?
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Ruby Sahota
Okay. Thank you. Thank you, Ms. Blaney, as well. That is how we'll try to proceed.
Mr. Richards, your point is taken, and we'll try to see how we can have as much information as possible woven into every meeting.
Green
Elizabeth May Green Saanich—Gulf Islands, BC
Madam Chair, I know I have no status on the committee, but another committee does begin its work on Thursdays at 1 p.m. eastern time, so if the three-hour PROC meeting could end before 1 p.m., that would certainly be much appreciated.
Obviously I have no status to even ask, but I thought I'd flag it in case other members are in my position.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Ruby Sahota
Thank you for flagging it. I was made aware of that. I tried to ask the clerk and the technical team whether 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. would work, and it seems they've come back with the 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. time frame working better for the technical team.
Justin, would you like to say anything on that?
The Clerk
Yes, the timeline I've been given is 11 a.m. until 1 p.m.. Now, I can go back to see if there is any flexibility or more flexibility on that so that it could be turned into 10 a.m. until 1 p.m..
Liberal
The Clerk
Sorry, yes, that's right. It was 11 a.m. until 2 p.m. My apologies.
I can go back and check on 10 a.m. until 1 p.m., though, as well, but as of right now my understanding is that it could be possible for PROC to meet for three hours from 11:00 until 2:00.
Green
Elizabeth May Green Saanich—Gulf Islands, BC
Then there would be a one-hour overlap, but if it's possible to do it from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., that would be so good.
Thank you.
Liberal
Conservative
Blake Richards Conservative Banff—Airdrie, AB
I wouldn't be completely opposed to the idea of the 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. spot, but we are typically 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. I thought it would be easiest to expand an hour by going to 2 p.m. We already have that confirmation.
I would point out that all parties do have other members. It's not as if we can't cover off other committees, and we aren't all required to be on every committee.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Ruby Sahota
Yes, Ms. Blaney.
Ms. May definitely works very hard, and oftentimes she is on many committees at once, so I understand her perspective, but I completely understand, Mr. Richards, from your location, why the 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. time frame would be preferable for the members.
Go ahead, Ms. Blaney.
NDP
Rachel Blaney NDP North Island—Powell River, BC
I prefer the 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. format as well. I know that Ms. May and I are both in British Columbia, but I'm usually doing something else at seven o'clock in the morning that I have made a commitment to, and it would be better for me to be able to start at 8 a.m.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Ruby Sahota
Then you would like the time slot to be 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. You would like the time slot that we have now to be extended by one hour.
The Clerk
Madam Chair, I am getting a bit more feedback as well. From a technical resource point of view in the House, it does seem that 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. is more feasible.
I may have spoken a bit too quickly. Just to correct what Mr. Richards was saying, I'm not in a position at this moment to confirm even 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., but if it can be done for three hours, it looks like that would be the time slot we would need to go with, and not the 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. format
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Ruby Sahota
Unfortunately, Ms. May, it seems like everything is aligning for 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. It seems that this is the time slot that works best right now for the permanent members of the standing committee, so we're going to—
Green
Elizabeth May Green Saanich—Gulf Islands, BC
Yes, I absolutely understand.
Thank you, Madam Chair, and thanks to the other members of the committee for tolerating my attempt to do two things at once. As you mentioned, I'll be able to have another member of my caucus cover other meetings.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Ruby Sahota
We know that if anyone can be two places at one time, it's you, Ms. May, so thank you for that.
Are there any other comments? Otherwise, the meeting could be coming to a close if everyone is agreeable that we have somewhat of a working order. We would like to have more specifics from you by 12 o'clock tomorrow as to the initial witnesses that you would like to see.
