Evidence of meeting #1 for Procedure and House Affairs in the 43rd Parliament, 2nd Session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was chair.
A recording is available from Parliament.
Conservative
Todd Doherty Conservative Cariboo—Prince George, BC
I would accept that as well, and I would request that all witnesses prepare and present to the committee, in advance, their opening remarks, written.
September 28th, 2020 / 4:30 p.m.
Liberal
Liberal
Mark Gerretsen Liberal Kingston and the Islands, ON
It doesn't have to be an amendment to the amendment. I'm happy to just insert it as well, such that all witnesses be requested to provide their opening statements, in writing, within 72 hours, so they can be translated.
The Clerk
Madam Chair, I would just like to let the members of the committee know that in the past we've encouraged witnesses to provide their opening statements ahead of time so that they can be distributed. Frequently, issues arose over having opening statements translated in enough time to be able to distribute them to the committee. Part of it is in relation to the invitation to witnesses. Frequently, invitations to witnesses are proffered in a very short timeline, sometimes even less than 72 hours, so certain kinds of deadlines for the submission of opening statements are not always possible.
There can be language in the routine motions that perhaps suggests best efforts, but we have had those issues in the past and then what has happened is that the witness has not been able to provide their opening statement to the committee.
Liberal
Mark Gerretsen Liberal Kingston and the Islands, ON
In light of that, Madam Chair, why don't we just say “whenever possible”, and then what I said? It would be “whenever possible, witnesses provide opening statements in writing no later than 72 hours before the meeting begins”.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Ruby Sahota
I think that would be wise, rather than locking ourselves in, because we have had challenges. The clerk is right that in some of the studies, we sometimes have to swap days or things change at the last minute, and it becomes difficult.
Does everybody have clarity as to what we are voting on? It's the motion on the opening statements and the questioning of witnesses. Witnesses will be given five minutes for their opening statements, and at the discretion of the chair during questioning of witnesses, there will be allocated...and the rest of that remains the same.
We're also going to insert...Justin, where would you insert it? I think at the end of “statement” is where you should insert that where possible, witnesses should provide their opening statement remarks in writing to the committee 72 hours in advance, and then the remainder would stay the same.
Go ahead, Mr. Therrien.
Bloc
Alain Therrien Bloc La Prairie, QC
If witnesses don't provide their opening statements 72 hours ahead of time, should we not hear from them? Is it an obligation or a recommendation?
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Ruby Sahota
No, it's just where possible, when witnesses can. We're more strongly encouraging it this time. Even though it has always been encouraged, we're just formalizing it and putting it into the routine motions.
Go ahead, Mr. Turnbull.
Liberal
Ryan Turnbull Liberal Whitby, ON
Madam Chair, I just want to be 100% clear about what we're voting on, just because there was a little confusion on that last one. Could we have it read out before we vote, please, just so we're all 100% clear?
The Clerk
This would be essentially the amendment that Mr. Gerretsen is proposing: “That witnesses be given 10 minutes for their opening statement, and that whenever possible, witnesses provide their opening statements 72 hours before their appearance; that, at the discretion of the chair, during the questioning of witnesses, there be allocated six minutes for the first questioner of each party, as follows”, and then we have the list of the rounds of questions.
Conservative
Tom Lukiwski Conservative Moose Jaw—Lake Centre—Lanigan, SK
Madam Chair, I believe Mark's motion was for opening statements of five minutes, not 10. The six-minute, five-minute, and 2.5-minute rounds after that are fine, but the whole purpose of Mark's motion was to cut down the opening statements from 10 minutes to five minutes.
Liberal
Pat Finnigan Liberal Miramichi—Grand Lake, NB
Madam Chair, I believe we lost Mark. Apparently the Internet cut on him, and he's trying to reboot.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Ruby Sahota
Okay. Since it is his motion, we'll just pause for a moment.
Go ahead, Dr. Duncan.
Liberal
Kirsty Duncan Liberal Etobicoke North, ON
Thank you, Madam Chair.
Could we have clarification? I want to thank Mr. Lukiwski for clarifying the opening statement. Can we just have clarification once again on the timing for each of the rounds, please?
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Ruby Sahota
The witness would be given five minutes. The remainder will stay the same. The Conservative Party, the Liberal Party, the Bloc Québécois, and the New Democratic Party would each have six minutes in the first round. The only thing being changed is the opening statement, which is being brought down to five minutes, and then there's also going to be language inserted to encourage the witness to provide a written statement wherever possible.
Go ahead, Mr. Turnbull.
Liberal
Ryan Turnbull Liberal Whitby, ON
Could you clarify the second round as well, just to make sure we're all clear?
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Ruby Sahota
The second round is five minutes for the Conservatives, five minutes for the Liberals, 2.5 minutes for the Bloc Québécois and 2.5 minutes for the NDP. Then the Conservatives have five minutes and the Liberals five minutes.
Is that everyone's understanding?
Liberal
Ryan Turnbull Liberal Whitby, ON
Just from the top again, please, because it was a little choppy, and I want to make sure that I know what I'm voting on. I'm sorry.