I call this meeting to order.
Good morning, everyone. Welcome to meeting number 17 of the House of Commons Standing on Procedure and House Affairs.
I'd like to start the meeting by providing you with some information following the motion that was adopted in the House on Wednesday, September 23, 2020. The committee is now sitting in hybrid format, meaning that members can participate either in person or by video conference. Witnesses must appear by video conference only.
All members, regardless of their method of participation, will be counted for the purposes of quorum. The committee's power to sit is, however, limited by the priority use of House resources, which is determined by the whips. All questions must be decided by a recorded vote, unless the committee disposes of them with unanimous consent or on division. Finally, the committee may deliberate in camera, provided it takes into account the potential risks to confidentiality inherent to such deliberations with remote participants. Today's proceeding will be made available via the House of Commons website. I will remind you that the webcast will always show the person speaking rather than the entirety of the committee.
To ensure an orderly meeting, I'd like to outline a few rules to follow. For those participating virtually, members and witnesses may speak in the official language of their choice. Interpretation services are available for this meeting. You have the choice, at the bottom of your screen, of the floor in English or French. Before speaking, click on the microphone icon to activate your own mike. When you are done speaking, please put your mike on mute to minimize any interference. All comments by members and witnesses should be addressed through the chair.
Should members need to request the floor outside their designated time for questions, they should activate their mike and state that they have a point of order. If a member wishes to intervene on a point of order that has been raised by another member, they should use the “raise hand” function. This will signal to the chair your interest to speak and create a speakers list. In order to do so, you should click on the “participants” icon at the bottom of your screen. When the list pops up, you will see next to your name that you can click “raise hand”.
When speaking, please speak slowly and clearly. Unless there are exceptional circumstances, the use of headsets with a boom mike is mandatory for everyone participating remotely. Should any technical challenges arise, please advise the chair. Please note that there may be the need to suspend for a few minutes to ensure that all participants can participate fully.
For those participating in person, proceed as you usually would when the whole committee is meeting in person in the committee room. Should you wish to get my attention, signal me with a hand gesture, or at an appropriate time call out my name. Should you wish to raise a point of order, wait for an appropriate time and indicate to me clearly that you wish to raise a point of order. With regard to the speaking list, the committee clerk and I will do our best to keep a consolidated order of speaking for all members, whether they are participating virtually or physically in person.
That being said, I'd like to welcome Dr. David Williams to our committee.
Thank you, Dr. Williams, for allowing us some time out of what we know is an extremely, extremely busy schedule and very challenging time for all of us, federally and provincially. You have been doing some fantastic work as the the chief medical officer of health for the Ministry of Health in Ontario.
Dr. Williams, you have five minutes for your opening remarks, which will be followed by a few rounds of questions by the members.