Procedure and House Affairs Committee on Nov. 5th, 2020

[The Chair, Liberal, Ruby Sahota]

The clerk is working on inviting other groups that have some vulnerabilities throughout this pandemic, so we are lining up panels. We agreed in the subcommittee that one of our next witness-heavy meetings would be with a panel of indigenous witnesses, seniors and, I believe, long-term care people. We're trying to slot in most of those witnesses.

My goal—I don't know whether this is a direct answer—is really to try to get in all of our witnesses before the winter break, or as many as possible. Then, what we discussed at the subcommittee was that, at that point, we'll see where there might be a few gaps left and, if there are a few more witnesses we need to hear from, we'll hear from them quickly at the beginning, after the winter break, and then work on our draft report and basically have it tabled as soon as possible after the break.

That's the conversation that happened at subcommittee, and that is why in this report you'll see that we've asked New Zealand and the parties to just submit written submissions, so that we can decrease the amount of time it will take to have physical witnesses before the committee.

We have quite a good list to fit in the groups that face challenges. I think it can be done. We have lost one meeting time slot, but I still think we can get it done.

[Todd Doherty, Conservative, Cariboo—Prince George, BC]

Madam Chair, can we just bring it back to the prorogation report again? Can we agree today in the committee on a definitive start date? As Mr. Lukiwski said, once we have the interim report and we know where we're going, is there a time when we can slot in a short meeting at which we can start the discussions on the prorogation, knowing that the fulsome discussion and hearings are not going to start until after the elections report is finished?

[The Chair, Liberal, Ruby Sahota]

Would you like that meeting before the winter break, or right after the winter break? Before the winter break, I have some challenges, because I'm not allowed to.... Extra meetings were going to be our saving grace, but right now I'm hearing that, because all committees are allowed two meetings each, extra meetings are not in the future for us.

[Todd Doherty, Conservative, Cariboo—Prince George, BC]

I would put it to the committee. I think we're okay with moving the bulk of the study, and I conveyed this during our committee meeting, that pushing this into January or February.... This elections report is very serious. Can we start the discussions about potential witnesses and what have you, whether we tack it on at the end of one of these studies...? Because we are nearing the end of our witnesses, let's at least start the discussion, and then we can frame the rest of it as we get back from Christmas break.

[The Chair, Liberal, Ruby Sahota]

Perhaps I can tack on another committee business meeting when we can have our preliminary discussion about witnesses and the timelines of that study. We could probably do that.

[Todd Doherty, Conservative, Cariboo—Prince George, BC]

Right.

[The Chair, Liberal, Ruby Sahota]

We have Mr. Turnbull, and then Mr. Blaikie.

[Ryan Turnbull, Liberal, Whitby, ON]

Thanks, Madam Chair. I appreciate the conversation. I have some thoughts to share on both points.

With regard to the current study, based on the witness testimony we've heard, I really feel that there is a large amount of importance being placed by public health professionals and elections officers on mail-in voting. I know that many constituents—

[The Chair, Liberal, Ruby Sahota]

Could you please put your headset on, Ryan?

[Ryan Turnbull, Liberal, Whitby, ON]

Oh, I'm so sorry.

How's that?

[The Chair, Liberal, Ruby Sahota]

That's great. Could you repeat that? Thank you.

[Ryan Turnbull, Liberal, Whitby, ON]

My apologies to everyone.

So, I just have a few thoughts to share on both points here. With regard to our current study, on having elections in a pandemic and doing so safely, I think we've heard quite a bit of testimony that has placed importance on mail-in ballots and that process. I've heard from quite a few stakeholders in my riding that this process can be quite clunky and present challenges for people.

From my perspective, it would be great to have some more witnesses who can speak to how we might streamline that process. I think it would be very useful for this study, so I think there are additional witnesses I certainly would like to hear from. I also have other colleagues who may have other witnesses in mind for other topics that are relevant to the current study.

In terms of the timing.... I obviously wasn't at the subcommittee meeting, but I did look at the report. With regard to the prorogation report that has been tabled and referred to us, I suggest that we set a definitive end date for our current study. As I understand it, we've only set a date for the interim report, but not for the end of the study itself. Perhaps if that's some time in January, then the prorogation report could begin after that. That would be my thought on it, so we can get what I think is extremely.... I mean, all things are important, but I think the elections report and the recommendations that members of Parliament on this committee will make are pretty important to get out there. So that's two thoughts.

The third one is just in terms of the Standing Orders and what PROC's role is in terms of a prorogation report. I would find it helpful to hear, perhaps from the clerk, as to what we are required to do. My understanding, based on my reading of the Standing Orders, is that we're not required to do a study on a prorogation report; it's just that we have the opportunity to review it. I just wonder what we are actually required to do, and if there is a requirement there, what specifically it is. That would be helpful for all of us.

[Tom Lukiwski, Conservative, Moose Jaw—Lake Centre—Lanigan, SK]

Madam Chair....

[The Chair, Liberal, Ruby Sahota]

We have a speaking order, still. We have Mr. Blaikie and Mr. Alghabra. I think we're running low on time, so if I could quickly hear from them, I think we could sum this up.

I think we have consensus on almost everything in terms of what's required. We could probably talk about that at whatever time slot we pick in the next committee business portion of our meeting to talk about prorogation. We could hear from the clerk and get into what would be required, what the committee could do and whom we would hear from.

In terms of the first issue that Mr. Lukiwski and Mr. Doherty brought up, if you trust to leave it with me, I will slot in a time that I think would work in the coming days where I think that we only have, like today, about 90 minutes of witness testimony and therefore we can have 30 minutes of committee business on that day.

[Tom Lukiwski, Conservative, Moose Jaw—Lake Centre—Lanigan, SK]

Very quickly, my only point to Ryan's question about what the mandate of PROC is.... Let's not forget that if something is referred to our committee, we are obligated to deal with it. That's why I'm trying to get at setting a firm date, so we don't let it go by the wayside.

[The Chair, Liberal, Ruby Sahota]

Maybe at the next meeting I can get you a firm date as to.... Right now, I'd have to sit and look at which witnesses are falling into which days. If we have three hours of witnesses, I obviously wouldn't pick the three-hour day; I would pick the day where we have fewer witnesses who have said they are coming in, leaving us with some time to set aside to discuss the prorogation study and to plan for it.

If you allow, at the next meeting I can probably give you a better picture of what date we could put that on.

Is that okay, Mr. Lukiwski and Mr. Doherty?

[Tom Lukiwski, Conservative, Moose Jaw—Lake Centre—Lanigan, SK]

That's fine.

If we can deal with it, timing-wise, by the next meeting, Madam Chair, that's fine. I have infinite trust in your wisdom and judgment as to giving us an appropriate date at the next meeting.

[The Chair, Liberal, Ruby Sahota]

The date will be within the next few meetings. Before we break, basically, we'll have that discussion. We'll set in place a timeline for that study, and hopefully maybe even have a timeline for finishing the study we're on right now.

[Tom Lukiwski, Conservative, Moose Jaw—Lake Centre—Lanigan, SK]

Excellent.

[The Chair, Liberal, Ruby Sahota]

Mr. Blaikie, go ahead.

[Daniel Blaikie, NDP, Elmwood—Transcona, MB]

First of all, I'm satisfied with that solution on the question of getting more clarity around the timing for looking at the prorogation report.

Second, I am aware of the time. I'm just wondering if there's a sense of the direction for the clerk on the question of which political parties will be invited to submit written remarks.

[The Chair, Liberal, Ruby Sahota]

We have Mr. Alghabra next. I don't know whether he has remarks to make about that, but that might help.

[Omar Alghabra, Liberal, Mississauga Centre, ON]

Madam Chair, no, I wasn't necessarily going to comment there. I have no objection...in fact, I support the idea of inviting political parties to offer their plans.

I would also like to add the importance of inviting Canada Post. We are watching what's happening in the United States, and the Elections Canada commissioner spoke about how he expects four million to five million ballots to arrive in the mail if there is a general election. I think it would be really important for our report to include our own insight on how Canada Post is prepared and also provide advice to Canada Post on how to be even more prepared.

I'd like to suggest that we invite Canada Post.

[The Chair, Liberal, Ruby Sahota]

I think that's an excellent suggestion.

If all the parties would like, maybe over this constituency week, or by the end of it, if there are other witnesses popping up whom you would like us to add to the list, please email me who those witnesses are so we can start slotting them in. Of course, don't be liberal with your list; really pinpoint what testimony we need at this point and then let me know who that is so we can add them in. Be very—

[Ryan Turnbull, Liberal, Whitby, ON]

Can we not be Liberal?