Procedure and House Affairs Committee on Dec. 3rd, 2021

[Some hon. members]

Oh, oh!

[The Chair, Liberal, Bardish Chagger]

It sounds like there is some agreement.

Are we okay with having the amendment adopted?

(Amendment agreed to [See Minutes of Proceedings])

(Motion as amended agreed to)

Excellent.

Mrs. Romanado, go ahead.

[Sherry Romanado, Liberal, Longueuil—Charles-LeMoyne, QC]

The third routine motion is on the Subcommittee on Private Members’ Business:

That, pursuant to Standing Order 91.1(1), the Subcommittee on Private Members' Business be composed of one (1) member from each recognized party and a Chair from the Government party; and that Ruby Sahota be appointed Chair of the Subcommittee.

[The Chair, Liberal, Bardish Chagger]

Is that agreed?

(Motion agreed to)

[Sherry Romanado, Liberal, Longueuil—Charles-LeMoyne, QC]

As regards the Subcommittee on Agenda and Procedure, I move:

That the Subcommittee on Agenda and Procedure be established and be composed of five (5) members; the chair, one member from each party; and that the subcommittee work in the spirit of collaboration.

[The Chair, Liberal, Bardish Chagger]

Is that agreed?

(Motion agreed to)

[Sherry Romanado, Liberal, Longueuil—Charles-LeMoyne, QC]

The next one is “Meeting Without a Quorum”:

That the Chair be authorized to hold meetings to receive evidence and to have that evidence published when a quorum is not present, provided that at least four members are present, including two members of the opposition parties and two members of the government party, but when travelling outside the Parliamentary Precinct, that the meeting begin after 15 minutes, regardless of members present.

[The Chair, Liberal, Bardish Chagger]

Is that agreed?

(Motion agreed to)

[Sherry Romanado, Liberal, Longueuil—Charles-LeMoyne, QC]

The next one is “Time for Opening Remarks and Questioning of Witnesses”:

That witnesses be given five (5) minutes for their opening statements; that whenever possible, witnesses provide the committee with their opening statements 72 hours in advance; that, at the discretion of the Chair, during the questioning of witnesses, there be allocated six (6) minutes for the first questioner of each party as follows: Round 1: Conservative Party, Liberal Party, Bloc Québécois, New Democratic Party. For the second and subsequent rounds, the order and time for questioning be as follows: Conservative Party, five (5) minutes; Liberal Party, five (5) minutes; Bloc Québécois, two and a half (2.5) minutes; New Democratic Party, two and a half (2.5) minutes; Conservative Party, five (5) minutes; Liberal Party, five (5) minutes.

[The Chair, Liberal, Bardish Chagger]

Is that agreed?

(Motion agreed to)

[Sherry Romanado, Liberal, Longueuil—Charles-LeMoyne, QC]

Regarding document distribution, I move:

That only the clerk of the committee be authorized to distribute documents to members of the committee, only when the documents are available in both official languages, and that witnesses be advised accordingly.

[The Chair, Liberal, Bardish Chagger]

Is that agreed?

(Motion agreed to)

[Sherry Romanado, Liberal, Longueuil—Charles-LeMoyne, QC]

The next one is “Working Meals”. This one is everyone's favourite.

That the clerk of the committee, at the discretion of the Chair, be authorized to make the necessary arrangements to provide working meals for the committee and its subcommittees.

[The Chair, Liberal, Bardish Chagger]

Is that agreed?

(Motion agreed to)

If there are any allergies or concerns, please submit those. If there are ever members who are swapping at meetings, please give us a heads-up so that we can ensure we can accommodate.

[Sherry Romanado, Liberal, Longueuil—Charles-LeMoyne, QC]

Thank you.

Regarding accommodation and living expenses of witnesses, I move:

That, if requested, reasonable travel, accommodation and living expenses be reimbursed to witnesses not exceeding two (2) representatives per organization; provided that, in exceptional circumstances, payment for more representatives be made at the discretion of the chair.

[The Chair, Liberal, Bardish Chagger]

Is that agreed?

(Motion agreed to)

[Sherry Romanado, Liberal, Longueuil—Charles-LeMoyne, QC]

The next one is “Access to In Camera Meetings”:

That, unless otherwise ordered, each Committee member be allowed to be accompanied by one staff member at an in camera meeting and that one additional person from each House officer's office be allowed to be present.

[The Chair, Liberal, Bardish Chagger]

Is that agreed?

(Motion agreed to)

[Sherry Romanado, Liberal, Longueuil—Charles-LeMoyne, QC]

As for transcripts of in camera meetings, I move:

That one copy of the transcript of each in camera meeting be kept in the committee clerk’s office for consultation by members of the committee or by their staff; and that the analysts assigned to the committee also have access to the in camera transcripts.

[The Chair, Liberal, Bardish Chagger]

Is that agreed?

(Motion agreed to)

[Sherry Romanado, Liberal, Longueuil—Charles-LeMoyne, QC]

The next one is “Notice of Motion”:

That a 48-hour notice, interpreted as two nights, be required for any substantive motion to be moved in committee, unless the substantive motion relates directly to business then under consideration, provided that: (a) the notice be filed with the clerk of the committee no later than 4 p.m. from Monday to Friday; (b) the motion be distributed to Members in both official languages by the clerk on the same day the said notice was transmitted if it was received no later than the deadline hour; (c) notices received after the deadline hour or on non-business days be deemed to have been received during the next business day; and that when the committee is holding meetings outside the Parliamentary Precinct, no substantive motion may be moved.

[The Chair, Liberal, Bardish Chagger]

Mr. Fergus, go ahead.

[Greg Fergus, Liberal, Hull—Aylmer, QC]

Thank you, Madam Chair.

I wish to move an amendment to part (b) of the routine motion regarding notices of motion. I would like to add, after the words “the motion be distributed to members”, the following: “and to the office of the whips of each recognized party”.

[The Chair, Liberal, Bardish Chagger]

Are we agreed on the amendment?

(Amendment agreed to)

(Motion as amended agreed to)

Excellent.

[Sherry Romanado, Liberal, Longueuil—Charles-LeMoyne, QC]

The next one is “Orders of Reference from the House Respecting Bills”:

That in relation to orders of reference from the House respecting Bills,

(a) The clerk of the committee shall, upon the committee receiving such an order of reference, write to each member who is not a member of a caucus represented on the committee to invite those members to file with the clerk of the committee, in both official languages, any amendments to the bill, which is the subject of the said Order, which they would suggest that the committee consider;

(b) Suggested amendments filed, pursuant to paragraph (a), at least 48 hours prior to the start of clause-by-clause consideration of the bill to which the amendments relate shall be deemed to be proposed during the said consideration, provided that the committee may, by motion, vary this deadline in respect of a given bill; and

(c) During the clause-by-clause consideration of a bill, the Chair shall allow a member who filed suggested amendments, pursuant to paragraph (a), an opportunity to make brief representations in support of them.