Evidence of meeting #98 for Procedure and House Affairs in the 44th Parliament, 1st Session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was fergus.
A video is available from Parliament.
NDP
Peter Julian NDP New Westminster—Burnaby, BC
Thank you for that.
You've cited the precedents around Nova Scotia and Prince Edward Island, and also the code of conduct in the Yukon territory.
Within the examples you cited in Nova Scotia and P.E.I., what were the remedies or consequences? What were the remedies in terms of ensuring non-partisanship and impartiality? What were the consequences if a Speaker violated those fundamental principles of impartiality and non-partisanship?
Acting Clerk of the House of Commons
Again, we'll be distributing this material further to the question of Mrs. Romanado.
In the Prince Edward Island example, their committee—the equivalent of your committee—adopted a resolution or recommendation that Speakers should abstain from partisan activity, including caucus attendance, for 60 days prior to the commencement of a session and 30 days after. That was the recommendation in their report.
In the Yukon, they had prepared a memo that went on for some length in terms of outlining certain things a Speaker should and shouldn't do. For example, one is that “publications of the Speaker's party and caucus should not include photographs of the Speaker in the Speaker's robes.”
Again, we will circulate those documents.
NDP
Peter Julian NDP New Westminster—Burnaby, BC
What are the penalties for transgression? If a Speaker is photographed in their robes and that photograph is connected to a partisan event, what are the consequences or the remedies to that in Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island or Yukon?
Acting Deputy Clerk, Procedure, House of Commons
In some of the cases we've seen, we've asked our provincial colleagues what happens if concerns are raised. In some cases, motions have been brought forward in some of those legislatures condemning the Speaker's actions and expressing non-confidence in the Speaker.
I don't believe there were any cases where those motions were adopted. In some cases, the Speaker may have apologized and that settled the matter. In other cases, the motions were just never completed or were voted down.
That's usually the way those things have been handled.
NDP
Peter Julian NDP New Westminster—Burnaby, BC
In all of these cases, were these majority legislatures or minority legislatures?
Acting Deputy Clerk, Procedure, House of Commons
I don't know that off the top of my head, sir.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Bardish Chagger
Thank you.
We'll now go into our second round with Mr. Duncan followed by Monsieur Lauzon.
Mr. Duncan.
Conservative
Eric Duncan Conservative Stormont—Dundas—South Glengarry, ON
Thank you, Madam Chair.
Good morning to our witnesses. Thank you for being here.
I want to follow up with some questions on the Washington, D.C., trip. You mentioned that the trip was booked through the international and interparliamentary affairs directorate. Usually when the Speaker travels, there's a delegation of MPs, one from each recognized party, that would go.
Did that happen, and if not, why not?
Acting Clerk of the House of Commons
Through you, Madam Chair, Mr. Duncan, you're right. Often when Speakers go on official visits they will bring a delegation composed of members, representatives from each of the parties. That's not always done. We've seen, for example, past Speakers go on shorter trips, for instance, to one of their provincial counterparts and that would not—
Conservative
Eric Duncan Conservative Stormont—Dundas—South Glengarry, ON
Do we know why the decision was made in this case not to?
Acting Clerk of the House of Commons
Probably because of the length of the visit, but this may be a question for the Speaker at 9:30.
Conservative
Eric Duncan Conservative Stormont—Dundas—South Glengarry, ON
Did Mr. Fergus take any staff from the IIA unit with him?
Conservative
Eric Duncan Conservative Stormont—Dundas—South Glengarry, ON
Is that not unusual for a Speaker travelling abroad on a trip like that, not to have staff from the IIA?
Acting Clerk of the House of Commons
Again, if it's a longer perhaps more complicated trip with more meetings, then absolutely we send one of our exchanges officers. Again, if it's a smaller shorter trip, either within Canada or in cases like this to Washington, it's not unusual.
Conservative
Eric Duncan Conservative Stormont—Dundas—South Glengarry, ON
Who accompanied Mr. Fergus to Washington, D.C., then?
Acting Clerk of the House of Commons
I believe it was his chief of staff and his director of events.
Conservative
Eric Duncan Conservative Stormont—Dundas—South Glengarry, ON
Does the international and interparliamentary affairs directorate have a copy of Mr. Fergus's Washington itinerary?
Acting Clerk of the House of Commons
Yes, because they would have been very involved in preparing it.
Conservative
Eric Duncan Conservative Stormont—Dundas—South Glengarry, ON
Would you be able to table that with the committee, the details of that agenda?
Acting Clerk of the House of Commons
The official program, do you mean?
Again, if it's the direction from this committee, we can produce that.
Conservative
Eric Duncan Conservative Stormont—Dundas—South Glengarry, ON
That would be appreciated.
Did Mr. Fergus meet with his counterpart, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, while in Washington, D.C.?
Acting Clerk of the House of Commons
I believe it did happen at the last minute. It wasn't confirmed when the Speaker was leaving, but I believe that a meeting did happen finally.
Conservative
Eric Duncan Conservative Stormont—Dundas—South Glengarry, ON
Is it unusual for a Speaker to travel abroad during a sitting week?