Evidence of meeting #1 for Procedure and House Affairs in the 45th Parliament, 1st session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was chair.
A video is available from Parliament.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Chris Bittle
I'm sorry. Do we have a copy of the motion?
We can suspend for a moment and get a copy.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Chris Bittle
I'm going to go back and clarify that these are in fact notices of motion. If I have the committee's indulgence to go back to routine motions and if everyone's okay with that, we can do that.
Ms. Normandin, you have the floor.
Bloc
Christine Normandin Bloc Saint-Jean, QC
Thank you, Mr. Chair.
On the back of the previous motion passed around is another proposed routine motion. It states as follows:
That, during meetings, the Chair, if necessary, uses his prerogative to suspend the meeting to maintain the order and decorum necessary to ensure the application of the House of Commons’ policies on workplace health and safety.
Liberal
Liberal
Greg Fergus Liberal Hull—Aylmer, QC
Once more, I want to thank Ms. Normandin for moving an important motion. This motion is about ensuring the health and safety of everyone, including the interpreters, who provide an essential service to the House of Commons. Without interpretation, none of the House business can be conducted. I applaud her.
Conservative
Grant Jackson Conservative Brandon—Souris, MB
Thank you, Chair.
I'm very proud and honoured to be on this committee. I have just a couple of questions about the scope and how far this would go.
Obviously, we want to protect our translators and the important work they do. In what types of instances would the chair be able to suspend a meeting? What would it take for drastic action to be taken by the chair to shut down a meeting, based on what somebody is doing with one of their microphones?
I'm just trying to get a handle on how much power this would give the chair in terms of the scope.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Chris Bittle
I'll turn it over to Madame Normandin in one second. It is her motion, not mine.
The only comment I have, because you are new and we want to protect the interpreters, is that we have this inclination to lean in toward the mics. It sounds like you're like me and that volume usually isn't a problem, so you can stay back and the microphone will still pick up your words.
Ms. Normandin, you have the floor.
Bloc
Christine Normandin Bloc Saint-Jean, QC
This motion is prompted by real‑life situations. For example, on some occasions, multiple people have spoken at the same time, preventing the interpreters from doing their job. The excessive noise generated at the same time posed a health and safety issue.
Obviously, the chair retains the prerogative to suspend proceedings. Let me clarify that the motion doesn’t call for him to adjourn the meeting, but rather to suspend it.
The motion serves as a reminder that the chair may suspend the meeting for health and safety reasons. In the past, some chairs have been reluctant to do so because they didn’t feel that they had the authority. This guideline isn’t really a guideline, since the chair retains his prerogative. It serves as a reminder that the health and safety of interpreters, for example, warrant the suspension of a meeting.
Conservative
Michael Cooper Conservative St. Albert—Sturgeon River, AB
I did, yes. Thank you, Mr. Chair.
I support the spirit in which this motion has been brought forward. The only issue I have is with the example Madame Normandin cited, which is a situation in which there could be some back-and-forth between members and more than one member would be speaking at the same time. This happens from time to time in committees.
It is true that it imperils the ability of the interpreters to interpret, but it doesn't imperil their health and safety, at least from what I understand from what the translation bureau has stated.
Bloc
Christine Normandin Bloc Saint-Jean, QC
At a minimum, it is a breach of members’ parliamentary privilege if the interpreters are no longer able to interpret. That could have been mentioned in the motion. In any event, when the interpreters cannot keep interpreting, either because of decorum issues or because of health and safety risks, there’s a problem.
Every time an issue comes up, I don’t want to have to ask the interpreters whether they can keep interpreting from a health standpoint. This puts a lot of strain on them. I must say, the interpreters do an outstanding job. In many cases, they interpret our remarks in extremely difficult conditions. It is only when they’ve hit their limit that they tell us they are no longer able to do their job.
Making sure that interpreters are safe and that their health is protected is a real concern. It’s important that the chair feel he is justified in suspending the meeting in those situations. We have to make sure that everyone can do their job without jeopardizing their health.
Liberal
Greg Fergus Liberal Hull—Aylmer, QC
I support the motion for all the reasons Ms. Normandin talked about.
I would even take the argument a bit further. When I had the privilege of being the Speaker of the House of Commons, one of my roles was as administrator of the House of Commons and its employees. I can confirm for Mr. Cooper that there were indeed times when the health and safety of interpreters was in jeopardy. Their hearing is a tool they need to do their jobs, so it’s very important to be respectful of that. What’s more, this would encourage much calmer, much healthier debate, something that would benefit all members.
Liberal
Tim Louis Liberal Kitchener—Conestoga, ON
Thanks, Chair.
I have a grammar question. We need to finish this part of the conversation before we can move on.
In the English version.... It's my understanding, Chair, that this would apply to all committees—or is it just ours?
Liberal
Liberal
Tim Louis Liberal Kitchener—Conestoga, ON
Okay. I take it back, then. I thought it was a “his” or “her” prerogative. I thought it was for other committees.
Thank you.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Chris Bittle
I see no further debate.
(Motion agreed to [See Minutes of Proceedings])
I'll turn the floor back to Madame Brière. Just to confirm, this is putting a motion on notice.
Please continue.
Liberal
Liberal
Élisabeth Brière Liberal Sherbrooke, QC
All right.
The motion reads as follows:
That pursuant to standing order 108(3)(a)(i) the committee direct the Clerk of the committee to invite the Officials responsible for the Long-Term Vision and Planning and Centre Block Rehabilitation to brief Members on current plans and progress.