Evidence of meeting #1 for Human Resources, Skills and Social Development and the Status of Persons with Disabilities in the 41st Parliament, 1st session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was chair.
A recording is available from Parliament.
The Clerk of the Committee Ms. Evelyn Lukyniuk
Honourable members of the committee, good afternoon. I see a quorum.
I must inform members that the clerk of the committee can receive motions only for the election of the chair. The clerk cannot receive other types of motions, cannot entertain points of order, nor participate in debate.
We can now proceed to the selection of the chair. Pursuant to Standing Order 106(2), the chair must be a member of the government party. I am ready to receive motions for the position of chair.
Conservative
The Clerk
It has been moved by Mr. Daniel that Mr. Komarnicki be elected as chair of the committee.
Are there any further motions?
Is it the pleasure of the committee to adopt the motion?
(Motion agreed to)
I declare the motion carried and Mr. Komarnicki duly elected chair of the committee.
The Clerk
Before inviting Mr. Komarnicki to take the chair, if the committee wishes, we will proceed to the election of vice-chairs.
Pursuant to Standing Order 106(2), the first vice-chair must be a member of the official opposition.
I am now prepared to receive motions for the first vice-chair.
NDP
The Clerk
Moved by Ms. Crowder that Ms. Hughes be elected as first vice-chair of the committee.
Are there any further motions?
Is it the pleasure of the committee to adopt the motion?
(Motion agreed to)
I declare the motion carried and Ms. Hughes duly elected first vice-chair of the committee.
The Clerk
Pursuant to Standing Order 106(2), the second vice-chair must be a member of an opposition party other than the official opposition.
I am now prepared to receive a motion for the second vice-chair.
NDP
Carol Hughes NDP Algoma—Manitoulin—Kapuskasing, ON
I move that Mr. Cuzner be nominated second vice-chair.
The Clerk
Ms. Hughes moves that Mr. Cuzner be second vice-chair of the committee.
Is it the pleasure of the committee to adopt the motion?
(Motion agreed to)
I declare the motion carried and Mr. Cuzner duly elected second vice-chair of the committee.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Ed Komarnicki
Can everyone hear me well? There won't be any speeches, but I will call this meeting to order.
I can say that we've done the formal part of the business for which the notice was given, but if we could, we would like to deal with a couple of other matters as well. And if we have agreement of the parties here, I'd first like to ask the analysts to join us at the table if they would.
While they're doing that, there is a set of routine motions that I'd like to circulate to the committee members, and we can go through them one by one and have some discussion.
Perhaps before I do that, as the analysts make their way here, because many of you are new to this committee--in fact it seems that almost everyone is new to this committee--it might be good for the analysts to just give a brief introduction of who they are and a little bit of what they do. Perhaps we can do that straightaway.
Go ahead.
Chantal Collin Committee Researcher
My name is Chantal Collin. I am a research analyst with a background in socio-economic policies.
I work for the Library of Parliament. I am an analyst, and I specialize in socio-economic policies.
I have been with this committee since 2003, so it's a pleasure to see all of you today.
I have distributed a little pamphlet. It's called “Ask the Library”. In there you can find information about our services, not only as analysts on the committee but to individual members as well. So if you have any questions, do not hesitate to contact us.
I am the lead on the committee, and these are my two colleagues, and I'll let them introduce themselves.
André Léonard Committee Researcher
Good afternoon. My name is André Léonard. My training is in economics. I have been working for the Library of Parliament for two years and I have spent the past two years on the Standing Committee on Human Resources, Skills and Social Development and the Status of Persons with Disabilities. It is a pleasure to be working for this committee. Thank you.
Sandra Gruescu Committee Researcher
Bonjour. Good afternoon.
My name is Sandra Gruescu. I am an analyst too. I am a lawyer by training, specializing mainly in public pensions, the Canada Pension Plan, and the Old Age Security Act, as well as a bit of labour law.
It's a pleasure to be here, and I wish you a good session.
Thank you.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Ed Komarnicki
Thank you very much for that brief introduction.
These routine motions have been circulated. As you will see, the first order of business was actually appointing the analysts. I've already had them introduced, but perhaps I should have had this motion moved that says that the committee retain, as needed and at the discretion of the chair, the services of one or more analysts from the Library of Parliament to assist it in its work.
I can certainly say that we've appreciated the services you've given us in the past, and we surely look forward to them in the future.
I would look for a motion to that effect.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Ed Komarnicki
Taking it that we can proceed with the suggested routine motions, the second one deals with the subcommittee on agenda and procedure. Perhaps you could take the opportunity to look through that. Essentially, it provides for five members on the agenda and procedure subcommittee. It would be the chair, the two vice-chairs we have, the parliamentary secretary, and a member of the Conservative Party. Then it talks about quorum and the fact that each can have one assistant and one staff member from a House officer attend the meetings.
There are probably some questions or discussion.
Jean.
NDP
Jean Crowder NDP Nanaimo—Cowichan, BC
Yes, I have a couple of questions.
In the past the subcommittee had four members. That's been the past practice for this committee. I just wondered why there was the increase.
The second thing is that on the quorum of the subcommittee, where it says that it shall consist of three members, it actually doesn't specify that one of those members must be from the opposition. So technically, if you end up going with the five members, it could end up being three Conservatives for quorum. I don't think that's reasonable. It should actually include at least a member of the opposition.
Conservative
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Ed Komarnicki
On a procedural point, in the past we didn't necessarily have a parliamentary secretary on the committee. But it is useful to have a parliamentary secretary because of the connection to the minister. One other member, I guess, is to allow for the members who have been appointed more recently.
That's just a comment. Somebody else may have a comment. The fact that one of the three members....
At least one opposition member is what you are suggesting you'd like to see there. Maybe it's a valid suggestion.
Is there any other discussion?
Go ahead, Brad.
Conservative
Brad Butt Conservative Mississauga—Streetsville, ON
Sorry, Mr. Chair, I don't think I indicated who the fifth member would be. I want to nominate Mr. McColeman to be the fifth member of that committee.
The fact that the two vice-chairs of the committee are opposition members would ensure that there is representation on the subcommittee of both the recognized opposition parties in the House. So I'm not quite sure what the concerns of my colleague across the way are. As far as I'm concerned, every party would be represented at the subcommittee.
