Human Resources Committee on Feb. 17th, 2016

[Mark Warawa, Conservative, Langley—Aldergrove, BC]

I think what's confusing some members is my language, saying I'm making an amendment, because normally an amendment would be in a separate motion.

I'll be moving this with the rotation being seven minutes in the first round and the order of speakers being what was adopted by the procedure and House affairs committee, which is the guiding committee, starting with the government, then the Conservative official opposition, then the NDP, and then back to the Liberals. So it would be seven minutes in the first round and five minutes in the second round. That's my motion.

[The Chair, Liberal, Bryan May]

I just think maybe for the sake of being easy, when we get to it, we'll do it that way.

[Mark Warawa, Conservative, Langley—Aldergrove, BC]

I was trying to be efficient, but obviously it's not working.

[The Chair, Liberal, Bryan May]

That's fine.

[Dan Ruimy, Liberal, Pitt Meadows—Maple Ridge, BC]

I'll go with the first one, analyst services:

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.

(Motion agreed to)

[The Chair, Liberal, Bryan May]

That's great. I'd like to invite the analysts to join us at the table.

You're not an analyst, Terry. I was looking past you.

[Terry Duguid, Liberal, Winnipeg South, MB]

I'm new here.

[The Chair, Liberal, Bryan May]

We've called him many things but never an analyst. Is that what you're about to say?

[Ramesh Sangha, Liberal, Brampton Centre, ON]

Next is the motion on the Subcommittee on Agenda and Procedure:

That the Subcommittee on Agenda and Procedure be composed of five (5) members, including the Chair, the two (2) Vice-chairs, and the two (2) members of the Government;

That, the quorum of the Subcommittee shall consist of at least three (3) members including one (1) member of the opposition;

That, each member of the Subcommittee shall be permitted to have one (1) assistant attend any meetings of the Subcommittee on Agenda and Procedure;

That, each party shall be permitted to have one (1) staff member from their House offices attend any meetings.

[The Chair, Liberal, Bryan May]

All in favour?

[Mark Warawa, Conservative, Langley—Aldergrove, BC]

Before we call the question, I'm just looking at the second point: “That, the quorum of the Subcommittee shall consist of at least three (3) members, including one (1) member of the opposition”.

To be fair to the NDP, which only has one member, should the NDP be involved with the subcommittee? I'd suggest that I think it would be good practice.

[The Chair, Liberal, Bryan May]

If I'm not mistaken, I believe they are. She would be the vice-chair.

This is with regard to quorum.

[Mark Warawa, Conservative, Langley—Aldergrove, BC]

I understand.

So you wouldn't have quorum with the subcommittee if you—

[The Chair, Liberal, Bryan May]

—if one person couldn't make it. That's the main concern.

[Mark Warawa, Conservative, Langley—Aldergrove, BC]

I'm sorry. I missed that. So, that's correct. That deals with both vice-chairs.

Thank you very much.

[The Chair, Liberal, Bryan May]

Thank you.

All in favour?

(Motion agreed to)

[Filomena Tassi, Liberal, Hamilton West—Ancaster—Dundas, ON]

Mr. Chair, is it necessary to read the entire thing?

[The Chair, Liberal, Bryan May]

Yes.

[Filomena Tassi, Liberal, Hamilton West—Ancaster—Dundas, ON]

The motion on meeting without a quorum reads as follows:

That the Chair be authorized to hold meetings to receive evidence and to have that evidence printed when a quorum is not present, provided that at least four (4) members are present, including one member from each recognized party; and

That, in the case of previously scheduled meetings taking place outside the Parliamentary precinct, the Committee members in attendance shall only be required to wait fifteen (15) minutes following the designated start of the meeting before they may proceed to hear witnesses and receive evidence, regardless of whether opposition or government members are present.

(Motion agreed to)

[The Chair, Liberal, Bryan May]

MP Long.

[Wayne Long, Liberal, Saint John—Rothesay, NB]

Thank you, Mr. Chair, and I'd just like to say to all the committee members that I'm really looking forward to working with everybody this year and getting a lot of good work done.

My motion is on time for opening remarks and questioning of witnesses. It reads:

That the witnesses from any one organization shall be allowed five (5) to ten (10) minutes, at the discretion of the Chair, to make their opening statements.

During the questioning of witnesses, there shall be allocated time in the following order and amount for the first round of questioning: six minutes for the Conservative Party, six minutes for the Liberal Party, six minutes for the New Democratic Party, and six minutes for the Liberal Party; and that during the questioning of witnesses there shall be allocated time in the following order and amount for the second round of questioning: six minutes for the Liberal Party, six minutes for the Conservative Party, six minutes for the Liberal Party, five minutes for the Conservative Party, and three minutes for the New Democratic Party.

[The Chair, Liberal, Bryan May]

Thank you.

Now this is where we have questions and comments.

[Mark Warawa, Conservative, Langley—Aldergrove, BC]

Technically there is no such a thing as a friendly amendment, so I will be moving an amendment, to be within the rules here, that in the first round instead of six minutes, it would be seven minutes, beginning with the government. I think this is what the procedure and House affairs committee has adopted. I think there's really a sound argument for allowing the government to go first in questioning. I think it shows respect for the government.

So, that is my amendment, that the motion be amended so that in the first round it would be seven minutes, with the order of Liberal, Conservative, NDP, and Liberal. Then the second round would be five minutes, with Conservative, Liberal, Conservative, Liberal, and NDP; and the last slot for the NDP would be three minutes, for a total of 50 minutes.

That's my amending motion. The total of 50 minutes is consistent.

[The Chair, Liberal, Bryan May]

Okay. Excellent.

Are there any questions and comments regarding the amendment?

[Dan Ruimy, Liberal, Pitt Meadows—Maple Ridge, BC]

If you add them up, the NDP would get two minutes, to add up to 50 minutes. Otherwise, it actually adds up to 51 minutes on this list.