Evidence of meeting #1 for Human Resources, Skills and Social Development and the Status of Persons with Disabilities in the 43rd 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 Mr. Andrew Wilson
Honourable members of the committee, 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 and cannot entertain points of order or participate in debate.
We can now proceed to the election of the chair. Pursuant to Standing Order 106(2), the chair must be a member of the government party.
I'm ready to receive motions for the chair.
Conservative
Dan Albas Conservative Central Okanagan—Similkameen—Nicola, BC
Mr. Clerk, I would like to nominate my fellow Class of 2011 member, Sean Casey, to be chair.
The Clerk
Are there any further motions?
(Motion agreed to)
I declare the motion carried and Mr. Casey duly elected chair of the committee.
I invite Mr. Casey to take the chair.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Sean Casey
Thank you very much, colleagues.
Thank you, Mr. Albas.
He really dispensed with the suspense by introducing me as a fellow member of the Class of 2011, because at the time I was elected, I was one-half of the Liberal Class of 2011, and now I'm it.
Having served in that capacity in the third party, I have an appreciation for where Ms. Gazan and Ms. Chabot and Mr. Manly sit. I will do my darndest to be fair and to keep the committee moving as well as it can.
Thank you, everyone.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Sean Casey
The next item on the agenda is the election of the vice-chairs.
Mr. Long.
Liberal
Wayne Long Liberal Saint John—Rothesay, NB
Thank you, Chair.
Good afternoon to everybody.
I would like to nominate Stephanie Kusie to be first vice-chair.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Sean Casey
Thank you, Mr. Long.
Are there any other motions?
(Motion agreed to)
I declare the motion carried and Stephanie Kusie first vice-chair of the committee.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Sean Casey
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 motions for the second vice-chair.
Mr. Turnbull.
Liberal
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Sean Casey
Thank you, Mr. Turnbull.
Are there any other motions?
(Motion agreed to)
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Sean Casey
I declare the motion carried and Louise Chabot duly elected second vice-chair of the committee.
Liberal
Wayne Long Liberal Saint John—Rothesay, NB
Thank you, Chair.
Congratulations to our chair and our vice-chairs.
I have some routine motions that I would like to bring forward to the committee, Mr. Chair.
Liberal
Wayne Long Liberal Saint John—Rothesay, NB
Thank you.
Regarding the analysts, I move:
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)
Liberal
Wayne Long Liberal Saint John—Rothesay, NB
Regarding a 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 and one member from each party; and that the subcommittee work in the spirit of collaboration.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Sean Casey
Before we deal with this, let me say that I made what is my first noticeable mistake by failing to invite the analysts to join us here in their chairs. Now that they're authorized to do so, let's do that.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Sean Casey
All right. You've heard the motion with respect to the subcommittee on agenda and procedure. Is there any discussion?
Mr. Albas.
Conservative
Dan Albas Conservative Central Okanagan—Similkameen—Nicola, BC
I just want to say thank you to all the members for their service as well as the clerks and analysts. I look forward to a healthy session.
In regard to the specific subcommittee on agenda and procedure, I want to put it clearly on the record that I believe the subcommittees have been a tremendous waste of time, in my experience. The simple reason is that the subcommittee has to meet outside, and whatever they bring here has to be ratified by the committee.
I'm just putting it on notice right now that if the chair and the various vice-chairs find that it's useful and productive, then I don't think we'll have an issue. I do think, though, that it's important to state very early that whatever they do has to be ratified by us. Quite honestly, sometimes it's just easier to hammer out these details with everyone here. You can get a consensus, and if you need to, you can take two minutes away to just check the mood of your members.
Quite honestly, I think it would save a lot of time and effort, and also taxpayers' money, because we have all these people who have to be involved in recording those things. I'm just noting it for the record.
