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.
3:40 p.m.
Liberal
3:40 p.m.
Bloc
Louise Chabot Bloc Thérèse-De Blainville, QC
I want to make one comment to ensure that I fully understand this issue. Do we want to eliminate subcommittees and keep carrying out our work in the committee? Is that the meaning of the proposal?
3:40 p.m.
Bloc
Louise Chabot Bloc Thérèse-De Blainville, QC
I misunderstood, and that's why I want some clarification.
3:40 p.m.
Conservative
Dan Albas Conservative Central Okanagan—Similkameen—Nicola, BC
Right now, the committee must address Mr. Long's motion. I want to share my—
3:40 p.m.
Conservative
Dan Albas Conservative Central Okanagan—Similkameen—Nicola, BC
Yes. I have some concerns. I just want to see the committee move smoothly.
3:40 p.m.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Sean Casey
We have not yet voted on this. All in favour of the subcommittee motion presented by Mr. Long...?
(Motion agreed to)
Mr. Long.
3:40 p.m.
Liberal
Wayne Long Liberal Saint John—Rothesay, NB
Thank you, Mr. Chair.
Regarding reduced quorum, I move:
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 of the opposition and one member of the government, but when travelling outside the parliamentary precinct, that the meeting begin after fifteen (15) minutes, regardless of members present.
Thank you.
3:40 p.m.
Liberal
Wayne Long Liberal Saint John—Rothesay, NB
Regarding the questioning of witnesses, I move:
That witnesses be given ten (10) minutes for their opening statement; that, at the discretion of the chair, during the questioning of witnesses, there be allocated six (6) minutes for the first questioner of each party as follows: Conservative Party; Liberal Party; Bloc Québécois; New Democratic Party. For the second and subsequent rounds, the order and time for questioning be as follows: Conservative Party, five (5) minutes; Liberal Party, five (5) minutes; Conservative Party, five (5) minutes; Liberal Party, five (5) minutes; Bloc Québécois, two and a half (2.5) minutes; New Democratic Party, two and a half (2.5) minutes.
3:45 p.m.
Liberal
Wayne Long Liberal Saint John—Rothesay, NB
Regarding document distribution, I move:
That the clerk of the committee be authorized to distribute documents to members of the committee only when the documents are available in both official languages and that witnesses be advised accordingly.
3:45 p.m.
Liberal
Wayne Long Liberal Saint John—Rothesay, NB
Regarding working meals, I move:
That the clerk of the committee be authorized to make the necessary arrangements to provide working meals for the committee and its subcommittees.
3:45 p.m.
Liberal
Wayne Long Liberal Saint John—Rothesay, NB
Regarding witnesses' expenses, I move:
That, if requested, reasonable travel, accommodation and living expenses be reimbursed to witnesses not exceeding two (2) representatives per organization; provided that, in exceptional circumstances, payment for more representatives be made at the discretion of the chair.
February 18th, 2020 / 3:45 p.m.
Conservative
Brad Vis Conservative Mission—Matsqui—Fraser Canyon, BC
I think it's important, with all of the great technology installed in the parliamentary precinct, that our committee does its very best to use the electronic services available to us before spending copious amounts of money on witness travel. We already have the technology in place.
Thank you.
3:45 p.m.
Conservative
Dan Albas Conservative Central Okanagan—Similkameen—Nicola, BC
Just to follow up on my colleague's point, the first priority should be that if you're in an urban centre where it can be accommodated, where you can speak by teleconference call or by video conference, that's great. I also want to recognize that there are parts of this country that do not easily lend themselves to that. I really want to reiterate the importance of respecting taxpayers' dollars. I just would ask the chair to work with the clerks as judiciously as possible.
Perhaps we can have a comparison down the road, when budgets are brought to us, of how many people have been scheduled by teleconference call versus by travel. Breaking those things out keeps it top of mind for all of us and helps us do our job.