Human Resources Committee on Feb. 18th, 2020

[The Chair, Liberal, Sean Casey]

Are there any other interventions? Are we ready for the question?

[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?

[The Chair, Liberal, Sean Casey]

Mr. Albas, do you want to respond?

[Louise Chabot, Bloc, Thérèse-De Blainville, QC]

I misunderstood, and that's why I want some clarification.

[Dan Albas, Conservative, Central Okanagan—Similkameen—Nicola, BC]

Right now, the committee must address Mr. Long's motion. I want to share my—

[The Chair, Liberal, Sean Casey]

—concerns?

[Dan Albas, Conservative, Central Okanagan—Similkameen—Nicola, BC]

Yes. I have some concerns. I just want to see the committee move smoothly.

[The Chair, Liberal, Sean Casey]

Are there any other questions?

[Louise Chabot, Bloc, Thérèse-De Blainville, QC]

No. Thank you.

[The Chair, Liberal, Sean Casey]

Okay.

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

Thank you, Mr. Chair—

[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.

[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.

[The Chair, Liberal, Sean Casey]

Is there any discussion?

(Motion agreed to)

[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.

[The Chair, Liberal, Sean Casey]

Is there any discussion?

(Motion agreed to)

[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.

[The Chair, Liberal, Sean Casey]

Is there any discussion?

(Motion agreed to)

[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.

[The Chair, Liberal, Sean Casey]

Is there any discussion?

(Motion agreed to)

[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.

[The Chair, Liberal, Sean Casey]

Mr. Vis.

[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.

[The Chair, Liberal, Sean Casey]

Thank you.

Mr. Albas.

[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.