Evidence of meeting #19 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 women.
A recording is available from Parliament.
4:05 p.m.
Conservative
Stephanie Kusie Conservative Calgary Midnapore, AB
I think my concern is similar to what Ms. Kwan has expressed, which is that I don't think we can possibly foresee all the additional responsibility that will be put on this committee between now and the middle of November as we emerge from the pandemic to the new normal.
I see the additional evaluation of CERB. I think we'll have to end up doing some serious labour force evaluations, maybe even some additional support evaluations, so I am really concerned that this will get lost somewhere.
I recognize the flexibility that Ms. Kwan is trying to provide, but I feel we can't see what's ahead of us. As Ms. Kwan has indicated, we have a lot of other things on the table and more being introduced today. As well, we haven't even discussed the second appearance of the Minister of Immigration, which Ms. Kwan brought up previously.
I recognize that we still have a number of witnesses, but we're at a point where we've received a lot of evidence relative to the COVID-19 response, and I fear that our workload will only get greater as we emerge from the pandemic and I want to see these appearances take place sooner rather than later.
4:05 p.m.
Liberal
4:05 p.m.
Bloc
Louise Chabot Bloc Thérèse-De Blainville, QC
Given the explanations provided, I agree with the amendment to move the date to November. I understand that the July date was not a requirement, but I also believe that just because it says “November” does not mean that we have to wait until the last minute. We need to give ourselves the space we need.
Also, Mr. Chair, given the time, I would like to know what is left on the agenda.
4:05 p.m.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Sean Casey
Thank you, Ms. Chabot.
Is there any further discussion on the amendment?
Madam Clerk, please conduct a recorded vote on the amendment.
(Amendment agreed to: yeas 7; nays 4 ([See Minutes of Proceedings] )
Thank you.
We are now on the main motion, as twice amended.
Is there any further discussion on the main amended motion?
Madam Clerk, please conduct a recorded vote.
(Motion as amended agreed to: yeas 11; nays 0 ([See Minutes of Proceedings])
Thank you very much, Madam Clerk.
Thank you, colleagues.
We're now at 11 minutes past the hour, so I propose we adjourn until Friday, when our next meeting is scheduled.
Have a good week. We will see you Friday.
4:10 p.m.
Bloc
Louise Chabot Bloc Thérèse-De Blainville, QC
We still have to agree on how we are going to operate for the summer. We must not wait until next Friday.
4:10 p.m.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Sean Casey
Madam Clerk, are we okay to continue and to introduce another item, given the hour and the demands on the House of Commons team? My question is whether I now should put to the meeting a motion to adjourn.
4:10 p.m.
The Clerk
I've been told that we can go on for a few minutes.
4:10 p.m.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Sean Casey
All right, Madam Clerk.
We have a few minutes to discuss our work in July and August.
Go ahead, Ms. Chabot.
4:10 p.m.
Bloc
Louise Chabot Bloc Thérèse-De Blainville, QC
Thank you, Mr. Chair.
I presented my arguments at the last subcommittee meeting. Correct me if I am wrong, but it seems to me that the House sits twice in July and twice in August. I propose that the committee meet once in the weeks when the House is sitting, but only from July 20 on. I therefore propose that we take a break until July 20. Then, starting the week of July 20, we would meet once a week during the weeks the House is sitting.
4:10 p.m.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Sean Casey
So you are moving that the committee meet once a week during the months of July and August and that our meetings take place during the same weeks that the House sits.
Is that the motion you are proposing, Ms. Chabot?
4:10 p.m.
Bloc
Louise Chabot Bloc Thérèse-De Blainville, QC
Yes, but it would only be as of July 20 and not as of July 8.
4:10 p.m.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Sean Casey
All right.
Colleagues, there is a motion before you. We have a speakers list forming up.
On the motion with respect to summer sittings, go ahead, Ms. Kusie.
4:10 p.m.
Conservative
Stephanie Kusie Conservative Calgary Midnapore, AB
I'm sorry. On what she said and what you said, I didn't understand them to be the same thing. Did she say twice in July and twice in August? I heard you say “une fois par semaine”, which I took to mean once a week. Can you please clarify, Mr. Chair, what the motion is?
4:10 p.m.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Sean Casey
Okay. I would ask Madam Chabot to clarify. It's her motion.
Ms. Chabot, go ahead, please.
4:10 p.m.
Bloc
Louise Chabot Bloc Thérèse-De Blainville, QC
I propose that, beginning the week of July 20, the committee meet once during the weeks when the House is in session.
4:10 p.m.
Bloc
Louise Chabot Bloc Thérèse-De Blainville, QC
It would be once during the week of July 20 and twice in August. In all, it would be three times.
4:15 p.m.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Sean Casey
According to the information I have received from the Clerk, the House will sit during the weeks of July 20, August 10 and August 24, as Ms. Chabot indicated.
4:15 p.m.
Conservative
Stephanie Kusie Conservative Calgary Midnapore, AB
Okay. That's essentially three meetings throughout July and August. Is that correct?
4:15 p.m.
Conservative
Stephanie Kusie Conservative Calgary Midnapore, AB
Okay.
I think our hope was to sit a little more frequently than that. As I've said, we don't want to maintain the same level of sitting that we have now.
I want to go back a second, actually. Is the House not sitting twice in July and twice in August? Can the clerk or the analysts clarify that? I thought it was sitting twice in July and twice in August. I think that's where my misunderstanding was. I thought Madam Chabot's intention was for the same weeks that the House is sitting. To me, that would be four meetings, not three. Then I thought I heard the chair say once a week, but maybe I missed the other part, which was once a week when the House is sitting.
First, I will clarify this. Are there not two meetings of the House in July as well?