Evidence of meeting #32 for Human Resources, Skills and Social Development and the Status of Persons with Disabilities in the 43rd Parliament, 2nd session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was chair.
A recording is available from Parliament.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Sean Casey
On the motion, we have exhausted the speakers list. We're ready to proceed to the vote.
Madam Clerk, could you do a standing vote?
The amendment was friendly, so we can proceed with the motion as amended.
(Motion as amended agreed to: yeas 6; nays 0)
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Sean Casey
Are there any further motions or any further business?
We need to talk about the logistics of the seniors study.
I recognize Mr. Vis.
Conservative
Brad Vis Conservative Mission—Matsqui—Fraser Canyon, BC
Mr. Chair, I think I should move my motion as we previously discussed.
I would like to move, in respect to the motion I tabled on Friday, April 9, 2021:
That pursuant to the Order of Reference of March 26, 2021 and Standing Orders 110 and 111, the Committee call Romy Bowers, appointee for President of the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation, to appear for no less than one meeting in advance of May 31, 2021.
Liberal
Liberal
Adam Vaughan Liberal Spadina—Fort York, ON
I just want to check whether she's available on June 2, or whatever the date of the next scheduled meeting is. If that's a problem, I want to make sure we're in agreement that it be at the earliest convenience, hopefully by May 31, but if she can't make it for whatever reason— Ms. Gazan is missing for personal reasons; life happens—that we don't lose the opportunity to talk in June.
I just want to check the intent of the motion.
We'll endeavour, but I don't schedule her and she's the head of a crown corporation. We have to try, right?
I agree. I'm not saying no. I just want to make sure that if we can't get May 31, but June 2 is all right, we don't preclude that. That's all.
Conservative
Brad Vis Conservative Mission—Matsqui—Fraser Canyon, BC
I would be open to a friendly subamendment, accordingly.
Let me just pull the motion up again. Maybe along the lines of keeping the May 31 deadline, we state that if Romy Bowers is unable to attend by May 31, she appear before the committee before the end of the spring session.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Sean Casey
Is there any further discussion?
Seeing none, are we ready for the question? Do we have consensus to adopt the motion?
I see consensus.
(Motion as amended agreed to [See Minutes of Proceedings])
Is there any further business before we move into the logistics of the seniors study?
Ms. Dancho, please.
Conservative
Raquel Dancho Conservative Kildonan—St. Paul, MB
Mr. Chair, I have just two quick things.
I want to thank committee members for working so well together today. I really appreciate that from the Conservative side. It was a pleasure to work. It was so wonderful, for 10 minutes, to get so much done. I hope we can continue that in the future.
I want to put a bee in everyone's bonnet for whether we do have time at the end to consider another study. Again, I know there are lots of different studies that folks want to have considered.
I did want to mention again something that was moved on February 2. It was MP Jamie Schmale's motion about supporting families after the loss of a child. A report with seven recommendations to support parents while they're grieving the loss of their infant children came forward about two years ago. Jamie Schmale's motion was looking to have an update from the minister, government officials and perhaps a few witnesses to update where we're at.
I just want to put that out there. We'd appreciate the consideration, if there is time at the end once we're done the studies we've adopted today.
Thank you, Mr. Chair.
Liberal
Adam Vaughan Liberal Spadina—Fort York, ON
I have no problem accepting it, as long as it doesn't get in the way of RHI, which is already an established meeting, and the CMHC head. I have no problem listing it as an approved study already, to be scheduled later after we get through the two studies and three identified reports, as well as the drafting instructions and wordsmithing, which, in this committee, has taken a bit of time.
I have no problem saying yes in principle. Scheduling it may have to wait until we get through at least one or two studies.
Conservative
Raquel Dancho Conservative Kildonan—St. Paul, MB
That sounds good.
Thank you Mr. Vaughan and Mr. Chair.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Sean Casey
With respect to our next study on seniors, we should set a date for the submission of prioritized witness lists. We should set a deadline for briefs.
I'm going to look first to the clerk in terms of a reasonable lead time for witness lists. As Ms. Falk has suggested, if we are to see our first panel of witnesses one week from today, what would be a reasonable time to have those lists to you, so that could happen with headsets and the like?
I'll turn to Madam Clerk, and then I'm going to go to Mr. Vis.
The Clerk of the Committee Ms. Danielle Widmer
I would just recommend that as names are available, the members submit them to me as soon as possible. Ideally, if I can get some tomorrow, that would help in the process, if we are to invite witnesses for Thursday.
I would propose a deadline of Monday, just to give the time to look at it. If I do receive names after that, I will consider it. I would suggest the end of day Monday for a deadline for witnesses. It does take a few days to get headsets to the witnesses.
Conservative
Brad Vis Conservative Mission—Matsqui—Fraser Canyon, BC
Mr. Chair, I would just like to make a friendly suggestion to the clerk and analysts that a press release be issued in reference to our adopted motion and commencement of the seniors study. I think there's a lot of interest around this across Canada. It would be a timely way to get more briefs to help populate the number of Canadians we're hearing from to make sure that we reach some comprehensive and thorough recommendations upon its completion.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Sean Casey
Normally there would be something posted on the website, but I hear you saying that you'd like to see something more than that. Can we have a discussion on that?
We have a proposal by Mr. Vis:
That a press release announcing the commencement of the seniors study be issued.
Would anyone like to discuss that? I'm going to take that as a motion for now.
Go ahead, Mr. Vaughan.
Liberal
Adam Vaughan Liberal Spadina—Fort York, ON
It is a great idea on canvassing for briefs, because six meetings limit the number of witnesses we can have, and this is a broad conversation across many different jurisdictions, geographies and experiences—you name it. Every measure of diversity exists in our seniors community. Canvassing for briefs would give us the opportunity to get as much information as possible to draw the findings of the report and the recommendations, so I have no problem with that. I think we should. It's a wise idea to do that.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Sean Casey
Okay, Mr. Vis, did you have something else to say? You're good.
Is there any further discussion on the proposal to issue a press release announcing the commencement of this study and an invitation for the submission of briefs?
Seeing none, do we have consensus to proceed in that fashion?
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Sean Casey
I believe we do. Okay.
Madam Clerk, if you could draft a press release in accordance with Mr. Vis's direction, that would be great.
Do we have consensus to set as a deadline for the submission of prioritized witness lists five o'clock eastern time on Monday, May 10?
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Sean Casey
We have consensus on that, with the understanding, of course, that anything submitted after the fact could be added, but we would ask you to make every effort to get prioritized lists in so that at least the first meeting can happen on time.
Thank you.
The clerk, in consultation with the chair, will schedule witnesses who, to the greatest extent possible, reflect the prioritized list of witnesses submitted by members of the committee in the proportions of the recognized parties of the House.
That is standard operating procedure, but for the sake of good form, I'd like to put this forward and ask that somebody own it in case there is any discussion on it, so I would invite a motion:
That the clerk, in consultation with the chair, schedule witnesses that, to the greatest extend possible, reflect the prioritized list of witnesses submitted by members of the committee and the proportions of recognized parties in the House.
Would somebody care to move that motion, please?
