Evidence of meeting #1 for Human Resources, Skills and Social Development and the Status of Persons with Disabilities in the 44th 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.
11:35 a.m.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Bobby Morrissey
We will suspend for five minutes, and then we'll come back to make a decision.
11:45 a.m.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Bobby Morrissey
Committee members, we agreed to a five-minute suspension.
For the information of the committee, the minister's appearance is on Bill C-3.
11:45 a.m.
Liberal
Wayne Long Liberal Saint John—Rothesay, NB
I apologize for that, Chair. It's obviously Minister O'Regan with respect to C-3, given the urgency with which we need this passed for Canadians.
The minister has made himself available. Typically, my experience is that it is the opposition parties that try to bring ministers before committee. I know it's a little unorthodox for us to have the minister ready to go, but in the name of time, Minister O'Regan is prepared to come before committee immediately.
11:45 a.m.
Conservative
Stephanie Kusie Conservative Calgary Midnapore, AB
Yes, Chair, I think everyone in this room absolutely anticipated the expedition of C-3. It's very timely. Frankly, I certainly didn't want to be here over the holidays, but I was prepared to stay until the end of this week in an effort to expedite this bill, because I recognize the significance of this bill for the government.
I must say, I think it's in very poor form for the committee to be informed the day of the appearance of the minister. We had no prior information of this. I don't think it's a good precedent.
The chair talked about working together in a positive and collaborative manner. To have the minister appear without any time for us to prepare for the minister with our questions, considering that we were anticipating perhaps not even the minister but discussing the bill itself later in the week, it's not really how we would like to see things done or to see things done in the future. We certainly would have appreciated some notification as to who and what and when. We didn't receive that here.
That's unfortunate, particularly when we have new members on the committee, and certainly from the NDP an entirely new member who, as I said.... In my almost five years here, I'm still learning the ins and outs of committee business and committee practice, so it's really not preferable. I really don't think it's in good form. It doesn't feel very good, as we are in the holiday season here.
I just felt I should voice all of that, Chair. Thank you very much.
11:50 a.m.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Bobby Morrissey
It's a valid point, Ms. Kusie. Your points are taken.
Go ahead, Mr. Long.
11:50 a.m.
Liberal
Wayne Long Liberal Saint John—Rothesay, NB
Chair, I would agree with the context of what MP Kusie said.
We are in unique times, and we certainly take your point. This is not a norm, for sure, but certainly there was no intent to blindside here. The minister has offered to come before committee immediately. Again, we saw in the debate last week in the House how important this bill is to Canadians, and the more quickly we can have the minister before us to answer our questions, the better for all of our constituents.
11:50 a.m.
Liberal
11:50 a.m.
Conservative
Alex Ruff Conservative Bruce—Grey—Owen Sound, ON
Thanks, Chair.
I just want to echo MP Kusie's comments that, as somebody relatively new, getting a minister here is great news. I do commend the government and the minister himself for becoming available, but for this bill we have some potential amendments we may want to introduce. We definitely want to understand why the minister and the government didn't include them in this bill right off the get-go. In order to properly prepare and deal with this, I guess my question back to you, Chair, and to the clerk is this: Is there any other availability for the minister to come as soon as possible later this week?
I'm more than willing to sit. Maybe I'm like my colleague. I'll sit here right through Christmas Day, if required, to get the work done for the people of Canada.
December 13th, 2021 / 11:50 a.m.
Conservative
Matt Jeneroux Conservative Edmonton Riverbend, AB
Thank you, Mr. Chair.
I'd echo my colleague Madam Kusie's comments on this. I've been on committees now for almost 10 years. It is poor form to do this, particularly at the start of a brand new committee.
I want to make one additional point to all colleagues here. This is our committee. Committees are supposed to operate independently of the minister. If you're approached by a minister saying, “Hey, this is the only time I can make it”, think of your colleagues here. We're all here to do good work in Parliament and to say, “You know what, Minister? This is our committee. This is something where, collectively, we want to have a good rapport with everybody in this room.” I would just make that point.
I'd be fully prepared to see the minister here.
In the future, these are just words of advice to my colleagues on the other side.
11:50 a.m.
Liberal
11:50 a.m.
NDP
Bonita Zarrillo NDP Port Moody—Coquitlam, BC
Thank you, Mr. Chair.
I have a quick question about the format when the minister arrives. Could we get a little bit of context around what the format will be? Is it a presentation or is it an opportunity for questions?
If it is an opportunity for questions, as the NDP representative on this committee, do I just have the one round of two and a half minutes? Should I prepare a question in that time frame and in that format?
11:50 a.m.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Bobby Morrissey
As I understand it, the format—well, first the committee would have to agree, and we haven't got there yet—would follow the established procedure. The speaking order would be as it was adopted by the committee, Madam Zarrillo.
11:50 a.m.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Bobby Morrissey
Seeing nothing further, those were valid points made....
I have someone who wishes to speak.
11:50 a.m.
Conservative
Michael Cooper Conservative St. Albert—Edmonton, AB
It's Michael Coteau from Don Valley East. Thank you, Chair.
I want to say that, being a new member here and new to this committee, to have the minister come on the first day is quite impressive.
For the people in my community of Don Valley East, when it comes to Bill C-3 and paid sick days, it's an important issue. If I have the opportunity to ask the minister questions and get some more clarity on the bill, that's a good thing.
11:50 a.m.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Bobby Morrissey
We've heard the interventions. The opposition has a valid point, but what's the wish of the committee? I don't get a sense that we do not want to hear from the minister, but that we put the governing side on notice that this will not be accepted in the future.
Am I interpreting that correctly?
11:55 a.m.
Conservative
Alex Ruff Conservative Bruce—Grey—Owen Sound, ON
I was wondering, per my question back to you and to the clerk, if is there any other availability. Can we get the minister later this week?
11:55 a.m.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Bobby Morrissey
I do not have that information. The motion informed us that the minister is available now. The committee can request that the minister reappear, as the committee chooses.
Go ahead, Madame Pauzé.
11:55 a.m.
Bloc
Monique Pauzé Bloc Repentigny, QC
I want to comment on your response to Ms. Zarrillo, Mr. Chair.
Regarding the minister, I assume we'll stick to what we agreed to in the routine motions, which is six minutes for each party. Is that right?
11:55 a.m.
Conservative
Matt Jeneroux Conservative Edmonton Riverbend, AB
On a point of clarification, Mr. Chair, the motion was—no offence to my colleague across the way—a little haphazardly put together in terms of how long the minister plans to be here. Is it one meeting? Is it two meetings? Those might be important things to clarify before we begin.
I want to correct one thing that you said, too, Mr. Chair. I don't want to give the impression that we don't want the minister here. Certainly, we've given the impression that we want to have the minister here. We're just making sure that we make full use of our time with him.
11:55 a.m.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Bobby Morrissey
Thank you, Mr. Jeneroux. I interpreted that you were not opposed to his coming, but you were putting the government on notice that short notice would be unacceptable.