Human Resources Committee on May 19th, 2022

[The Clerk of the Committee, Ms. Danielle Widmer]

I have received witnesses from the Conservative Party and the Bloc, and the Liberals have submitted witnesses as well. I will be reaching out. It's just a matter of whether we have two meetings and whether we would want witnesses for both those meetings with both panels, that is, two panels of witnesses? It's up to the committee to decide how you would like to proceed with the witnesses.

[Bonita Zarrillo, NDP, Port Moody—Coquitlam, BC]

I'm sorry, Mr. Chair, I can't hear the clerk at all.

[The Clerk]

I'll repeat what I said. I received witness lists from all parties. We have two meetings scheduled for next week—for the Tuesday afternoon and the Thursday morning time slots. I'm looking for direction on whether the committee would like to invite witnesses for both of those meetings—there are enough witnesses for both of those meetings—or if the committee would like to have one meeting with two panels on the Monday, and maybe half a panel on Tuesday.

Monday is a holiday, and we could have two panels on the Tuesday, and maybe one panel on the Thursday if they want to discuss recommendations, it's up to the committee how they want to proceed.

[The Chair, Liberal, Bobby Morrissey]

We must have the recommendations and suggested amendments by letter in both official languages to FINA no later than 4 p.m. on Friday.

[Soraya Martinez Ferrada, Liberal, Hochelaga, QC]

I have two comments.

First, I think the ideal thing would be to ask the witnesses to appear either Tuesday or Thursday, in case they aren't available one of the days. That would give them more leeway.

Second, the motion that was adopted referred to three meetings, but now I realize that there will actually be just two. Does that mean the committee has to adopt a new motion? That's what I'm wondering. Oh, I'm being told that it's not necessary.

In that case, I know that we have to prepare a letter to send to the Standing Committee on Finance on Thursday, so we'll need to set aside an hour for that,

because we have to submit it by Friday.

[Stephanie Kusie, Conservative, Calgary Midnapore, AB]

Also, do we not have to fit the clause-by-clause in in those two meetings as well? Is that not accurate?

[The Clerk]

There is no clause-by-clause. We're doing a subject matter review of Bill C-19, and based on the letter, it's only recommendations that we're providing to the finance committee.

[Stephanie Kusie, Conservative, Calgary Midnapore, AB]

Okay.

[The Clerk]

We're giving broad recommendations. These might be recommendations based on the testimony we heard, and maybe we do a summary of the testimony, or maybe it is suggestions on how to proceed on that, but we are combining those into a single package in a letter to be given to FINA by four o'clock on Friday in both official languages.

[Stephanie Kusie, Conservative, Calgary Midnapore, AB]

Okay, my apologies. My understanding from Monday's meeting was that we were required to do clause-by-clause.

I'm sorry, Clerk, you were asking if we wanted three meetings, rather than the two we have scheduled, or are you saying we have those two, let's work with what we have?

[The Chair, Liberal, Bobby Morrissey]

It was based on the availability of House of Commons services. At first, they could only confirm one on Tuesday, and we got confirmation shortly of availability for Thursday between 11 and 1. That's what we have now. The committee controls itself.

Monday is a holiday. On Friday, the report, whatever it is, comes in from the—

[Stephanie Kusie, Conservative, Calgary Midnapore, AB]

I think two meetings would be reasonable. I think it would be unreasonable to ask for three meetings during a break week.

Again, this rests on the government. Again, who cares. They don't care that we were given such a tight timeline to turn this around. I think two meetings in a break week—

[The Chair, Liberal, Bobby Morrissey]

It was the FINA committee that referred it to this committee.

[Stephanie Kusie, Conservative, Calgary Midnapore, AB]

That's correct, but nonetheless, it's the timeline set by the government.

[The Chair, Liberal, Bobby Morrissey]

Actually, it was the opposition that referred it.

Mr. Liepert has had his hand up for a while. Then, it's Madame Zarrillo and Madame Ferrada.

Mr. Liepert, please go ahead.

[Ron Liepert, Conservative, Calgary Signal Hill, AB]

I thought when we passed the motion, part of the motion was to request ministers to attend these meetings. Have we been turned down by all the ministers we asked for?

[The Chair, Liberal, Bobby Morrissey]

The motion only identified two, and we have no confirmation as of now.

[Ron Liepert, Conservative, Calgary Signal Hill, AB]

You're saying that's still a possibility. We have not been told that they will not attend. Is that fair?

[The Chair, Liberal, Bobby Morrissey]

That's correct. We have had no confirmation, and we need to make decisions based on what we have available for next Tuesday's meeting, which is now confirmed.

[Ron Liepert, Conservative, Calgary Signal Hill, AB]

Could I suggest that we make one more request of these ministers—

[The Chair, Liberal, Bobby Morrissey]

We certainly can.

[Ron Liepert, Conservative, Calgary Signal Hill, AB]

—before we lock in the other witnesses?

[The Chair, Liberal, Bobby Morrissey]

Well, the meeting will adjourn in a while, and I would suggest that we need to firm up the schedule on what we have available for Tuesday.

I have to go to Madame Zarrillo, and then Madame Ferrada, Mr. Ruff and Madame Chabot.

[Bonita Zarrillo, NDP, Port Moody—Coquitlam, BC]

Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Could we get a reading of the motion that was passed, or have it on screen?

[The Chair, Liberal, Bobby Morrissey]

I'll have the clerk read it into the record.