Evidence of meeting #5 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.

On the agenda

MPs speaking

Also speaking

Lori MacDonald  Senior Associate Deputy Minister, Employment and Social Development and Chief Operating Officer for Service Canada, Department of Employment and Social Development
Clerk of the Committee  Ms. Danielle Widmer
Cliff C. Groen  Senior Assistant Deputy Minister, Benefits and Integrated Services Branch, Service Canada, Department of Employment and Social Development
Peter Littlefield  Chief Information Officer, Innovation, Information & Technology Branch, Department of Employment and Social Development
Mary Crescenzi  Assistant Deputy Minister, Integrity Services Branch, Department of Employment and Social Development

12:10 p.m.

Liberal

The Chair Liberal Bobby Morrissey

Madam Clerk, I do not see somebody with their hand raised of those who are present in the committee room, so you will have to confirm that for me.

12:10 p.m.

The Clerk

Ms. Zarrillo has her hand up.

12:10 p.m.

NDP

Bonita Zarrillo NDP Port Moody—Coquitlam, BC

Yes, I do, and that introduces another thing that we should talk about.

The reason I raised my hand was just on standing orders. We do have an outstanding motion on standing orders that deals with times that we can go in camera. I would welcome a discussion around that standing order. My understanding is that we don't have one right now, and maybe I should get some clarification on that. We have not resolved in our standing orders how we're going to deal with in camera.

The second thing that has just come forward, and it's procedural, has to do with the raising of hands. I see that there are five of us here in committee today and the chair is not able to see us raise our hands in order. We need to determine how we are going to be recognized in a hybrid format for speaking order. That has just come up based on what happened.

First of all, if I can get some clarity on the standing orders for in camera, that would be great.

12:10 p.m.

Liberal

The Chair Liberal Bobby Morrissey

Thank you. I'm going to ask the clerk to explain the motion of Mrs. Kusie. It's a dilatory motion. It has to be voted on right away.

Madam Clerk, am I correct on that?

12:10 p.m.

The Clerk

Yes, Mr. Chair, you are correct.

12:10 p.m.

Liberal

The Chair Liberal Bobby Morrissey

Okay. Then we will go to vote on the motion of Mrs. Kusie.

Madam Clerk, so that everybody is clear on what they are voting on—

12:10 p.m.

NDP

Bonita Zarrillo NDP Port Moody—Coquitlam, BC

Mr. Chair, I'm raising my hand again.

12:10 p.m.

Liberal

The Chair Liberal Bobby Morrissey

No, Ms. Zarrillo, the vote has been called. We have to move to the vote. It's a dilatory motion.

Madam Clerk, just before we go to the vote, so that everybody is clear on it, could you repeat to the committee the motion they're voting on?

12:10 p.m.

The Clerk

The motion is that the committee sit in public.

12:15 p.m.

NDP

Bonita Zarrillo NDP Port Moody—Coquitlam, BC

I just find myself in a really difficult position, because I have a long history of voting in favour of things like this and I would like to be able to vote in favour of something like this, but I'm not clear on how a motion that comes from the floor takes precedence over a motion that has been sitting since the middle of December that is addressing the same—

12:15 p.m.

Bloc

Louise Chabot Bloc Thérèse-De Blainville, QC

A point of order, Mr. Chair. The interpretation isn't working.

12:15 p.m.

NDP

Bonita Zarrillo NDP Port Moody—Coquitlam, BC

There was no translation.

12:15 p.m.

Liberal

The Chair Liberal Bobby Morrissey

When we get the translation corrected, I will ask the clerk to explain to Ms. Zarrillo.

12:15 p.m.

Bloc

Louise Chabot Bloc Thérèse-De Blainville, QC

I'd like Ms. Zarrillo to repeat what she said from the start, because her comments were not interpreted.

12:15 p.m.

Liberal

The Chair Liberal Bobby Morrissey

Madam Clerk, that's correct. I'm not getting any translation into English.

12:15 p.m.

The Clerk

Mr. Chair, the translation appears to be working.

12:15 p.m.

Liberal

The Chair Liberal Bobby Morrissey

Okay, Madam Clerk. Then could you explain to Ms. Zarrillo why we're voting on this motion?

12:15 p.m.

The Clerk

Ms. Zarrillo, we're currently on a vote for the committee to sit in public. I do understand that you moved a motion on December 13 in regard to in camera proceedings. The motion was adjourned at that point in time, but you may resume that debate on the motion at any point in time. Should you do it this afternoon, you can resume the debate this afternoon during committee business, if you would like to do that, or any time.

12:15 p.m.

NDP

Bonita Zarrillo NDP Port Moody—Coquitlam, BC

I have another question, and I really apologize to my colleagues around the table. This is important procedurally, so I hope I can get some clarity.

I just want to understand fully that a motion can come from the floor, with no notice, at any point in time in procedure, regardless of topic. Is that correct?

12:15 p.m.

The Clerk

You may move a motion in committee business. Otherwise, it will require 48 hours' notice.

12:15 p.m.

Bloc

Louise Chabot Bloc Thérèse-De Blainville, QC

Mr. Chair, I don't want to dwell too much on procedure. However, I would simply like to point out that, last Friday, I was told that, under the Standing Orders, it wasn't possible to speak once the vote had begun. I see that we are resuming debate, and I don't understand how that's possible under the Standing Orders.

12:15 p.m.

Liberal

The Chair Liberal Bobby Morrissey

Madame Chabot, you are correct. The clerk will conclude the vote. We're in a vote. I will not accept any more discussion until the vote is concluded.

(Motion agreed to: yeas 6; nays 5 [See Minutes of Proceedings])

12:15 p.m.

Liberal

The Chair Liberal Bobby Morrissey

Madam Clerk, are we now concluding the first part and suspending because we have to exit this part and then log into...?

12:15 p.m.

The Clerk

Mr. Morrissey, we are currently in public. We'll be remaining in public for the second portion of this meeting.

12:20 p.m.

Liberal

The Chair Liberal Bobby Morrissey

Thank you, Madam Clerk, for that clarification.