Evidence of meeting #54 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 passport.
A video is available from Parliament.
9:35 a.m.
Liberal
9:35 a.m.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Bobby Morrissey
Okay.
Madame Chabot, is that okay with you? Are you getting the interpretation now?
9:35 a.m.
Bloc
Louise Chabot Bloc Thérèse-De Blainville, QC
Yes, I would like to tell the interpreters that they do not have to apologize. I appreciate their work, which is not easy.
Yes, that suits me perfectly.
9:35 a.m.
Conservative
Tracy Gray Conservative Kelowna—Lake Country, BC
Thank you, Mr. Chair.
It's not a matter, to use the minister's comment, of making things easier; it's so that things function, because we know that when people work from home, there could potentially be Internet problems. If the minister's committing to being here in person, it will eliminate that potential issue.
9:35 a.m.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Bobby Morrissey
There seems to be consensus. So that we're clear, we will add the additional time slot to the next time the minister comes to conclude this round, which was two and a half minutes for Madame Chabot and two and a half minutes for Madame Zarrillo.
9:35 a.m.
Conservative
Tracy Gray Conservative Kelowna—Lake Country, BC
Mr. Chair, we would also have another round on the Conservative side and the Liberal side, which is normally when we would have ended. That is what we've done with other ministers.
9:35 a.m.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Bobby Morrissey
There were only five minutes left of questioning time, which tends to be seven minutes. We were down to about two or three minutes left of our regularly scheduled hour. We started a minute late.
9:35 a.m.
Conservative
Tracy Gray Conservative Kelowna—Lake Country, BC
Mr. Chair, to clarify, if we look at when this all started, we had that full 15 minutes when this issue started. If we look at the questioning with the other ministers we've had here, that's the exact timeline that we've had.
If you look at what the time actually was—and I was here—we had enough time, as you mentioned, for the Bloc and the NDP to finish their lines of questioning and then to go to another round for the Conservatives and the Liberals. We had enough time for that when this translation issue started.
Actually, to clarify, it was when the issue with the minister's Internet connection started.
9:35 a.m.
Bloc
Louise Chabot Bloc Thérèse-De Blainville, QC
Yes, I agree with my colleague.
We can calculate that there were 10 minutes left. Of course, Mr. Chair, I understand that, but even the minister acknowledged it. Were it not for the interpretation problems, we would have had time to finish.
The minister is available. She will be here in person and is willing to make up the remaining 10 minutes. We have to respect that and we have to respect that another minister will be appearing the same day, so we will have to give him the time needed.
9:40 a.m.
Liberal
Wayne Long Liberal Saint John—Rothesay, NB
Chair, thanks and good morning.
We would certainly agree with one more round. I think there have been a few hiccups through the whole hour, so an extra question for us and the Conservatives isn't going to hurt, in my opinion.
Thank you.
9:40 a.m.
Conservative
Tracy Gray Conservative Kelowna—Lake Country, BC
Thank you, Mr. Chair.
To clarify, for the next meeting, this will be added on to the meeting so that we don't lose time with the other work of the committee and the other minister who's going to be here next week. This would be in addition to the full time of the allotted time of the committee.
9:40 a.m.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Bobby Morrissey
On that, Ms. Gray, I'm at the control of the majority of the committee. I can only extend with the wish of the committee.
Madame Gould, we thank you for the time. There seems to be a consensus that we'll have you for 15 minutes when you next appear on the service standards for passport renewal. This time, I will restrict questions to the matter before the committee.
9:40 a.m.
Conservative
Tracy Gray Conservative Kelowna—Lake Country, BC
Mr. Chair, just to clarify, then, the will of the committee, I would like to make a motion that we solidify for next week that the extra time that would be added on for the current minister would be in addition to the normal committee work we would do next week.
That's just so we're clear that we all agree to that today.
9:40 a.m.
Liberal
Wayne Long Liberal Saint John—Rothesay, NB
Maybe our clerk can help.
What is the schedule for next Tuesday? I should have it in front of me. I apologize.
9:40 a.m.
The Clerk of the Committee Ms. Danielle Widmer
On Tuesday, February 14, it's the subject matter of supplementary estimates (B). It's the minister for families for the first hour and then the minister for housing in the second hour.
9:40 a.m.
Bloc
Louise Chabot Bloc Thérèse-De Blainville, QC
Yes.
I am just saying that I remember the agenda, and I also wanted to justify my motion that we will have to add the time needed to our meeting next week to welcome the Minister of Housing, Diversity and Inclusion for one hour.
9:40 a.m.
Liberal
Wayne Long Liberal Saint John—Rothesay, NB
Yes, I understand that, and I don't disagree at all. I guess the question would be whether House resources allow for a meeting of two hours and 15 minutes.
