Human Resources Committee on Nov. 22nd, 2023

[Rosemarie Falk, Conservative, Battlefords—Lloydminster, SK]

Thank you very much, Chair.

It's long-standing practice, as we all know, in each committee to have estimates. I know, as Ms. Gray said, we do have a new minister too, who hasn't had the opportunity to come to this committee yet to express himself or speak to the mandate that he has, so I think it's completely reasonable that we have these ministers come to committee, preferably in this session here.

[The Chair, Liberal, Bobby Morrissey]

Ms. Ferreri.

[Michelle Ferreri, Conservative, Peterborough—Kawartha, ON]

I was wondering if I could add an amendment to the current motion, so that we could start the meetings in December. Are we able to do that at all, or is that...?

[The Chair, Liberal, Bobby Morrissey]

An amendment is totally in order. Are you proposing an amendment to this phrase?

[Michelle Ferreri, Conservative, Peterborough—Kawartha, ON]

Yes. I'm proposing an amendment that—

[The Chair, Liberal, Bobby Morrissey]

Then be clear—

[Michelle Ferreri, Conservative, Peterborough—Kawartha, ON]

—do it before we rise for the Christmas break, basically, to get these ministers in.

[The Chair, Liberal, Bobby Morrissey]

Okay. Now we're on the amendment. The amendment is that the—

[Michelle Ferreri, Conservative, Peterborough—Kawartha, ON]

I'm sorry. To follow up with that, Chair, I'm going to echo what my colleagues have said.

Regarding the Minister of Citizens' Services, who now oversees passports, with the holiday season upon us and estimates and all of these things, we haven't seen this minister yet, so I think that getting them in ASAP and before we rise in December would be ideal. Hopefully, we have the support of the committee on this.

[The Chair, Liberal, Bobby Morrissey]

Okay. At the moment, we have an amendment to the motion that was under discussion. The amendment is to have those meetings before the House rises—before our Christmas period.

Is there any discussion on the amendment by Ms. Ferreri?

[Peter Fragiskatos, Liberal, London North Centre, ON]

Chair, can I ask for a three- or four-minute suspension?

[The Chair, Liberal, Bobby Morrissey]

Sure.

The committee will suspend for three minutes.

We're suspended.

The meeting has now resumed.

Mr. Fragiskatos, you called for the suspension.

[Peter Fragiskatos, Liberal, London North Centre, ON]

Are we on the amendment?

[The Chair, Liberal, Bobby Morrissey]

Yes. It's the amendment by Ms. Ferreri.

[Peter Fragiskatos, Liberal, London North Centre, ON]

I'd like to go to a vote. I think we're ready to proceed to a vote on the amendment.

[Michelle Ferreri, Conservative, Peterborough—Kawartha, ON]

I just want to clarify that I'm asking for a start date for this study of December 1.

Thank you very much for that specific date for the estimates.

[Rosemarie Falk, Conservative, Battlefords—Lloydminster, SK]

Before December or starting in December...?

[Michelle Ferreri, Conservative, Peterborough—Kawartha, ON]

We're saying “started on” as opposed to “before”.

[The Chair, Liberal, Bobby Morrissey]

I'll allow it on the clarification. You cannot amend your own amendment, but I will allow it on a clarification.

[Michelle Ferreri, Conservative, Peterborough—Kawartha, ON]

Thank you, Chair.

[The Chair, Liberal, Bobby Morrissey]

Okay. Ms. Ferreri has clarified her amendment.

I have Ms. Chabot on screen with her hand up.

Go ahead, Ms. Chabot.

[Louise Chabot, Bloc, Thérèse-De Blainville, QC]

Could you clarify something, please, Mr. Chair? The motion we got last week was about inviting five ministers for two hours each. Is that the motion we are debating right now? If I understand correctly, there is now an amendment on the floor to have the study start on December 1.

I agree with the substance of the motion—to invite the ministers—but when we get into time frames, I think it undermines committee business and the priorities we've set. At six o'clock, so in three minutes, we are supposed to deal with committee business. Is it possible to keep discussing that and put the current discussion on hold?

Inviting five ministers for two hours each starting on December 1 would obviously delay our agenda for December.

[The Chair, Liberal, Bobby Morrissey]

That's correct, Madame Chabot. Provided that the committee voted to accept the amendment of Ms. Ferreri, it would then change the agreed-to calendar. The motion has six ministers in it, not five, so that would be longer.

Are we okay to go to a vote on the....

Madame Chabot.

[Louise Chabot, Bloc, Thérèse-De Blainville, QC]

Does the main motion still call for two hours with each minister?

[The Chair, Liberal, Bobby Morrissey]

That's correct.