I call the meeting to order.
Committee members, the clerk has advised me that we have a quorum and that those appearing virtually have been sound tested.
Welcome to meeting number 93 of the House of Commons Standing Committee on Human Resources, Skills and Social Development and the Status of Persons with Disabilities. Pursuant to Standing Order 108(2), the committee is beginning its study on intergenerational volunteerism.
Today's meeting is taking place in a hybrid format, meaning that some members and witnesses are appearing in the room and some are appearing virtually.
I would like to review a few items.
You have the option of choosing to speak in the official language of your choice. Interpretation is available in the room by using your headset and selecting the appropriate language. For those appearing virtually, please click on the world icon at the bottom of your screen and choose the official language of your choice. If there's an interruption in translation services, please get my attention, and we'll suspend while it is being corrected. For those who are here virtually, you can use the “raise hand” icon to get my attention. For those in the room, simply raise your hand.
I would like to remind the members in the room to keep their earpieces away from the in-room microphones for the safety of the translators' hearing.
Our witnesses are Trevor Moss, chief executive officer, Central Okanagan Food Bank, who is appearing virtually, and Megan Conway from Volunteer Canada, who is in the room.
Before I begin with the opening comments, I want to speak for the benefit of the committee.
You will recall that last week, at one meeting, there was a point of order by Mrs. Gray, at which time I said that I would take under consideration my position as it related to moving motions during your speaking time allocation. At the last meeting, a question was asked regarding the fact that the clock is not stopped when a member has the floor to question witnesses and, during the intervention, if he or she moves a motion, if the time provided for questioning the witness has expired, at the end of the debate on the motion, the floor is given to the next member who wishes to question the witness.
In making the decision I'm about to give, I was guided by a few principles. First of all, members have complete discretion to do whatever they want with the time allotted to them. They can question witnesses and move motions. Second, this decision in no way alters the right of members to debate the motion in accordance with the established rules. I decided to do this in order to give all members as many opportunities as possible to ask questions, which I have a responsibility to do. It's a question of fairness. Everyone can use their speaking time as they see fit.
In fairness to all the members around the table, I want everyone to be able to exercise their right to speak. In short, everyone does what they like with their speaking time. When the time is up, we move on to the next member unless the committee is debating a motion. In that case, anyone can speak with no time limit. This decision does not deprive any member of their right to ask questions or move motions.
With that, committee members, I will move to opening comments from Mr. Moss.
Mr. Moss, you have the floor for five minutes or less.
Thank you.