Citizenship and Immigration Committee on Oct. 14th, 2020

[Geoff Regan, Liberal, Halifax West, NS]

I suppose that's right. I guess I'm a little confused about this question of the phones. The question Mr. Serré was asking of the clerk is whether there is a technical problem with what Ms. Normandin is proposing or if it works fine. In fact, I suppose if we're not in camera, perhaps it's not necessary. Is that the case?

[The Chair, Liberal, Salma Zahid]

Ms. Normandin, can you please clarify that?

[Christine Normandin, Bloc, Saint-Jean, QC]

I probably would have actually added something at the end so that, during regular meetings, officials and employees can participate in the meeting through Zoom.

[The Chair, Liberal, Salma Zahid]

I just want to clarify to all committee members that if you want to speak, please either raise your hand on Zoom on the right-hand side of the screen or wave so I can recognize you.

Ms. Martinez Ferrada.

[Soraya Martinez Ferrada, Liberal, Hochelaga, QC]

I want to begin by saying that I am new to this committee.

If I have understood correctly, according to the usual procedure, a staff member from the whip's office is allowed in the room, but we want to extent that rule to the entire staff.

As far as I understand, there are no staff members in the room, only one member from each whip's office. Is that right?

[The Chair, Liberal, Salma Zahid]

I'll ask the clerk to clarify this.

[The Clerk]

Thank you so much, Madam Chair.

Over the summer, the practice of committees was to follow two different procedures: one during public meetings and one in camera meetings.

During public meetings, all staff could use the phone lines to listen to proceedings live. That way they wouldn't face the 45- to 90-second delay from ParlVu. During in camera meetings, only those who were present in the Zoom meeting had access to the video and audio. There was no ParlVu and no phone line. In the case of in camera meetings, I provided password access to the offices of the House leaders, the offices of the whips and to one designated representative from each of your offices. We permitted one party officer from each party to attend, as well as one of your members' assistants.

That's the practice we established over the summer, and if members wish to cement that in a routine motion or to deviate from that for any reason, it would take a motion of the committee to do that. Otherwise, if the members adopt the routine motion as it was drafted in the last session, we would continue the practice of letting certain assistants attend the Zoom meetings during in camera meetings only. Otherwise they would need to call in to the phone line.

[The Chair, Liberal, Salma Zahid]

Is everyone okay with the clarification provided by the clerk?

[Christine Normandin, Bloc, Saint-Jean, QC]

That seems clear. However, if we are ready have an amendment proposal on the table consolidating what has been done this summer we should adopt it right away.

[The Chair, Liberal, Salma Zahid]

Ms. Martinez Ferrada would like to speak to the motion being proposed by Ms. Normandin.

[Soraya Martinez Ferrada, Liberal, Hochelaga, QC]

Madam Chair, my understanding is that no change of that kind has been made in another committee.

Ms. Normandin, I am wondering whether you could withdraw your motion and talk about it with your party's whip. We can come back to this issue at a later date if we have to make that change.

[Christine Normandin, Bloc, Saint-Jean, QC]

I don't see any inconvenience to that. We talked about potentially adding it, since the whips have discussed the possibility of agents and employees being able to participate through Zoom.

If this is in line with what was done this summer and all parties agree on it informally, I don't see an issue with withdrawing it. I would still like to make sure that we have that continuity and that employees can participate using Zoom.

[The Chair, Liberal, Salma Zahid]

Thank you, Ms. Normandin.

Ms. Normandin is withdrawing her amendment.

All those in favour of Ms. Normandin's withdrawing her amendment?

(Amendment withdrawn)

Mr. Dhaliwal.

[Sukh Dhaliwal, Liberal, Surrey—Newton, BC]

Did you take a vote on the original motion?

[The Chair, Liberal, Salma Zahid]

Can you please repeat it, so that we can vote on it?

[Sukh Dhaliwal, Liberal, Surrey—Newton, BC]

The motion reads:

That, unless otherwise ordered, each committee member be allowed to have one staff member at an in camera meeting and that one additional person from each House officer's office be allowed to be present.

[The Chair, Liberal, Salma Zahid]

All those in favour of the motion?

Ms. Kwan.

[Jenny Kwan, NDP, Vancouver East, BC]

I'm not sure the “raise hand” feature is working, because I never get recognized.

On this issue, and it's related to what Ms. Normandin was raising previously, it is my understanding that the whip's office is working with the House of Commons to accommodate the Zoom feature for staff, both in the whip's office as well as our own staff. While this is not an official component of PROC, I believe that work is underway.

I wonder, as we proceed with or work at this committee, if we can come back to revisit this issue at the appropriate time. I do agree with Ms. Normandin. When staff is on the phone, there is a delay lag. It's different than what we normally have in a committee. Because of the COVID situation, we're having to do some of this work virtually, and therefore, allowing our staff to be able to connect in the same way as we do would be important.

[The Chair, Liberal, Salma Zahid]

Thank you, Ms. Kwan.

The phone line is live, and there are no delays on the phone line. I understand there is a delay of a minute on ParlVu, but there are no delays on the phone line. We will leave it up to PROC and the whips to decide on that.

Right now we are on the motion proposed by Mr. Dhaliwal. If that matter is raised at PROC and by the whips, then we can look into it afterwards.

All those in favour of the motion proposed by Mr. Dhaliwal?

(Motion agreed to)

Mr. Dhaliwal

[Sukh Dhaliwal, Liberal, Surrey—Newton, BC]

The next motion deals with transcripts of in camera meetings:

That one copy of the transcript of each in camera meeting be kept in the committee clerk’s office for consultation by members of the committee or by their staff.

[The Chair, Liberal, Salma Zahid]

All those in favour of the motion?

(Motion agreed to)

Mr. Dhaliwal.

[Sukh Dhaliwal, Liberal, Surrey—Newton, BC]

The next motion deals with notice of motion:

That a 48 hours’ notice, interpreted as two nights, shall be required for any substantive motion to be considered by the committee, unless the substantive motion relates directly to business then under consideration, provided that: (1) the notice be filed with the clerk of the committee no later than 4:00 p.m. (EST) from Monday to Friday; (2) the motion be distributed to Members in both official languages by the clerk on the same day the said notice was transmitted if it was received no later than the deadline hour; and (3) notices received after the deadline hour or on non-business days be deemed to have been received during the next business day and that when the committee is travelling on official business, no substantive motions may be moved.

[The Chair, Liberal, Salma Zahid]

All those in favour of the motion?

(Motion agreed to)

Mr. Dhaliwal.

[Sukh Dhaliwal, Liberal, Surrey—Newton, BC]

The next motion deals with orders of reference from the House respecting bills: That, in relation to orders of reference from the House respecting bills, a) the clerk of the committee shall, upon the committee receiving such an order of reference, write to each member who is not a member of a caucus represented on the committee to invite those members to file with the clerk of the committee, in both official languages, any amendments to the bill which is the subject of the said order which they would suggest that the committee consider; b) suggested amendments filed, pursuant to paragraph (a), at least 48 hours prior of the start of clause-by-clause consideration of the bill to which the amendments relate shall be deemed to be proposed during the said consideration, provided that the committee may, by motion, vary this deadline in respect of a given bill; and c) during the clause-by-clause consideration of a bill, the chair shall allow a member who filed suggested amendments, pursuant to paragraph (a), an opportunity to make brief representations in support of them.

[The Chair, Liberal, Salma Zahid]

Just a reminder to all members that when you are voting, please raise your hand, so I can see whether you are in favour or against.

All those in favour of the motion proposed by Mr. Dhaliwal?

(Motion agreed to [See Minutes of Proceedings])

Mr. Dhaliwal.