Evidence of meeting #1 for Industry, Science and Technology in the 42nd 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.
Liberal
Lloyd Longfield Liberal Guelph, ON
Mr. Chair, just to add to that, I think it also reflects on the subcommittee. The ideal is that everybody be in the room at the same time. If we have to refer to another committee or subcommittee or in camera that's second best, but it's there if we need it.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Dan Ruimy
Is this motion carried?
(Motion agreed to)
Now we're on to the notice of motion.
Conservative
Alex Nuttall Conservative Barrie—Springwater—Oro-Medonte, ON
I move that 24 hours' notice shall be required for any substantive motion to be considered by the committee, unless the motion relates directly to business under consideration; and that the motion shall be filed and distributed to members by the Clerk in both official languages; and that motions that are received by 5:00 p.m. shall be distributed to members the same day.
Liberal
Chandra Arya Liberal Nepean, ON
I would like to amend that motion as follows: “That 48 hours' notice shall be required”.
Conservative
Alex Nuttall Conservative Barrie—Springwater—Oro-Medonte, ON
If I could speak to my motion before an amendment is taken.
Conservative
Alex Nuttall Conservative Barrie—Springwater—Oro-Medonte, ON
I think we have an opportunity right now to set up this committee.
First of all, we have to recognize that this is an incredibly important committee that we all have been given honours by our parties to sit on. It has some very substantive business to undertake over the next little while. In speaking to my colleagues who were here in previous parliaments, it is my belief that there are going to be cases where this committee will be required to act based even on the events of the week prior. We need to have the opportunity to be able to respond to those situations, and have as much time and leeway to do so as possible. I think we're all knowledgeable and talented enough in this room to be able to put together all of the resources to come prepared to a meeting with 24 hours' notice. Certainly, that was the expectation within the municipal world, which I came from, and certainly that was the expectation in my private sector job. I hope that we get unanimous support for this, and that we're able to proceed and cover as much business over the next four years as possible.
NDP
Brian Masse NDP Windsor West, ON
I support this motion. The format of committee has changed significantly with regard to our access to witnesses. We use teleconference a lot more than ever before, so it's less prohibitive to get witnesses to us right away. I think that's an important part of the change that's taken place, and it's why I think this motion is reasonable.
We do have to act quickly on some initiatives that take place. There's no doubt about that. We have a broad range of huge topics to deal with on a regular basis.
I find that the 48 hours can extend things to one week, two weeks, depending upon the scheduling, and also depending upon whether the House sits or not. We are sitting right now for less time than we've ever sat for the session.
I would encourage us to at least adopt this motion and try it out for this session. If we find problems with it, we can always revisit this and change it for the next session. We're going to go into a number of periods where we are gone for two weeks, then we are back for a couple of weeks, then we are gone for two weeks. All those things are going limit our opportunity to engage other constituency issues and national issues. I would support it for that reason.
Teleconferencing has really taken off over the last number of years. Today, for example, people would be cancelling their flights and we'd be putting them on teleconference. Of course, the 24-hour notice of motion is protected for our two official languages. It is very important, so you're going to have to subscribe to that. I support the motion.
Liberal
René Arseneault Liberal Madawaska—Restigouche, NB
I have several questions about that.
First, are we talking about 24 hours during working days or 24 hours during a seven-day week?
Mr. Clerk could perhaps clarify that for us.
Liberal
René Arseneault Liberal Madawaska—Restigouche, NB
In other words, if we voted for a 24-hour notice and the notice of motion was given on Friday, we could expect to have the motion on next Monday and not on Saturday. Is that correct?
The Clerk
The committee is free to specify what it means by 24 hours, but usually, that is interpreted as working days.
Liberal
René Arseneault Liberal Madawaska—Restigouche, NB
For me, working days cover only the period from Monday to Friday, excluding holidays and weekends.
Is that what you mean, Mr. Clerk?
February 16th, 2016 / 4:15 p.m.
Liberal
René Arseneault Liberal Madawaska—Restigouche, NB
I am new to the committee, as I was just elected. I have a second comment on the same matter.
I am currently a member of a joint committee. It is not so easy to get a witness to appear by teleconference within 24 hours. They could be stuck at the airport if there is a storm. That time frame seems very short to me, especially if a motion concerns a new topic and not an existing topic.
I can understand what my colleague Mr. Nuttall is saying about the 24-hour time frame for a subject this committee is already discussing. However, that time frame seems short to me for a motion on a new issue.
I don't want to be a bad guy, but I will vote against the motion because of this aspect or this concern of mine. I feel it's much more prudent to amend it to make the time frame 48 hours.
Liberal
Frank Baylis Liberal Pierrefonds—Dollard, QC
I'm very uncomfortable being rushed to make any decision. If I read this correctly it's saying “new business”, so it's René's point—not even something that we know about.
Brian, you say you had a lot of experience. What would need to be dealt with in 24 hours by this committee? Do you have any concrete examples?
NDP
Brian Masse NDP Windsor West, ON
Yes. Right now we're going towards an emergency motion that has been tabled at environment committee related to the deep geological repository that's going to be built within a kilometre of the Great Lakes and has over 20 senators and U.S. congresspeople opposed to it; hundreds of thousands of people. It hasn't been addressed by Parliament. They're trying to move it, but it's now been delayed to a point where the decision is closing in on the time the committee could do so.
For here in this committee, there have been plenty of things, whether auto investment, whether aerospace development.
Liberal
Frank Baylis Liberal Pierrefonds—Dollard, QC
But to understand this, between 24 and 48 hours is 24 extra hours. An investment in auto or aerospace is a huge decision. This is about new stuff, and you're saying I've got to make a huge decision on something new in 24 hours. I'd actually want to see it be weeks, to be honest. I even think 48 hours is ridiculous.
NDP
Brian Masse NDP Windsor West, ON
That's been the tradition in some committees, 48 hours, and some are 24.