Evidence of meeting #1 for Industry, Science and Technology in the 43rd Parliament, 1st Session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was proc.
A recording is available from Parliament.
12:05 p.m.
The Clerk of the Committee Mr. Michael MacPherson
Honourable members of the committee, I see a quorum.
I must inform members that the clerk of the committee can only receive motions for the election of the chair. The clerk cannot receive other types of motions, entertain points of order or participate in debate.
We can now proceed with the election of the chair. Pursuant to Standing Order 106(2), the chair must be a member of the governing party.
I am ready to receive motions for the chair.
12:05 p.m.
The Clerk
It's been moved by Ms. Jaczek that Sherry Romanado be elected as chair of the committee.
Are there any further nominations? I see none.
Is it the pleasure of the committee to adopt the motion?
12:05 p.m.
Some hon. members
Agreed.
12:05 p.m.
The Clerk
All right. I declare the motion carried and Sherry Romanado duly elected chair of the committee.
I invite the chair.
12:05 p.m.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Sherry Romanado
Thank you very much.
Thank you so much.
I'm really looking forward to working with you all.
I'm pleased to chair this committee.
If the committee is in agreement, I invite the clerk to proceed now with the election of the vice-chairs.
12:05 p.m.
The Clerk
Pursuant to Standing Order 106(2), the first vice-chair must be a member of the official opposition.
I am now prepared to receive motions for the first vice-chair.
Mrs. Gray.
12:05 p.m.
Conservative
Tracy Gray Conservative Kelowna—Lake Country, BC
I'd like to nominate the Honourable Michelle Rempel Garner.
12:05 p.m.
The Clerk
It has been moved by Mrs. Gray that the Honourable Michelle Rempel Garner be elected as first vice-chair of the committee.
Are there any other motions? I see none.
Is it the pleasure of the committee to adopt the motion?
12:05 p.m.
Some hon. members
Agreed.
12:05 p.m.
The Clerk
I declare the motion carried and the Honourable Michelle Rempel Garner duly elected first vice-chair of the committee.
Pursuant to Standing Order 106(2), the second vice-chair must be a member of an opposition party other than the official opposition.
I am now prepared to receive motions for the second vice-chair.
12:05 p.m.
The Clerk
It has been moved by Ms. Lambropoulos that Sébastien Lemire be elected as second vice-chair of the committee.
Are there any other nominations? I see none.
Is it the pleasure of the committee to adopt the motion?
12:05 p.m.
Some hon. members
Agreed.
12:05 p.m.
The Clerk
I declare the motion carried and Sébastien Lemire duly elected second vice-chair of the committee.
12:05 p.m.
NDP
Brian Masse NDP Windsor West, ON
If the committee wants to, it can elect another vice-chair. I would suggest we do that, and have every political party have a vice-chair. I know PROC is dealing with this, but we can set our own thing here with regard to.... Each committee is doing its own separate thing. I think it would be in the best interest of all of us to just get that done and over with and let PROC decide what it wants.
This committee—and some have served with me on it—has a long history of being very solid in terms of its independent and non-partisan work in many respects. I originally served with Paul Crête here for many years, when we actually did have an extra vice-chair.
I offer that to the committee and hope that we can dispense with this and move on with our business from here forthwith.
12:05 p.m.
Liberal
12:05 p.m.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Sherry Romanado
We have no motion before us. Are you putting forward a motion for a third vice chair of the committee? Is that correct?
12:10 p.m.
Conservative
Michelle Rempel Conservative Calgary Nose Hill, AB
On a point of order, on advice from across the way, I understand that the committee has its rules and all of that sort of stuff, and I think we could proceed, Chair. I would just point out that this may be overruled, given that the Standing Orders right now only allow for that.
Out of respect for my colleagues, I'm happy to proceed. I would just caution the committee that, pending the decision from PROC.... It's the wild west; I'm not sure what's going to happen, so.... There we go.
12:10 p.m.
Liberal
Nathaniel Erskine-Smith Liberal Beaches—East York, ON
If it's the case that the government has a standing order and PROC presumably will make recommendations to potentially change it.... I would like Brian to be a vice-chair, but I think a better course of action right now would be for us to go through the chair to request of PROC that they change the rules so that Brian can be a vice-chair. I think that's all we can reasonably do today.
12:10 p.m.
NDP
Brian Masse NDP Windsor West, ON
I appreciate that sentiment.
My thinking is that if we did it right now and then PROC overturns us, it's done anyway and we don't have to revisit. If we do it now, either it works and we're here or PROC determines to overturn it, which is another story.
My hope is that we get it done. There are other committees that have the second vice-chair. You're going to have a mixed thing. We can have it done right now and not ever have to come back and move into a whole process of Standing Orders and so forth.
12:10 p.m.
Liberal
Nathaniel Erskine-Smith Liberal Beaches—East York, ON
I don't think anyone's going to run against you, though.
12:10 p.m.
Voices
Oh, oh!
12:10 p.m.
NDP
Brian Masse NDP Windsor West, ON
That's not the point. The point is to get 'er done so that we can move on. That's what I'm hoping.
I don't think PROC is going to overrule us here. I mean, it sets a tone for the committee.
12:10 p.m.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Sherry Romanado
As Madam Rempel Garner mentioned, this is unprecedented. We have a motion on the floor, but we also don't have the ability, really, to add a different position. I believe this is before PROC at the moment. I'm not sure if everyone is in agreement that we can wait and see what happens at PROC.
Ms. Rempel Garner.
12:10 p.m.
Conservative
Michelle Rempel Conservative Calgary Nose Hill, AB
Perhaps the most equitable course of action going forward....
Do we have a motion on the floor?
12:10 p.m.
Conservative
12:10 p.m.
Conservative
Michelle Rempel Conservative Calgary Nose Hill, AB
Chair, I would move, then, building on my colleague Mr. Erskine-Smith's point, that the committee request a ruling from PROC on this particular issue.
I will give notice that this is a matter that would be before this committee. I'm giving a notice of motion as well that we would address the issue of election of vice-chair in the future, should PROC rule in favour, so that my colleague has some level of comfort that the committee intends to address it should PROC rule favourably on the changes to the Standing Orders.
12:10 p.m.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Sherry Romanado
Thank you, Ms. Rempel Garner. We will communicate with PROC on that specific request.
Madam Lambropoulos.
12:10 p.m.
Liberal
Emmanuella Lambropoulos Liberal Saint-Laurent, QC
If it's okay with everybody, I would like us to go over some routine motions. I have copies in both official languages.
12:10 p.m.
Liberal
12:10 p.m.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Sherry Romanado
Can we have a show of hands on whether we are in agreement with communicating directly with PROC on this?
12:10 p.m.
Some hon. members
Agreed.
12:10 p.m.
Liberal
Emmanuella Lambropoulos Liberal Saint-Laurent, QC
I have copies for everybody, if the clerk could....
12:10 p.m.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Sherry Romanado
You've all received the routine motions from Madame Lambropoulos, so I'll let her begin.
12:15 p.m.
Liberal
Emmanuella Lambropoulos Liberal Saint-Laurent, QC
With regard to the analysts, I move:
That the Committee retain, as needed and at the discretion of the Chair, the services of one or more analysts from the Library of Parliament to assist it in its work.
12:15 p.m.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Sherry Romanado
I'd like to invite the analysts to the table, please.
I'd like to ask the analysts to introduce themselves.
12:15 p.m.
Sarah Lemelin-Bellerose Committee Researcher
Good afternoon. My name is Sarah Lemelin-Bellerose, and I began working with the committee in October 2017. I'm delighted to be back.
12:15 p.m.
Francis Lord Committee Researcher
Hi. My name is Francis Lord and I've been on the committee since January 2017. I'm extremely happy to be back.
12:15 p.m.
Conservative
Michelle Rempel Conservative Calgary Nose Hill, AB
On a point of clarification, Chair, I'm wondering if my colleague opposite would like to move the entirety of the document in front of us, since it's in both official languages, so that we can adopt it just for expediency's sake.
12:15 p.m.
Some hon. members
Agreed.
12:15 p.m.
Conservative
Michelle Rempel Conservative Calgary Nose Hill, AB
A point of order, Chair.
For clarification, because routine motions always come back to haunt us, I would suggest that my colleague formally move the entirety of this, that you open it up for debate and that we vote on the motion, so that, at some point in time, when I am a pain in the side of the government party, we have some clarity on what we adopted. I am taking a loophole away from myself, but I'm a stickler for procedure, Chair.
12:15 p.m.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Sherry Romanado
Thank you.
Actually, my request for approval for unanimous consent was to table them all together. If that's okay, we'll table them all together. Now we can open the floor for debate on each of the remaining routine motions.
12:15 p.m.
Conservative
Michelle Rempel Conservative Calgary Nose Hill, AB
I have a question with regard to the addition of “Independent Members—Clause by Clause”. The purpose of this, I'm assuming, is just to ensure that, with regard to any amendments on bills that would be traditionally looked at in front of our committee, independent members would bring their amendments to committee as opposed to the House. If that's the intent of the addition, then we would support that.
12:15 p.m.
Liberal
Nathaniel Erskine-Smith Liberal Beaches—East York, ON
I was not in Parliament before 2015, but I was told there were some extended proceedings—
12:15 p.m.
Liberal
Nathaniel Erskine-Smith Liberal Beaches—East York, ON
There were motions and amendments brought at report stage, so I think it's to address that and make sure they're dealt with properly at committee.
12:15 p.m.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Sherry Romanado
Is there any other comment or debate on any of the routine motions before you?
12:15 p.m.
Conservative
Michelle Rempel Conservative Calgary Nose Hill, AB
I actually would like to amend the motion, or add a section under televising, that all meetings of the committee, other than those deemed to be in camera, be televised or, if that is not possible, be webcast.
12:15 p.m.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Sherry Romanado
That is a new actual routine motion.
Can we go through these first, and then you can put forward a new motion if you like?
12:15 p.m.
Conservative
Michelle Rempel Conservative Calgary Nose Hill, AB
I'm just asking to amend my colleague's motion by adding another section saying that all meetings of the committee, other than those deemed to be in camera, be televised or, if that is not possible, be webcast.
12:15 p.m.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Sherry Romanado
Is there any debate?
(Amendment agreed to [See Minutes of Proceedings])
Since we've actually reviewed or gone through the debate on each of these motions, en masse, do you want us to vote on them en masse, or would you like to just vote on each of them individually?
Ms. Rempel Garner.
12:15 p.m.
Conservative
Michelle Rempel Conservative Calgary Nose Hill, AB
Since I've moved that this be included in that, I would like a vote on the amendment. Then, if there's no further debate, we would move to a vote on the entirety of the routine motions.
12:20 p.m.
Conservative
12:20 p.m.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Sherry Romanado
For clarity, I'm going to review what we are voting on, all the routine motions. We've already voted on the analyst. The next one is the Subcommittee on Agenda and Procedure.
The next item deals with the reduced quorum.
Then we have the questioning of witnesses, document distribution, working meals and witnesses' expenses.
Then, in the following order, the motions address staff at in camera meetings, in camera meeting transcripts, notice of motions and, finally, independent members when considering amendments at clause-by-clause.
Of course, there is the amendment from Madam Rempel Garner with respect to televising all meetings when possible, and if not possible that they be webcast. Is that correct?
12:20 p.m.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Sherry Romanado
Are we all in agreement?
(Motion as amended agreed to)
At this point, we've conducted the business at hand. Does anyone have a notice of motion, or anything they'd like to bring forward? Otherwise we can adjourn until the next meeting.
Mr. Masse.
12:20 p.m.
NDP
Brian Masse NDP Windsor West, ON
I have a motion that I'll circulate to members. I'll read it quickly, if I can, and I'll send it to your offices. It depends on how quickly we want to get things to do into the discussion:
That the House of Commons Standing Committee on Industry, Science and Technology hold immediate hearings with the Canadian Radio-Television and Telecommunications Commission, the Royal Canadian Mounted Police, Canada's telecommunications companies and other telecom experts and advocacy groups to better understand
a) the influx of fraud calls to Canadian home phones and cellular devices including robocalls, ghosts calls, and spam calls
b) to give an update on the success and failures of the national do not call list, and
c) to outline the September 2020 STIR/SHAKEN measures and how this will benefit Canadian consumers.
I'll send that to your offices to think about. This is related to all the spam you're getting on your phones and so forth. I've been working with the companies over the years and the Competition Bureau, whatever. I thought that maybe if we don't have something in front of us right away we could get some public attention on how to protect consumers. It's bad for our economy, and also for people's mental health, getting all these calls and different types of intimidation. We see our constituents with language barriers and seniors particularly targeted. I thought that a few hearings on it would bring some public attention. Even if we can't get some big solutions to it right now, we would at least bring some awareness to the issue to help Canadians.
That's the intent of the motion, even if we had just a few meetings. I'll circulate that to the offices and give it to the clerk as well.
12:20 p.m.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Sherry Romanado
Thank you, Mr. Masse.
We'll take that as a notice of motion. Please provide it to the clerk, who will have it officially translated and circulated to the committee.
12:20 p.m.
Liberal
Nathaniel Erskine-Smith Liberal Beaches—East York, ON
I'm just piggybacking on Brian's notice of motion. To make the time in the next meeting and the meeting after that more effective as we develop a work plan, can we make sure, when we are adjourning for the day, that there is a proper subcommittee meeting, and that we are getting a work plan in place as quickly as reasonably possible?
12:20 p.m.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Sherry Romanado
Thank you, Mr. Erskine-Smith.
During the routine motions, we did vote on the creation of a subcommittee. Any issues with respect to potential upcoming studies could be sent to the subcommittee for consultation and then reported back to the full committee, if that is the wish of the committee.
I have Madam Rempel Garner.
12:20 p.m.
Conservative
Michelle Rempel Conservative Calgary Nose Hill, AB
I'm wondering, Chair—I'm not moving this—if my colleagues would like to move in camera after the remainder of the meeting so we could have a private conversation about upcoming business, not necessarily to move motions at this point, but just to discuss next steps in putting together a work plan. If I moved that, would it be okay with you guys?
12:20 p.m.
Conservative
Michelle Rempel Conservative Calgary Nose Hill, AB
Madam Chair, I move that we move the meeting in camera.
12:20 p.m.
Some hon. members
Agreed.
12:20 p.m.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Sherry Romanado
We'll just take a few moments because we need to do some technical things.
[Proceedings continue in camera]
