Industry Committee on Feb. 25th, 2020

[The Chair, Liberal, Sherry Romanado]

I will call to order meeting number five of the Standing Committee on Industry, Science and Technology.

The purpose of today's meeting is to discuss some committee business. We have circulated a calendar of business to all members, which you have in front of you. Our purpose today is to go over some business items we have, including some scheduling of upcoming meetings.

As you can see, Thursday's meeting is allocated to the supplementary estimates (B). We will have Minister Joly joining us on Thursday for the supplementary estimates (B). There was a request for Minister Bains to present as well. Unfortunately, he's not available on Thursday. He has offered up an availability on March 12, if I'm correct, which is a Thursday.

On that note, I want to verify if it is the will of the committee to have Minister Bains present on, I believe, March 12. I'll just check with my colleague Mr. Ehsassi.

Is that correct?

[Ali Ehsassi, Liberal, Willowdale, ON]

As I understand it, Madam Chair, there is talk now of actually tabling the main estimates. Should it be the will of the committee, I think it would make more sense for us to revert to our original schedule, which was to do Mr. Masse's study on the 10th and 12th of March, and then, once the mains have been tabled, to actually invite the minister and his top officials.

[The Chair, Liberal, Sherry Romanado]

I will open up that proposal.

Are there any comments or questions from the members of the committee in regard to having Minister Bains not present on the supplementary estimates on March 12? Rather, we would wait until the main estimates have been tabled and then invite Minister Bains to appear to discuss the main estimates.

[Michelle Rempel, Conservative, Calgary Nose Hill, AB]

What would we be doing on Thursday?

[The Chair, Liberal, Sherry Romanado]

This Thursday, the 27th, we have supplementary estimates (B), but with Minister Joly.

[Nathaniel Erskine-Smith, Liberal, Beaches—East York, ON]

Okay.

[The Chair, Liberal, Sherry Romanado]

You had asked for two ministers.

Is that acceptable?

[Brian Masse, NDP, Windsor West, ON]

That works.

[The Chair, Liberal, Sherry Romanado]

Perfect.

As you know, we have a riding week the following week.

Upon our return, the plan is to have the short study that was proposed by Mr. Masse and accepted by the committee with respect to fraudulent calls and scammers. The goal is to have those two meetings in that week allocated for that study. Because it is a shorter study, we can make sure that we line up witnesses and so on. I'm just going to check with the clerk to verify timelines for witnesses and so on.

Mr. Masse, do you have a comment?

[Brian Masse, NDP, Windsor West, ON]

I don't know if there's time after that, if we need any time, if we have any recommendations or anything along that line. I have some witnesses to submit as well, but I'll just throw that out there. I don't want it to interfere with other committee business.

[The Chair, Liberal, Sherry Romanado]

When would it be best for you to receive the witness list and suggested timeline? Would it be best perhaps before the end of this week so that you have some time to work on it?

[The Clerk of the Committee, Mr. Michael MacPherson]

Yes. That would be great.

[The Chair, Liberal, Sherry Romanado]

Would Friday at 9 a.m. work for everybody to submit names of witnesses to the clerk? Is that acceptable?

Perfect. I'll ask that you please submit your names of witnesses for that study to the clerk by 9 a.m. this Friday, the 28th of February. That will give the clerk time to line up folks.

Mr. Masse.

[Brian Masse, NDP, Windsor West, ON]

Not to be too particular, but can we make it Friday at 10? That's just because I know that staff come in at 9 a.m., and if somebody was late or if there was a problem.... I know that it's a particular thing. It's more related to just the extra hour in case somebody needs it for the first order of business.

[The Chair, Liberal, Sherry Romanado]

I'm fine with that. Is everyone fine with that?

[Brian Masse, NDP, Windsor West, ON]

Okay.

[The Chair, Liberal, Sherry Romanado]

Just don't mention to my staff that people come in only at 9.

[Brian Masse, NDP, Windsor West, ON]

Well, my one staff, she has to get the kids to child care—

[The Chair, Liberal, Sherry Romanado]

That's fine.

[Brian Masse, NDP, Windsor West, ON]

—so she comes in at 9:10. If we had a hiccup, then....

[The Chair, Liberal, Sherry Romanado]

It's not a problem.

[Brian Masse, NDP, Windsor West, ON]

She's here well after her hours, that's for sure.

[The Chair, Liberal, Sherry Romanado]

We'll say 10 a.m. on Friday?

[Brian Masse, NDP, Windsor West, ON]

That would be awesome. Thank you. I appreciate it.

[The Chair, Liberal, Sherry Romanado]

As you know, we adopted a motion for an additional study following that one. We're just waiting for draft copies of the press release we wanted to issue with respect to that study, which will help us in terms of announcing the study as well as lining up witnesses, submissions of written briefs and so on. We're waiting for some copies to be circulated for the committee's consideration.