Industry Committee on Dec. 1st, 2020

[James Cumming, Conservative, Edmonton Centre, AB]

Thank you, Madam Chair. Well said.

All I was going to say is, let's get this motion passed. Let's deal with this, as this is the greatest emergency.

I completely agree with member Lemire; we would like to be able to see Bell and others. You may have some added flexibility, if we're extending hybrid meetings up to the 18th. I think the point the member was making was that it may give us an opportunity to have another telecom meeting during that week.

I'd suggest, let's get this passed and leave it in your very capable hands to make sure we get everything scheduled.

Thank you.

[The Chair, Liberal, Sherry Romanado]

Is there any further debate on the amendment that we replace “each to appear separately before the committee for at least three hours” with “each to appear before the committee for one and a half hours”?

Mr. Lemire, is your hand up?

[Sébastien Lemire, Bloc, Abitibi—Témiscamingue, QC]

Would it be possible to read the motion again in its entirety? And does the interpretation that I'm hearing faithfully reflect what we are going to pass?

Actually, a lot of shades of meaning could be included. I have full confidence in the translation that the interpreters are providing, but I just want to make sure of the wording.

If ever we had a little adjustment to make because of the language, could we come back to it?

[The Chair, Liberal, Sherry Romanado]

I do not have the amendment in French, but I will read it in English. I apologize. It was submitted in English.

I would like to replace the second part of the motion with the following:

That in order to fully study this emergency situation, the committee invite the Minister of Health, the Minister of Public Services and Procurement, the Minister of Innovation, Science and Industry, and the President of the Public Health Agency of Canada, each to appear before the committee for one and a half hours

Then it would continue, “provided that”, followed by paragraphs (a), (b), etc.

Seeing no further debate on that amendment, all in favour? All opposed?

(Amendment agreed to)

Now, I'd like to go back to the motion as amended. Do we have any further debate on the motion as amended? There is no further debate. Is it the will of the committee to adopt the motion?

(Motion as amended agreed to [See Minutes of Proceedings])

Perfect.

With that, I will work with the clerk to see what we can do to schedule the witnesses who have been identified in this motion.

With respect to the other studies that are currently ongoing, we will verify the availability of the others—for instance, the telecom witnesses, as well as the competition commissioner—and get back to the committee.

We will also get back to the committee to let you know if there is a possibility of adding additional meetings between now and December 11, if any slots are available.

Also, of course, we will get back to the committee should the House adopt a motion allowing us to have additional meetings in the hybrid format for the week of December 14.

I'm going to turn to the clerk to see if there are any other outstanding action items coming out of today's discussions that I'm missing. No? Okay.

Perfect. Are there any other questions or comments?

Seeing none, I will now call this meeting adjourned.