Evidence of meeting #1 for Industry, Science and Technology in the 44th 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.
3:35 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 and cannot entertain points of order or participate in debate.
We can now proceed to the election of the chair. Pursuant to Standing Order 106(2), the chair must be a member of the government party.
I am ready to receive motions for the chair.
Go ahead, Mr. Généreux.
3:35 p.m.
Conservative
Bernard Généreux Conservative Montmagny—L'Islet—Kamouraska—Rivière-du-Loup, QC
I propose that Joël Lightbound be the chair.
3:35 p.m.
The Clerk
It is moved by Mr. Généreux that Joël Lightbound be elected Chair of the committee.
Are there any further motions?
I see none.
Pursuant to the House order of Thursday, November 25, 2021, I will now proceed to a recorded division, unless we have general consent. I'm seeing consent.
(Motion agreed to)
I declare Joël Lightbound duly elected chair of the committee.
3:35 p.m.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Joël Lightbound
That was one of the easiest elections I've gone through thus far in my political career.
I want to thank you for the trust you have placed in me and for electing me unopposed.
I will try to be a chair who is polite, respectful, and even-handed. I will do this job with honour and, most of the time, enthusiasm. I might make a few mistakes, so you've been warned.
It's my first time chairing the committee, so I look forward to it. Thank you very much.
The floor goes to the clerk for the election of the vice-chairs.
3:35 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 ready to receive motions for the position of first vice-chair.
3:35 p.m.
The Clerk
It has been moved by Mr. Fast that Mr. Michael Kram be elected first vice-chair of the committee.
Are there any further motions?
3:35 p.m.
Some hon. members
No.
3:35 p.m.
The Clerk
Shall I proceed to a recorded division, or does the committee have consent? I'm seeing consent.
(Motion agreed to)
I declare MP Michael Kram duly elected as the 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.
3:40 p.m.
The Clerk
It is moved by Brian Masse that Sébastien Lemire be elected second vice-chair of the committee.
Are there any further motions?
Seeing none, shall we move to a recorded division, or do we have consent?
(Motion agreed to)
3:40 p.m.
The Clerk
I declare Sébastien Lemire duly elected as the second vice-president.
3:40 p.m.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Joël Lightbound
My congratulations to Mr. Kram and Mr. Lemire on their election.
As this is the first meeting of the House of Commons Standing Committee on Industry and Technology, I must repeat a number of little reminders.
Today’s meeting is taking place in a hybrid format, pursuant to the House order of November 25, 2021. Some members of the committee are attending in person—welcome to those in the room. Others are participating using the Zoom application.
Regarding the speaking list, the committee clerk and I will do the best we can to maintain a consolidated order of speaking for all members, whether participating virtually or in person.
I would like to take this opportunity to remind all participants at this meeting that screenshots or taking photos of your screen is not permitted.
The proceedings will be made available via the House of Commons website.
Given the ongoing pandemic situation and in light of the recommendations from public health authorities, as well as the directive of the Board of Internal Economy on October 19, 2021, the following recommendations are made to all those attending the meeting in person, so that we remain healthy and safe.
Anyone with symptoms must participate by Zoom, and not attend the meeting in person.
Everyone must maintain two metres of physical distancing, whether seated or standing.
Everyone must wear a non-medical mask when circulating in the room. It is recommended that members wear their masks at all times, including when seated.
Everyone present must maintain proper hand hygiene by using the hand sanitizer at the room entrance. Committee rooms are cleaned before and after each meeting. To maintain this, everyone is encouraged to clean surfaces such as the desk, chair and microphone with the disinfectant wipes provided when vacating or taking a seat.
As the Chair, I will be enforcing these measures for the duration of our meetings, with the help of the House of Commons staff, of course. I thank you all in advance for your cooperation.
I suggest that as the next order of business, the committee proceed to consideration of the routine motions. In preparation, the committee clerk has circulated a list of the routine motions the committee adopted in the last parliamentary session.
With that, I open the floor to the adoption of routine motions.
Go ahead, Mr. Fillmore.
3:40 p.m.
Liberal
Andy Fillmore Liberal Halifax, NS
Thank you, Mr. Chair.
I will proceed to read into the record the routine motions.
On analyst services, 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.
On the Subcommittee on Agenda and Procedure, I move:
That the Subcommittee on Agenda and Procedure be established and be composed of five members; the Chair, one member from each recognized party; and that the subcommittee work in a spirit of collaboration.
On meeting without a quorum, I move:
That the Chair be authorized to hold meetings to receive evidence and to have that evidence published when a quorum is not present, provided that at least four members are present, including two members of the opposition parties and two members of the government party, but when travelling outside the Parliamentary Precinct, that the meeting begin after 15 minutes, regardless of members present.
3:40 p.m.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Joël Lightbound
One moment, Mr. Fillmore.
If you have any objections or if you have modifications to propose for any of the motions that are being read into the record, please manifest yourself so that we can debate the motion separately, so to speak.
Mr. Fillmore, please continue.
3:40 p.m.
Liberal
Andy Fillmore Liberal Halifax, NS
Thank you, Chair.
If I may ask you, Mr. Chair, is the protocol for “mask off” when we're speaking, or is it preferred that it be on? Has the House a position on that?
3:40 p.m.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Joël Lightbound
I think the consensus, from what I've seen in the House, and I guess the rules are similar in committee, is that if you are speaking, you can remove your mask.
3:40 p.m.
Liberal
Andy Fillmore Liberal Halifax, NS
Okay. Thank you.
If that's okay with everybody, then, that's what I'll do.
On the time for opening remarks and questioning of witnesses, I move:
That witnesses be given five minutes for their opening statement; that whenever possible, witnesses provide the committee with their opening statement 72 hours in advance; that at the discretion of the Chair, during the questioning of witnesses, there be allocated six minutes for the first questioner of each party as follows for the first round:
Conservative Party
Liberal Party
Bloc Québécois
New Democratic Party
For the second and subsequent rounds, the order and time for questioning be as follows:
Conservative Party, five minutes
Liberal Party, five minutes
Bloc Québécois, two and a half minutes
New Democratic Party, two and a half minutes
Conservative Party, five minutes
Liberal Party, five minutes.
3:45 p.m.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Joël Lightbound
Thank you.
I see that Mr. Lemire wants to comment.
Mr. Lemire, the floor is yours.
3:45 p.m.
Bloc
Sébastien Lemire Bloc Abitibi—Témiscamingue, QC
In the last Parliament, we assigned speaking time according to the number of witnesses. If there were six, we gave them five minutes, but if there were four, for example, the testimony could last up to seven minutes.
Do we want that same flexibility, depending on the number of witnesses, or do we want it to keep it at five minutes in all cases?
3:45 p.m.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Joël Lightbound
According to the information that the clerk has provided, it was at the discretion of the chair. Personally, I am open to proceeding that way so that we give witnesses the most speaking time possible, since they have taken the time to come and meet with us.
3:45 p.m.
Liberal
Andy Fillmore Liberal Halifax, NS
Thank you, Mr. Chair.
We're now up to document distribution. I move:
That only the clerk of the committee be authorized to distribute documents to members of the committee provided the documents are in both official languages, and that the witnesses be advised accordingly.
On working meals, I move:
That the clerk of the committee, at the discretion of the Chair, be authorized to make the necessary arrangements to provide working meals for the committee and its subcommittees.
On travel, accommodation and living expenses of witnesses, I move:
That, if requested, reasonable travel, accommodation and living expenses be reimbursed to witnesses not exceeding two representatives per organization; and that in exceptional circumstances, payment for more representatives be made at the discretion of the Chair.
On access to in camera meetings, I move:
That, unless otherwise ordered, each committee member be allowed to be accompanied by one staff member at in camera meetings and that one additional person from each House officer's office be allowed to be present.
On transcripts of in camera meetings, I move:
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; and that the analysts assigned to the committee also have access to the in camera transcripts.
On notice of motion, I move:
That a 48‑hour notice, interpreted as two nights, be required for any substantive motion to be moved in committee, unless the substantive motion relates directly to business then under consideration, provided that: (a) the notice be filed with the clerk of the committee no later than 4:00 p.m. from Monday to Friday; (b) the motion be distributed to Members and the offices of the whips of each recognized party 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; (c) 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 holding meetings outside the Parliamentary Precinct, no substantive motion may be moved.
On orders of reference from the House representing bills, I move:
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 to 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.
We're nearing the end, my friends.
On technical tests for witnesses, I move:
That the clerk inform each witness who is to appear before the committee that the House administration support team must conduct technical tests to check the connectivity and the equipment used to ensure the best possible sound quality; and that the Chair advise the committee, at the start of each meeting, of any witness who did not perform the required technical tests.
On linguistic review, I move:
That all documents submitted for committee business that do not come from a federal department, members' offices, or that have not been translated by the Translation Bureau be sent for prior linguistic review by the Translation Bureau before being distributed to members.
That brings us to the close of the routine motions.
