Evidence of meeting #1 for International Trade in the 43rd 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.
4:05 p.m.
Liberal
Rachel Bendayan Liberal Outremont, QC
With respect to staff at in camera meetings, I move:
That, unless otherwise ordered, each Committee member be allowed to have one staff member at an in camera meeting and that one additional person from each House officer's office be allowed to be present.
(Motion agreed to)
4:05 p.m.
Liberal
Rachel Bendayan Liberal Outremont, QC
As for in camera meeting transcripts, I propose:
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.
(Motion agreed to)
January 29th, 2020 / 4:05 p.m.
Liberal
Rachel Bendayan Liberal Outremont, QC
Finally, Madam Chair, in respect of notice of motions, I move:
That forty-eight (48) hours' notice, interpreted as two (2) nights, shall be required for any substantive motion to be considered by the Committee, unless the substantive motion relates directly to business then under consideration, provided that (1) the notice be filed with the Clerk of the Committee no later than 4 p.m. from Monday to Friday; that (2) the motion be distributed to members 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; and that (3) 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 travelling on official business, no substantive motions may be moved.
(Motion agreed to)
4:10 p.m.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Judy Sgro
Can I ask the committee one thing? Would you like, whenever possible, to have our meetings televised or webcast?
Is that the request from everybody? Good.
4:10 p.m.
Conservative
Randy Hoback Conservative Prince Albert, SK
We have motions with regard to ministers' appearances, independent members' bills and how we deal with other MPs who are not members of the committee. Do you want to look at that?
4:10 p.m.
Conservative
Randy Hoback Conservative Prince Albert, SK
Yes. They are pretty straightforward.
I'll read the first one on ministers' appearances. I move:
That whenever a minister appears before the Committee, every effort should be made in order for the meeting to be televised.
4:10 p.m.
Conservative
Randy Hoback Conservative Prince Albert, SK
On bills and independent members, 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 the 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.
The idea behind that is to allow independent members, the Green Party and people like that to bring forward amendments to pieces of legislation here, instead of having to do it in the House of Commons.
4:10 p.m.
Liberal
Chandra Arya Liberal Nepean, ON
I'll let Mr. Hoback explain.
Actually I wanted to have a copy of the motion so I could go through it, but it's okay. That's fine.
4:10 p.m.
Conservative
4:10 p.m.
Green
Paul Manly Green Nanaimo—Ladysmith, BC
I would like to request that this motion be turned down, because before this motion became a regular motion for committees, it's my understanding that independent members were able to put forward amendments up to the report stage. It's onerous on independent members. We don't have the same resources as the official parties do to do research and get amendments written. This would require that amendments be put forward while we're still hearing from expert witnesses.
4:10 p.m.
Conservative
Randy Hoback Conservative Prince Albert, SK
Unfortunately, history has told us that if we do not deal with these amendments at this location, we end up voting for 24 or 36 hours in the House. The Green Party previously took advantage of the situation and abused the situation. This prevents that from happening.
It will give you the right to have influence on a piece of legislation and it still gives you the ability to make amendments to the legislation. It's just that you're doing it now in committee, instead of tying up the House for 24 or 48 hours. That's why we're asking that this be here.
4:10 p.m.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Judy Sgro
Is there any further discussion? Everyone understands the motion that Mr. Hoback has introduced?
Mr. Blaikie.
4:10 p.m.
NDP
Daniel Blaikie NDP Elmwood—Transcona, MB
I was just going to say that I appreciate the argument being made by my colleague in the Green Party and I'm willing to take the advice of independent members in terms of how they want to be able to present their amendments.
4:10 p.m.
Conservative
Randy Hoback Conservative Prince Albert, SK
The last one is on MPs who are not members of the CIIT committee. I move:
That members of Parliament who are not members of a caucus represented on the Committee and who seek the right to speak during the questioning of witnesses must ask a committee member beforehand to share the member's speaking time, and that the committee member inform the Chair before witnesses are questioned that they intend to share their time with the member who is not a member of a caucus represented on the committee; and that the Chair write to the members of Parliament who are not members of a caucus represented on the committee to inform them of the process.
It was common for us to do this in the last session.
4:15 p.m.
Liberal
Sukh Dhaliwal Liberal Surrey—Newton, BC
They have to make a prior arrangement and some other member has to give them the time.
4:15 p.m.
Liberal