Justice Committee on Feb. 18th, 2020

[Arif Virani, Liberal, Parkdale—High Park, ON]

Mr. Garrison, there's an additional piece that's added. There is some additional language in your proposed amendment that talks about before they may proceed to hear witnesses, etc. Is that just for further clarity?

[Randall Garrison, NDP, Esquimalt—Saanich—Sooke, BC]

Sorry, I ended up without a copy.

Yes, it's just to further clarify the established practice.

[Arif Virani, Liberal, Parkdale—High Park, ON]

One second.

[The Chair, Liberal, Iqra Khalid]

For clarity, Mr. Garrison, this is specifically for when the committee is travelling?

[Randall Garrison, NDP, Esquimalt—Saanich—Sooke, BC]

Yes, that clause applies.

With respect, Madam Chair, I believe we have adopted the motion.

[The Chair, Liberal, Iqra Khalid]

It seems that way. Thank you.

Routine motions.

[Arif Virani, Liberal, Parkdale—High Park, ON]

We're on the fourth routine motion, Madam Chair?

[The Chair, Liberal, Iqra Khalid]

It's on the questioning of witnesses, I believe.

[Arif Virani, Liberal, Parkdale—High Park, ON]

Yes, I will move it.

I move:That witnesses be given 10 minutes to make their opening statement; 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: 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, Conservative Party, five minutes, Liberal Party, five minutes, Bloc Québécois, two and a half minutes, New Democratic Party, two and a half minutes.

[The Chair, Liberal, Iqra Khalid]

Thank you, Mr. Virani.

(Motion agreed to)

Thank you.

Mr. Virani.

[Arif Virani, Liberal, Parkdale—High Park, ON]

Here is the motion concerning the distribution of documents.

That only the clerk of the committee be authorized to distribute documents to members of the committee only when the documents are available in both official languages, and that witnesses be advised accordingly.

[The Chair, Liberal, Iqra Khalid]

All agreed?

(Motion agreed to)

Thank you.

Mr. Virani.

[Arif Virani, Liberal, Parkdale—High Park, ON]

And now, Madam Chair, the most important thing: working meals.

That the clerk of the committee be authorized to make the necessary arrangements to provide working meals for the committee and its subcommittees.

[The Chair, Liberal, Iqra Khalid]

Is there any debate on this?

[Arif Virani, Liberal, Parkdale—High Park, ON]

Can we ensure the high quality of such meals?

[Rhéal Fortin, Bloc, Rivière-du-Nord, QC]

May we amend the motion so as to include a cocktail before the meals?

[The Chair, Liberal, Iqra Khalid]

During our last parliamentary session, our clerk took very good care of us with quite extravagant breakfasts. We really appreciated the hot breakfast very early in the morning. Thank you for that, Mr. Clerk.

(Motion agreed to)

Wonderful.

Mr. Zuberi.

[Sameer Zuberi, Liberal, Pierrefonds—Dollard, QC]

I'd like to move the remaining motion.

Regarding witnesses' travel and accommodation expenses, 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.

With respect to the next motion on the presence of staff—

[The Chair, Liberal, Iqra Khalid]

Hold on, Mr. Zuberi.

Specifically on witness expenses, is there any debate?

(Motion agreed to)

That's wonderful.

Thank you.

Mr. Zuberi, you can continue.

[Sameer Zuberi, Liberal, Pierrefonds—Dollard, QC]

Thank you.

I move the next motion, regarding staff at in camera meetings:

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.

[The Chair, Liberal, Iqra Khalid]

Is there any debate on this?

(Motion agreed to)

Thank you.

Mr. Kelloway.

[Mike Kelloway, Liberal, Cape Breton—Canso, NS]

Thank you, Madam Chair.

I move the following:

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.

[The Chair, Liberal, Iqra Khalid]

Are we in agreement?

(Motion agreed to)

Thank you.

Mr. Garrison.

[Randall Garrison, NDP, Esquimalt—Saanich—Sooke, BC]

I have an additional motion on in camera proceedings that's not covered by these motions. Since we're dealing with in camera meetings right now, would you like me to deal with that now or me to wait until the conclusion of these motions?

[The Chair, Liberal, Iqra Khalid]

If it's okay with you, can we wait until the conclusion of the motions? Thank you.

Mr. Sangha.