Evidence of meeting #1 for Justice and Human Rights 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.
The Clerk of the Committee Mr. Marc-Olivier Girard
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, cannot entertain points of order, nor participate in debate.
Your first task today is to elect a chair for this committee. Pursuant to Standing Order 106(2), the chair must be a member of the government party.
I'm ready to receive motions for the chair.
Yes, Mr. Maloney.
Liberal
James Maloney Liberal Etobicoke—Lakeshore, ON
Thank you, Clerk.
I would like to nominate our colleague Iqra Khalid.
The Clerk
We have Mr. Maloney nominating Ms. Khalid.
Are there any further nominations?
Are there any further motions?
(Motion agreed to)
I declare the motion carried and Ms. Khalid duly elected chair of the Standing Committee on Justice and Human Rights. I invite her to take a seat beside me.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Iqra Khalid
Good morning.
Good afternoon everyone.
Thank you, first, for your trust in me to chair this committee. I'm sure it will be very invigorating and challenging. I've been on this committee for the past four years, and we've had the privilege of tabling some really wonderful reports, most of which were consensus based. We've had a wonderful relationship between all members and really talked about the issues that matter to our community and country. I'm looking forward to having that same kind of consensus and spirit of collaboration as we continue this committee.
With that, I will go on to seeing about the vice-chairs for the committee. I will canvass the room for vice-chairs.
Mr. Maguire.
Conservative
Larry Maguire Conservative Brandon—Souris, MB
I would like to put forward the name of Rob Moore, my colleague.
The Clerk
Thank you, Madam Chair.
We have Mr. Maguire proposing Mr. Moore.
Are there any further motions?
(Motion agreed to)
I declare the motion carried and Mr. Moore duly elected first vice-chair of the committee.
Congratulations.
Pursuant to the Standing Orders, the second vice-chair must be a member of an opposition party other than the official opposition.
I'm now ready to receive motions for the second vice-chair.
Mr. Virani, you have the floor.
Liberal
Arif Virani Liberal Parkdale—High Park, ON
I nominate Mr. Rhéal Fortin of the Bloc Québécois as second vice-chair of the committee.
The Clerk
It has been moved by Mr. Virani, that Mr. Fortin be elected second vice-chair.
Are there any further nominations?
(Motion agreed to)
I declare the motion carried and Mr. Fortin duly elected second vice-chair of the committee.
Congratulations to all concerned.
That said, I now yield the floor to Madam Chair.
Liberal
Liberal
James Maloney Liberal Etobicoke—Lakeshore, ON
Thank you, Madam Chair.
I have a number of routine motions that I've had prepared in French and English. I'm going to move the first one shortly, but I'd like to pass it around, with your permission. I will wait a moment until everyone has a copy.
I believe everyone has a copy, Madam Chair.
Liberal
Liberal
James Maloney Liberal Etobicoke—Lakeshore, ON
Yes. Thank you, Madam Chair.
I move:That the Committee retain, as needed at the discretion of the Chair, the services of one or more analysts from the Library of Parliament to assist in its work.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Iqra Khalid
All in agreement?
(Motion agreed to)
Can I then invite our wonderful analysts, who have been so amazing over the past four years, to please come and join us at the table?
Liberal
James Maloney Liberal Etobicoke—Lakeshore, ON
Thank you, Madam Chair.
I also move:That the Subcommittee on Agenda and Procedure be established and be composed of five (5) members; the Chair, one Member from each Party; and that the subcommittee work in the spirit of collaboration.
Liberal
James Maloney Liberal Etobicoke—Lakeshore, ON
Okay, moving right along, I also move:
That the Chair be authorized to hold meetings to receive evidence and to have that evidence printed when a quorum is not present, provided that at least four (4) members are present, including one member of the opposition and one member of the government, but when travelling outside the parliamentary precinct, that the meeting begin after fifteen (15) minutes, regardless of members present.
NDP
Randall Garrison NDP Esquimalt—Saanich—Sooke, BC
Thank you, Madam Chair.
I'd like to propose an amendment that would establish that a quorum requires two members of the government and two members of the opposition. I have that text here, which reads as follows:
That the motion be amended by replacing the words “one member of the opposition and one member of the government” with the words “two members of the opposition and two members of the government”.
NDP
Randall Garrison NDP Esquimalt—Saanich—Sooke, BC
While it's being circulated, may I speak to it briefly?
NDP
Randall Garrison NDP Esquimalt—Saanich—Sooke, BC
I think that in a minority Parliament we have to go the extra mile here to work toward getting consensus, and by having a requirement that there be two members of the opposition present, we would go a bit further than we've normally gone in minority parliaments toward achieving that, even if there is no full quorum. That is my reason for proposing the amendment.
February 18th, 2020 / 12:10 p.m.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Iqra Khalid
Thank you.
I'm just going to wait until the text is circulated to everybody and then ask if anybody else has any comments to make.
Do all members have the text in front of them? Yes.
Is there any debate on this amendment?
(Amendment agreed to)
(Motion as amended agreed to)
Wonderful.
Can we move on?
Mr. Virani.