Justice Committee on Oct. 15th, 2020

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

Thank you very much, Madam Chair.

As we're trying to get used to the new virtual and hybrid meetings, I wonder if we could ask the clerk to report back to us on whether it would be feasible to allow each committee member to have one staff member logged into the Zoom meetings, as well as one from each whip's office. If that's possible for in camera meetings, I don't see why it should not also be possible for this meeting. We could have, of course, their microphones and cameras remain switched off.

I've had reports both yesterday and today of staff having a very difficult time following the meetings, as they lose connections or as ParlVu delays occur. My request, then, would be that we ask the clerk to look into whether we could adopt the same rule for the regular meetings of the committee as has already been provided for the in camera meetings.

[The Chair, Liberal, Iqra Khalid]

Thanks, Mr. Garrison.

Mr. Clerk, do you want to speak to that?

[The Clerk]

Thank you, Mr. Garrison. It's a good point.

I can commit to the committee to report back to my management about the concerns that I'm hearing right now and to see if indeed it's a possibility or not. I can report to the committee at a later time when I receive a response. The clerks, like members of Parliament, do meet, a bit like a caucus, so there will be opportunities for me to pass on that message. Thank you.

[The Chair, Liberal, Iqra Khalid]

Thank you, Mr. Clerk

I'd also just like to check with you on whether we have Madam Findlay back on yet so that we can finalize the last of the routine motions.

[The Clerk]

We do have an update, but unfortunately the update is to the effect that we are unable to get MP Findlay back into the Zoom meeting at this time. There's not even an estimated time of arrival for her. Unfortunately, we did the best we could, but it doesn't seem to be possible to have her back for the remaining proceedings today.

[The Chair, Liberal, Iqra Khalid]

Thank you, Mr. Clerk.

Mr. Moore, do you want to suspend the meeting or should we continue with the rest of the meeting?

[Rob Moore, Conservative, Fundy Royal, NB]

I think we can continue with Mr. Garrison's motion. That was the one outstanding item, I believe.

[The Chair, Liberal, Iqra Khalid]

Okay. My understanding is that we're going to have a recorded vote. I don't see Mr. Cooper on here anymore either.

[Michael Cooper, Conservative, St. Albert—Edmonton, AB]

I'm here, Madam Chair.

[The Chair, Liberal, Iqra Khalid]

Oh, there you are. I can see you now. Thank you very much, Mr. Cooper. It's quite strange for me to have you be so quiet all the time. You'll have to liven things up a bit so I know you're there. Thank you, Mr. Cooper.

[James Maloney, Liberal, Etobicoke—Lakeshore, ON]

Be careful what you ask for, Madam Chair.

[The Chair, Liberal, Iqra Khalid]

Yes.

[Some hon. members]

Oh, oh!

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

There is one brief point, on the point that Randall made to the clerk, Madam Chair.

Mr. Clerk, if you could just clarify for the purpose of what Mr. Garrison asked you about what other committees are doing, that would be helpful. Perhaps you could report back what various committees within the House of Commons are doing to facilitate the participation of staff, because I think that's something we'd probably all be keen on doing if it's manageable. Thank you.

[The Clerk]

I can report on that, but at this time all committees are doing the same thing, which means that for public meetings staffers are invited to listen to the proceedings through phone lines or by watching ParlVu. For in camera meetings, they are allowed to be in the virtual room with the remaining participants, including members of Parliament, with their cameras and microphones off. At this time, all the committees are following the same practice that I just described.

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

Thank you.

[The Chair, Liberal, Iqra Khalid]

Thank you so much for that, Mr. Clerk.

We'll go ahead with the recorded vote for what is the routine motion for time for opening remarks and questioning of witnesses.

Mr. Clerk, could you please proceed in alphabetical order for all members?

[The Clerk]

Thank you, and I'm told that Ms. Findlay is trying to reconnect, so maybe she will arrive right on time when I call her name. Let's see.

I don't think Ms. Findlay has arrived yet.

[The Chair, Liberal, Iqra Khalid]

We'll come back to her at the end.

[The Clerk]

We have not heard from Ms. Findlay, Madam Chair, but she might be a bit out of context, though, on what she will be requested to vote on, so I'll leave that in your good hands, Madam Chair.

[The Chair, Liberal, Iqra Khalid]

Madam Findlay, we were just in the process of voting on the question of witnesses. I'm not sure if you've been able to caucus with your party on which way to vote, but we will open it up to you if you would like to vote one way or the other on that.

[Kerry-Lynne Findlay, Conservative, South Surrey—White Rock, BC]

Okay.

I'm not sure exactly which motion is in front of us. When I left there were amendments and—

[The Chair, Liberal, Iqra Khalid]

This is the one that was—

[Kerry-Lynne Findlay, Conservative, South Surrey—White Rock, BC]

So what are we voting on, Madam Chair?

[The Chair, Liberal, Iqra Khalid]

This is the motion that has been proposed by Mr. Garrison to amend the second round of questioning to move up the Bloc and the NDP to a higher level within the round of questions so that they're, I think, second in order. In sessions it would be the Conservatives, the Liberals, the Bloc, then the NDP, then the Conservatives, and then the Liberals, instead of what is indicated in the routine motion from last February.