Justice Committee on Oct. 29th, 2020

Evidence of meeting #3 for Justice and Human Rights in the 43rd Parliament, 2nd Session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was vote.

A video is available from Parliament.

On the agenda

Main Estimates 2020-21: Vote 1 under Administrative Tribunals Support Service of Canada, Vote 1 under Canadian Human Rights Commission, Vote 1 under Courts Administration Service, Votes 1 and 5 under Department of Justice, Votes 1 and 5 under Office of the Commissioner for Federal Judicial Affairs, Vote 1 under Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions and Vote 1 under Registrar of the Supreme Court of Canada

Supplementary Estimates (B) 2020-21: Vote 1b under Canadian Human Rights Commission, Vote 1b under Courts Administration Service, Vote 1b under Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions and Vote 1b under Registrar of the Supreme Court of Canada

Committee Business

MPs speaking

Also speaking

Clerk of the Committee Mr. Marc-Olivier Girard

Nathalie Drouin Deputy Minister of Justice and Deputy Attorney General of Canada, Department of Justice

1:05 p.m.

Conservative

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

You're not alone.

1:05 p.m.

Liberal

Mike Kelloway Liberal Cape Breton—Canso, NS

Carry the one; that's all I know.

I want to comment on the two hours with the ministers in question. I think we could have transparency and efficiency. When I looked at having the three ministers here for two hours, my comment, before we got heavily into math, was that I'm okay with it. However, I'll defer to others who have a more mathematical mind for adding up the numbers, though having the three ministers at one time for two hours seems reasonable to me.

1:10 p.m.

Liberal

The Chair Liberal Iqra Khalid

Thanks, Mr. Kelloway.

Mr. Garrison.

1:10 p.m.

NDP

Randall Garrison NDP Esquimalt—Saanich—Sooke, BC

I'm not sure if it was Mr. Moore's intention, but he convinced me to change my mind.

I move that we hear the ministers for one hour and that we schedule a second panel for the second hour. I expect the chair to keep the ministers to short opening statements. I think we'll do okay on that, but I don't want it to be at the expense of having additional witnesses.

1:10 p.m.

Liberal

The Chair Liberal Iqra Khalid

Are you moving that, Mr. Garrison?

1:10 p.m.

NDP

Randall Garrison NDP Esquimalt—Saanich—Sooke, BC

I am.

1:10 p.m.

Liberal

The Chair Liberal Iqra Khalid

We will take that to a vote right now, then.

(Motion agreed to: yeas 10; nays 1)

1:10 p.m.

Liberal

The Chair Liberal Iqra Khalid

Thank you, Mr. Clerk. I appreciate that.

My next and last question for you guys today is with respect to the time slot for the ministers. Given that we've now agreed to have only one panel with the three ministers, I was saying four minutes per minister would be reasonable. Is that okay?

1:10 p.m.

Some hon. members

Agreed.

1:10 p.m.

Liberal

The Chair Liberal Iqra Khalid

Thank you. We'll instruct accordingly.

Could I please have everybody submit their prioritized witness lists at their earliest opportunity so we can send the invitation?

I believe Mr. Clerk wants to make a quick intervention here.

Mr. Clerk, please go ahead.

1:10 p.m.

The Clerk

Madam Chair, to reinforce what you just said, if it's possible to send me the party's priorities by the end of the day today, that would be much appreciated, because November 3 is just around the corner.

Thank you.

1:10 p.m.

Liberal

The Chair Liberal Iqra Khalid

Thank you very much for that.

If there's no other committee business, I will adjourn the meeting.

Thank you, everybody.