Justice Committee on Dec. 16th, 2021

[The Clerk of the Committee, Mr. Jean-François Pagé]

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 and cannot entertain points of order or participate in debate.

We can now proceed to the election of the chair. 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.

[Yasir Naqvi, Liberal, Ottawa Centre, ON]

Mr. Clerk, I'd like to nominate Mr. Randeep Sarai, the MP for Surrey Centre, as the chair of the justice committee.

[The Clerk]

It has been moved that Mr. Sarai be elected as chair of the committee. Are there any further motions?

Is it the pleasure of the committee to adopt the motion?

(Motion agreed to)

I declare Mr. Sarai duly elected the chair of the committee.

[Some hon. members]

Hear, hear!

[The Chair, Liberal, Randeep Sarai]

First of all, thank you for electing me as the chair.

I hope to have good lunches and treat you guys well. We'll have to wait for that, probably until the next committee meeting in the new year.

If the committee is in agreement, I invite the clerk to proceed with the election of vice-chairs.

[The Clerk]

Pursuant to Standing Order 106(2), the first vice-chair must be a member of the official opposition.

I'm now prepared to receive motions for the first vice‑chair.

Go ahead, Mr. Brock.

[Larry Brock, Conservative, Brantford—Brant, ON]

Thank you, Mr. Clerk. I'd like to move the nomination of my colleague, the Hon. Rob Moore, as the vice-chair.

[The Clerk]

It has been moved that Mr. Moore be elected as the first vice-chair of the committee.

Are there any further motions?

[Élisabeth Brière, Liberal, Sherbrooke, QC]

Yes. I'd like to nominate my colleague Rhéal Fortin, from the Bloc Québécois.

[The Clerk]

Ms. Brière, the first vice‑chair must be a member of the official opposition.

[The Chair, Liberal, Randeep Sarai]

Yes.

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

Mr. Chair, I would nevertheless like to thank my colleague, Ms. Brière.

[Some hon. members]

Oh, oh! (laughter)

[The Chair, Liberal, Randeep Sarai]

Ms. Brière, we're still going for the first vice-chair. Do you want to retract that nomination? Then we'll proceed with electing the first vice-chair, who must be from the opposition party.

[Élisabeth Brière, Liberal, Sherbrooke, QC]

Perfect.

[The Clerk]

It has been moved by Mr. Brock that Mr. Moore be elected as the first vice-chair of the committee.

Is it the pleasure of the committee to adopt the motion?

(Motion agreed to)

I declare Mr. Moore duly elected.

Pursuant to Standing Order 106(2), the second vice‑chair must be a member of an opposition party other than the official opposition.

I am now prepared to receive motions for the second vice-chair.

[Élisabeth Brière, Liberal, Sherbrooke, QC]

I'd now like to nominate Rhéal Fortin, from the Bloc Québécois.

[The Clerk]

It has been moved by Ms. Brière that Mr. Fortin be elected as second vice‑chair of the committee.

Are there any further motions?

Is it the pleasure of the committee to adopt the motion?

(Motion agreed to)

[The Clerk]

I declare the motion carried and Mr. Fortin duly elected second vice‑chair of the committee.

[Some hon. members]

Hear, hear!

[The Chair, Liberal, Randeep Sarai]

Welcome to meeting number one of the House of Commons Standing Committee on Justice and Human Rights.

Today's meeting is taking place in a hybrid format, pursuant to the House order of November 25, 2021. Members are attending in person in the room and remotely by using the Zoom application. Regarding the speaking list, the committee clerk and I will do our best to maintain a consolidated order of speaking for all members, whether participating virtually or in person.

I'd like to take this opportunity to remind all participants in this meeting that screenshots or taking a photo of your screen is not permitted. The proceedings will be made available via the House of Commons website.

Given the ongoing pandemic situation and in light of recommendations from public health authorities, as well as the directive of the Board of Internal Economy on October 19, 2021, to remain healthy and safe, the following points are recommended for all those attending the meetings in person: Anyone with symptoms should participate by Zoom and not attend the meeting in person. Everyone must maintain two-metre physical distancing, whether seated or standing. Everyone must wear a non-medical mask when circulating in the room. It is recommended, in the strongest possible terms, that members wear their masks at all times, including when seated. Non-medical masks, which provide better clarity over cloth masks, are available in the room. Everyone present must maintain proper hand hygiene by using hand sanitizer at the room entrance.

Committee rooms are cleaned before and after each meeting. To maintain this, everyone is encouraged to clean surfaces such as the desk, chair and microphone with the provided disinfectant wipes when vacating or taking a seat.

As the chair, I will be enforcing these measures for the duration of the meeting, and I thank members in advance for their co-operation.

I would like to suggest as the next order of business that the committee now proceed to considering our routine motions.

Please go ahead, Madame Diab.

[Lena Metlege Diab, Liberal, Halifax West, NS]

Thank you, Mr. Chair.

I would like to move the motions. I'll read them one by one.

That the committee retain, as needed and at the discretion of the Chair, the services of one or more analysts from the Library of Parliament to assist it in its work.

[The Chair, Liberal, Randeep Sarai]

Will we vote one by one for each motion?

[Lena Metlege Diab, Liberal, Halifax West, NS]

Unless it's the will at some point that we vote on them all, yes.

That's the first motion. It's on analyst services.

[The Chair, Liberal, Randeep Sarai]

Do I have the will of the committee?

(Motion agreed to)

Thank you.

Go on.