Medical Assistance in Dying Committee on April 8th, 2022

[Michael Barrett, Conservative, Leeds—Grenville—Thousand Islands and Rideau Lakes, ON]

Madam Chair, with respect to the order of questioning rounds, just looking to the practice in the House and at the most recently struck joint House and Senate committee, I would propose that the first questioning round go to the Conservatives as the official opposition and the second questioning round go to the Liberals, just as that's the practice, and then in the subsequent rounds where the Liberals would appear first, that's switched with the Conservatives, based on the practice of the most recently struck joint committee.

[The Joint Chair, Hon. Yonah Martin]

I don't see any other hands. I don't see the room, so it's hard to know if there are any other individuals. Otherwise, this is an amendment moved by Michael Barrett to switch the order as per practice in the other joint committees.

Mr. Arseneault.

[René Arseneault, Liberal, Madawaska—Restigouche, NB]

Madam Chair, since I'm the mover of Motion No. 5, and I'm not opposed to our colleague's amendment, we can go ahead and adopt what he's proposing.

[The Joint Chair, Hon. Yonah Martin]

Are there any other comments from the floor or online.

I see none. Is it agreed to adopt the motion as amended?

(Motion agreed to)

We move to motion number six.

[The Acting Joint Chair, Liberal, Marc Garneau]

Motion No. 6 deals with document distribution:

That the joint clerks of the committee be authorized to distribute to the members of the committee only documents that are available in both official languages; and that witnesses be advised accordingly.

Is someone prepared to move that motion?

[Marie-Françoise Mégie]

I so move.

[The Acting Joint Chair, Liberal, Marc Garneau]

Thank you, Senator Mégie.

(Motion agreed to)

[The Joint Chair, Hon. Yonah Martin]

We will move on to motion seven.

It reads:

That the joint clerks of the committee be authorized to make the necessary arrangements to provide snacks and beverages for the committee and its subcommittees.

It is moved by Senator Dalphond.

(Motion agreed to)

[The Acting Joint Chair, Liberal, Marc Garneau]

Motion No. 8 deals with committing and certifying accounts:

That either joint chair or, in accordance with the direction of the joint chairs, either joint clerk be authorized to approve payment of expenditures of the committee.

Is someone prepared to move Motion No. 8?

[René Arseneault, Liberal, Madawaska—Restigouche, NB]

I so move, Mr. Chair.

[The Acting Joint Chair, Liberal, Marc Garneau]

Thank you, Mr. Arseneault.

(Motion agreed to)

[The Joint Chair, Hon. Yonah Martin]

We will move on to motion nine. It reads:

That, if requested, reasonable travel, accommodation, living or other witness expenses including child care and/or personal attendant care or the cost of an approved headset be reimbursed to witnesses upon application, not exceeding two representatives per organization; and that, in exceptional circumstances, payment for more representatives be made at the discretion of the joint chairs.

Do I have a mover?

Senator Mégie, do you move the motion or do you have a question?

[Marie-Françoise Mégie]

I have a question to ask before I move the motion.

If the motion is put forward as is, it suggests that everyone has to travel to Ottawa. Is there any way to specify somewhere that committee members as well as guests can also participate in meetings virtually? Should the issue of the hybrid operation of the committee be the subject of a motion?

[The Joint Chair, Hon. Yonah Martin]

I see Ms. Fry's hand, so perhaps she's adding to or....

[Hedy Fry, Liberal, Vancouver Centre, BC]

I'm agreeing with Senator Mégie. In the House right now we're allowed until June 23 to have hybrid sittings. That has been voted by the House of Commons unanimously, so we could do that, because there will still be some people who may not be able to come for various reasons. I am one, because I'm immunocompromised and I'm not coming into any crowded room.

[The Joint Chair, Hon. Yonah Martin]

The question from Senator Mégie was whether we needed an added motion to that effect or whether we would amend or include it in this current motion. Do you think we need an additional motion after this?

Since I saw nodding heads regarding an additional motion, for now, I will....

There's a comment from Monsieur Arseneault.

[René Arseneault, Liberal, Madawaska—Restigouche, NB]

Thank you, Madam Chair.

When I read the motion, I understand that this is done at the request of the witnesses. Perhaps they will also be invited to participate in the meeting virtually rather than in person.

Senator Megie's intervention is extremely pertinent. We are indeed going to hear from a lot of witnesses. Do they have to appear in person? Would virtual appearances be preferable, for greater efficiency? Nothing in the motion seems to prevent the committee from asking witnesses to appear virtually. If this is indeed the case, then this motion is about witnesses who make such a request appearing in person.

We need to clarify whether we must ask witnesses to appear in person, or whether the clerk is at liberty, following our instructions, to ask them to appear virtually. After that has been determined, we can debate the motion.

[The Joint Chair, Hon. Yonah Martin]

Thank you, Monsieur Arseneault.

I see three hands. There are several. Perhaps I can ask Dr. Fry if this is in response to what you heard Monsieur Arseneault say. Then I will move to the other speakers.

Dr. Fry, did you want to respond?

[Hedy Fry, Liberal, Vancouver Centre, BC]

It's not necessarily for Mr. Arseneault. I wanted to respond to your question about whether or not we should do a separate motion or we should just include this in the current motion on the floor, the concept—

[The Joint Chair, Hon. Yonah Martin]

Thank you. Let me go to the other individuals first. I'll start with Senator Kutcher, followed by Senator Dalphond, followed by Mr. Garneau.

[Stanley Kutcher]

Thank you very much, Chair.

I think it makes a lot of sense that, if witnesses can be heard hybridly or electronically, we have that as a preferred method of hearing from them. If that's not possible, then they come to Ottawa. It has tremendous savings, number one. It has a climate impact. I think we should make coming to Ottawa the fallback, not the go-to.

[The Joint Chair, Hon. Yonah Martin]

Thank you.

Senator Dalphond.

[Pierre Dalphond]

Thank you, Madam Chair.

I was going to move to add, at the end of motion number 9, the words “it being understood that witnesses may participate virtually”.

In this case, it would be understood that the witnesses may appear virtually.

[The Joint Chair, Hon. Yonah Martin]

Thank you, Senator Dalphond.

I'm assuming that our clerks are listening to our conversation in regard to the wording. Maybe this is something we can adopt with the motion as amended. Even though we don't have the exact wording, we all seem to agree that while hybrid sittings are available, some of these witnesses will appear virtually rather than in person.

I'll go to Monsieur Garneau and Senator Mégie following him.

[The Joint Chair, Liberal, Marc Garneau]

Thank you, Madam Joint Chair.

I agree with Senator Dalphond's additional wording. I am a chair of one of the standing committees in the House of Commons. We receive a lot of hybrid witnesses. We cover their costs with respect to providing them with a headset—because of the very strict requirements so that the interpreters can do their job—and if they have expenses with respect to setting up their communications in order to be able to appear virtually. It really is an expense that we are already covering, I think, in most cases. If we can just clarify that this applies to somebody who appears virtually, I think that would solve it.