Evidence of meeting #1 for National Defence in the 43rd Parliament, 2nd Session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was motions.
A recording is available from Parliament.
3:35 p.m.
The Clerk of the Committee Mr. Michael MacPherson
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, 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 am ready to receive motions for the chair.
Mr. Spengemann.
3:35 p.m.
Liberal
Sven Spengemann Liberal Mississauga—Lakeshore, ON
Mr. Clerk, it is my pleasure to nominate Mrs. Karen McCrimmon as a candidate for chair of this committee.
3:35 p.m.
The Clerk
It has been moved by Mr. Spengemann that Mrs. McCrimmon be elected as chair of the committee.
Are there any further motions?
Pursuant to the order of Wednesday, September 23, I will now proceed to a recorded division. The question is that, as moved by Mr. Spengemann, Karen McCrimmon be elected chair of the committee.
(Motion agreed to: yeas 12; nays 0)
I declare the motion carried and Mrs. Karen McCrimmon duly elected chair of the committee.
I invite Mrs. McCrimmon to take the chair.
3:35 p.m.
Liberal
The Acting Chair Liberal Karen McCrimmon
Thank you, Mr. Clerk.
Dear colleagues, thank you very much for the trust you have placed in me. I am very honoured to serve as chair of this committee. I look forward to starting the work we will be doing together.
Welcome, everyone.
3:35 p.m.
The Clerk
If the committee is in agreement, we can now proceed to the election of the vice-chairs.
Pursuant to Standing Order 106(2), the first vice-chair must be a member of the official opposition.
I am now prepared to receive motions for the first vice-chair.
October 14th, 2020 / 3:40 p.m.
Conservative
Cheryl Gallant Conservative Renfrew—Nipissing—Pembroke, ON
I move that the first vice-chair be James Bezan.
3:40 p.m.
The Clerk
It has been moved by Mrs. Gallant that Mr. Bezan be elected as first vice-chair of the committee.
Are there any further motions?
Seeing none, I will now move to the recorded division pursuant to the House order of Wednesday, September 23. The question is that Mr. Bezan be elected as first vice-chair of the committee.
(Motion agreed to: yeas 12; nays 0)
I declare the motion carried and Mr. Bezan duly elected first vice-chair of the committee.
We can now proceed to the election of the second vice-chair. 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.
Mr. Baker.
3:40 p.m.
Liberal
Yvan Baker Liberal Etobicoke Centre, ON
Thank you very much.
I nominate Mr. Brunelle-Duceppe for second vice-chair.
3:40 p.m.
The Clerk
It has been moved by Mr. Baker that Mr. Brunelle-Duceppe be elected as second vice-chair of the committee.
Are there any further motions?
Pursuant to the House order of Wednesday, September 23, 2020, I will now proceed to a recorded division.
The motion is that Mr. Brunelle-Duceppe be elected as second vice-chair of the committee.
(Motion agreed to: yeas 12; nays 0)
I declare the motion carried and Mr. Brunelle-Duceppe duly elected second vice-chair of the committee.
I turn it over to you, Madam Chair.
3:40 p.m.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Karen McCrimmon
Thank you very much for that.
It's so good to see you all here today. We have so much good work to do. I'm really excited to get moving and go forward. I want to thank you for making the first part of this meeting so easy and straightforward.
Now we can move on to looking at the routine motions. There are a couple of different ways of doing this. I think we will go through the routine motions one by one. Someone will read it out—I hope I have a volunteer for that—and then there will be an opportunity for anyone to give input or debate.
Please use the “raise hand” function. I think the “raise hand” function is good in that it actually logs who put their hand up first. This makes it much easier for me to keep track of who's waiting to speak on a particular issue. Once you've spoken, lower your hand again so that I know that everyone who wanted a chance to speak on that particular issue has had a chance. My job is to make sure that everyone has an opportunity to speak and be heard. That's exactly what I'm going to be working on.
If, along the way, we come up with a slightly different way that is more fair or transparent, I am more than willing to consider it. This is just a way for us to get started. Later on, when it comes to voting on motions, etc., we'll have more discussions.
To start, then, when we want to have a debate or talk about a motion, use the “raise hand” function. When it's time for a vote on a motion, we could either do it quickly with the visual reference of raising your hand, or we could do a recorded division, if that is requested.
Let's start with the routine motions. Who is going to start the routine motions?
Yvan, go ahead.
3:45 p.m.
Liberal
Yvan Baker Liberal Etobicoke Centre, ON
Thank you, Chair.
You'll see that I raised my hand in the “raise hand” feature. I'm trying to lead us off appropriately, as per the direction of the chair.
I will move the routine motions. These are the same motions we had in place previously. I'll move them one at a time, unless you direct me otherwise.
The first motion—I'm reading from the document that was circulated by the clerk—is under “Analyst Services”. It reads:
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.
3:45 p.m.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Karen McCrimmon
Is there any debate or any input? I see none.
(Motion agreed to)
That works all right. Thank you very much.
We will go to the next routine motion.
3:45 p.m.
Liberal
Yvan Baker Liberal Etobicoke Centre, ON
It states:
That the Subcommittee on Agenda and Procedure be established and be composed of five (5) members, namely the chair and one member from each recognized party; and that the subcommittee work in a spirit of collaboration.
3:45 p.m.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Karen McCrimmon
Do we have anybody who would like to debate or give input on this particular motion?
3:45 p.m.
Conservative
3:45 p.m.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Karen McCrimmon
I don't see anybody else wanting to speak on this motion. I'm trying to read these little lists of people to make sure that I have given everybody who wanted to speak an opportunity to speak.
I don't see any people who want to discuss this motion any further.
(Motion agreed to)
Motion number three is next.
3:45 p.m.
Liberal
Yvan Baker Liberal Etobicoke Centre, ON
It's about meeting without a quorum:
That the chair be authorized to hold meetings to receive and publish evidence when a quorum is not present, provided that at least four (4) members are present, including a 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.
3:45 p.m.
Conservative
James Bezan Conservative Selkirk—Interlake—Eastman, MB
I would like to amend that motion so it reads “including two members of the opposition and two members of the government”.
3:45 p.m.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Karen McCrimmon
There's an amendment on the floor.
Does anybody have any further debate or discussion?
Seeing none, let's vote on this amendment—
3:50 p.m.
Conservative
Cheryl Gallant Conservative Renfrew—Nipissing—Pembroke, ON
Can you clarify whether that is two members of any opposition, or does one have to include the official opposition? I'm just seeking clarification there.
3:50 p.m.
Conservative
James Bezan Conservative Selkirk—Interlake—Eastman, MB
It is my understanding that it would just be two members of the opposition, regardless of party affiliation.