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.
4:05 p.m.
Liberal
Yvan Baker Liberal Etobicoke Centre, ON
Thank you, Chair.
This motion is under “Transcripts of In Camera Meetings”:
That one copy of the transcript of each in camera meeting be kept in the committee clerk's office for consultation by members of the committee or by their staff.
4:05 p.m.
Liberal
4:05 p.m.
Liberal
Yvan Baker Liberal Etobicoke Centre, ON
This is under “Notice of Motion”:
That forty-eight (48) hours' notice, interpreted as two nights, shall be required for any substantive motion to be considered by the committee, unless the substantive motion relates directly to business then under consideration, provided that one notice be filed with the clerk of the committee no later than 4:00 p.m. from Monday to Friday; that the motion be distributed to members in both official languages by the clerk on the same day the said notice was transmitted if it was received no later than the deadline hour; and that notices received after the deadline hour or on non-business days be deemed to have been received during the next business day and that when the committee is travelling on official business, no substantive motions be moved.
4:10 p.m.
Conservative
James Bezan Conservative Selkirk—Interlake—Eastman, MB
I have a quick question. Is that the identical routine motion that we had in the last session?
4:10 p.m.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Karen McCrimmon
Yes, I believe it is. None of these were changed.
(Motion agreed to)
Thank you.
Next is motion 11.
4:10 p.m.
Liberal
Yvan Baker Liberal Etobicoke Centre, ON
This is “Orders of Reference from the House Respecting Bills”:
That, in relation to Orders of Reference from the House respecting Bills, (a) the clerk of the committee shall, upon the committee receiving such an Order of Reference, write to each member who is not a member of a caucus represented on the committee to invite those members to file with the clerk of the committee, in both official languages, any amendments to the Bill, which is the subject of the said Order, which they would suggest that the committee consider; (b) suggested amendments filed, pursuant to paragraph (a), at least 48 hours prior to the start of clause-by-clause consideration of the Bill to which the amendments relate shall be deemed to be proposed during the said consideration, provided that the committee may, by motion, vary this deadline in respect of a given Bill; and (c) during the clause-by-clause consideration of a Bill, the chair shall allow a member who filed suggested amendments, pursuant to paragraph (a), an opportunity to make brief representations in support of them.
4:10 p.m.
Liberal
4:10 p.m.
Conservative
Cheryl Gallant Conservative Renfrew—Nipissing—Pembroke, ON
Does this include independents, or do they have to be a member of a recognized official party?
4:10 p.m.
The Clerk
This would cover independents as well. The intent of the motion is that we don't clog up report stage with amendments that could have been moved in committee. That would include independents.
4:10 p.m.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Karen McCrimmon
Is there any further debate on this motion?
(Motion agreed to)
Now we have motion 12.
4:10 p.m.
Liberal
Yvan Baker Liberal Etobicoke Centre, ON
This is under “Televised or webcast meetings”:
That when a minister, the Chief of Defence Staff, or any other officer of Parliament and/or ombudsman appear before the committee, that any public meetings be televised, or if not possible, webcast.
4:10 p.m.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Karen McCrimmon
Is there any debate on this motion?
(Motion agreed to)
All right, that sees us through the routine motions. Thank you for your co-operation in making that as straightforward as possible.
Mr. Bezan.
4:10 p.m.
Conservative
James Bezan Conservative Selkirk—Interlake—Eastman, MB
Thank you, Madam Chair.
I think that we probably want to start organizing our work. I believe there are a number of things we can do quickly, as well as some things that we want to take on that are more substantive.
I have circulated a notice of three motions. I'd like to start with motion number three, which is as follows:
That the committee invite the Minister of National Defence to appear regarding the Main Estimates for the fiscal year ending March 31st, 2021, no later than November 4th, 2020, for no fewer than two hours, and that the meeting be televised.
For reference, the main estimates were tabled some time ago, back in March, I believe. Without having a budget to look at, I think it's important that we get the minister here and talk about the main estimates, also considering that we haven't met since March.
4:10 p.m.
Liberal
Yvan Baker Liberal Etobicoke Centre, ON
I want to suggest.... In the last sitting, one of the things we did well, in a spirit of collaboration.... I thought those of us who were members of the subcommittee worked well together to help prioritize and shape the agenda for the committee's work.
Would it make sense to have the subcommittee meet to do that again and incorporate all the suggestions from all the various members? I'm sure most of us here have ideas about the kind of work we would want the committee to do. Then those of us on the subcommittee can go through that work and come to a resolution that allows all of our interests to be accommodated.
4:15 p.m.
NDP
Randall Garrison NDP Esquimalt—Saanich—Sooke, BC
Thanks very much, Madam Chair.
While I generally support the suggestion that we send everything to the steering committee, before we adjourned for COVID we had agreed to invite the ambassador for women, peace and security to the committee. Also, Mr. Bezan has a motion, which I think there is broad support for, about examining the impact of COVID on the Canadian Forces.
My suggestion, so we can get started expeditiously, would be that we agree to do those two things, on which I think there is broad consensus, and refer all the other motions to the subcommittee for establishing priorities.
4:15 p.m.
Conservative
James Bezan Conservative Selkirk—Interlake—Eastman, MB
I don't disagree with that, Madam Chair, but just as a point of order, we have a motion on the floor that we should debate first and then move forward.
4:15 p.m.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Karen McCrimmon
The motion on the floor deals with the visit for the estimates.
I don't think there's any objection to the minister coming to speak about the estimates, and if we need something in short order.... I agree with the point that we have a couple of things. If we want to send most stuff to the subcommittee for consideration, we'd have a bit of free time before they come back to us with their plan. If they're the ones who are going to prioritize and come up with an agenda, a calendar and stuff, maybe there are a couple of things that can be done in the meantime.
Is that what you're suggesting, Mr. Bezan?
4:15 p.m.
Conservative
James Bezan Conservative Selkirk—Interlake—Eastman, MB
It is. Until we have our work schedule organized, witnesses called on other motions, I think we can do some of these other ones that are fairly straightforward. Of course, the one that's most straightforward is to have the minister appear on the main estimates.
4:15 p.m.
Liberal
Anita Vandenbeld Liberal Ottawa West—Nepean, ON
Thank you very much, Madam Chair.
I note that there is a motion on the floor, but I also note that there was broad agreement in terms of the way to proceed. What I would suggest is that, with regard to Mr. Bezan's motion and the interest of the committee on the COVID response of the CAF, we could certainly, as one of the priorities, invite officials to have them brief us.
I do note as well that Mr. Garrison—and this was supposed to be our next meeting in March—was to have Jacqueline O'Neill, Canada's ambassador for women, peace and security, and, as always, the minister is very happy to appear at this committee and is making sure to look at his calendar to see what his availability is. That gives us three meetings right off the bat.
What I propose, Mr. Bezan, if you would withdraw your motion, is that the committee agree that those three would be the first meetings. Then, in the meantime, we can have a meeting of the subcommittee to prioritize whatever motions have been sent by members, as well as motions that may not have been sent yet.
4:15 p.m.
Conservative
James Bezan Conservative Selkirk—Interlake—Eastman, MB
I will not withdraw. I think that we'd pass the motions of the ones we want to work on.
I should also make a note that the main estimates have to be reported back to the House before November 24, I believe, so we have a responsibility here. It's not just about organizing our schedule. It's about being responsible parliamentarians and hearing from the minister on the spending plans for the department in the main estimates.
Let's deal with this one, and then we can move on to the other two suggestions by Randall, which I support.