Evidence of meeting #1 for National Defence in the 44th Parliament, 1st Session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was chair.

A video is available from Parliament.

On the agenda

MPs speaking

Also speaking

Clerk of the Committee  Mr. Andrew Wilson
Martin Auger  Analyst

3:45 p.m.

Liberal

Darren Fisher Liberal Dartmouth—Cole Harbour, NS

Mr. Chair, I have a quick question.

Can these be read into the record by the chair?

3:45 p.m.

The Clerk

It would be preferable if someone other than the chair moved them, because the chair technically can't move motions.

3:45 p.m.

Liberal

The Chair Liberal John McKay

I'm just learning the ropes. I went to the James Bezan class of parliamentary procedure and flunked.

Mr. Fisher, since you're such an enthusiast—

3:45 p.m.

Conservative

Cheryl Gallant Conservative Renfrew—Nipissing—Pembroke, ON

On a point of order, let's read each motion and then vote on each motion separately, instead of reading all of them at once into the record.

3:45 p.m.

Liberal

The Chair Liberal John McKay

We're doing just one at a time. We've done the first one. Presumably the second one is satisfactory.

I need a mover for the third one.

December 15th, 2021 / 3:45 p.m.

Liberal

Darren Fisher Liberal Dartmouth—Cole Harbour, NS

I'll move it, Mr. Chair.

That the Chair be authorized to hold meetings to receive evidence and to have that evidence published when a quorum is not present, provided that at least four members are present, including two members of the opposition parties and two members of the government party, but when travelling outside the Parliamentary Precinct, that the meeting begin after 15 minutes, regardless of members present.

3:45 p.m.

Liberal

The Chair Liberal John McKay

Is there any discussion?

(Motion agreed to)

Four. Who wants to read that?

Madame Normandin.

3:45 p.m.

Bloc

Christine Normandin Bloc Saint-Jean, QC

We'll have a bit of French, then. With respect to the time for opening remarks and questioning of witnesses, I move the following:

That witnesses be given five minutes for their opening statement; that whenever possible, witnesses provide the committee with their opening statement 72 hours in advance; that at the discretion of the Chair, during the questioning of witnesses, there be allocated six minutes for the first questioner of each party as follows for the first round:

Conservative Party

Liberal Party

Bloc Québécois

New Democratic Party

For the second and subsequent rounds, the order and time for questioning be as follows:

Conservative Party, five minutes

Liberal Party, five minutes

Bloc Québécois, two and a half minutes

New Democratic Party, two and a half minutes

Conservative Party, five minutes

Liberal Party, five minutes.

3:50 p.m.

Liberal

The Chair Liberal John McKay

Okay. Is there any discussion?

(Motion agreed to)

Mr. Bezan, do you want to do the next one?

3:50 p.m.

Conservative

James Bezan Conservative Selkirk—Interlake—Eastman, MB

I move:

That only the clerk of the committee be authorized to distribute documents to members of the committee provided the documents are in both official languages, and that the witnesses be advised accordingly.

3:50 p.m.

Liberal

The Chair Liberal John McKay

Is there any discussion?

(Motion agreed to)

3:50 p.m.

Liberal

The Chair Liberal John McKay

Oh, Mr. Motz wants to do the next motion.

I don't want this motion to be enhanced.

3:50 p.m.

Conservative

Glen Motz Conservative Medicine Hat—Cardston—Warner, AB

It might be. I move:

That the clerk of the committee, at the discretion of the Chair, be authorized to make the necessary arrangements to provide working meals for the committee and its subcommittees.

After “the Chair”, I would add “and committee members”.

3:50 p.m.

Some hon. members

Oh, oh!

3:50 p.m.

Conservative

Glen Motz Conservative Medicine Hat—Cardston—Warner, AB

No. I'm just joking.

(Motion agreed to [See Minutes of Proceedings])

3:50 p.m.

Liberal

The Chair Liberal John McKay

On travel and accommodation, Ms. Gallant, do you want to move that?

3:50 p.m.

Conservative

Cheryl Gallant Conservative Renfrew—Nipissing—Pembroke, ON

I move:

That, if requested, reasonable travel, accommodation and living expenses be reimbursed to witnesses not exceeding two representatives per organization; and that in exceptional circumstances, payment for more representatives be made at the discretion of the Chair.

(Motion agreed to)

3:50 p.m.

Liberal

The Chair Liberal John McKay

We're now on access to in camera meetings.

Mr. Fisher, it's back to you.

3:50 p.m.

Liberal

Darren Fisher Liberal Dartmouth—Cole Harbour, NS

Thank you, Mr. Chair.

I guess our virtual folks aren't carrying any of the weight here, so I'll move this one. I move:

That, unless otherwise ordered, each committee member be allowed to be accompanied by one staff member at in camera meetings and that one additional person from each House officer’s office be allowed to be present.

3:50 p.m.

Conservative

Cheryl Gallant Conservative Renfrew—Nipissing—Pembroke, ON

There has been a concern in the past with respect to that. Sometimes a member will have an intern be that staff member. We have witnessed security-wise that the person should not be an intern, because they've been from foreign countries in the past. It's just better to say that interns are not allowed to be present during in camera meetings.

I also believe that somebody from the whip's office is allowed to be in there in lieu of one of the staff members. There can be a member of the whip's office come in, but it would mean one less staff member. Somebody would have to forfeit a staff member.

I just want to make sure that's clear.

3:50 p.m.

Liberal

The Chair Liberal John McKay

Are you proposing an amendment to this motion?

3:50 p.m.

Conservative

Cheryl Gallant Conservative Renfrew—Nipissing—Pembroke, ON

Well, yes, I want to make sure there is an amendment that none of the staff be interns going through internships.

3:50 p.m.

Liberal

The Chair Liberal John McKay

Jennifer.

3:50 p.m.

Liberal

Jennifer O'Connell Liberal Pickering—Uxbridge, ON

Mr. Chair, I think that's ridiculous. If a member or a staff person has a House of Commons badge and if they've been approved to be on the precinct, then they should be allowed. It is up to the discretion of each member who staffs them as to who is there. The suggestion that somebody from another country can't be trusted on this committee I find deeply offensive.

I think we can govern ourselves to determine who is the best staff person to staff us. In an in camera setting, we limit those numbers for that reason, but it's the determination of each member to determine who that staffer is. Whether they're an intern or a full-time or part-time employee makes no difference, as long as they're approved on the Hill.

3:50 p.m.

Liberal

The Chair Liberal John McKay

I see Mr. May.

I can't see Mr. Spengemann. Where is he? Can we change the screen so that I at least can see him?

I'll go to Madame Normandin, then Mr. May and then Mr. Spengemann.