Physician-Assisted Dying Committee on Jan. 18th, 2016

[The Joint Chair (Mr. Robert Oliphant), Liberal, Rob Oliphant]

Is there further discussion?

Go ahead, Senator Cowan.

[James Cowan, Senator, Nova Scotia, Lib.]

If we're going to operate correctly and properly and respectfully here, we're all equal members of this committee, and there should be appropriate representation and equal time for everybody regardless of which House they come from.

[The Joint Chair (Mr. Robert Oliphant), Liberal, Rob Oliphant]

Is there further discussion?

The first vote we will take is on the amendment as proposed by Mr. Rankin, which was that the order for speaking and the time allocations would be as he indicated, which was a change from the first motion. Just to review that, what he has suggested is that the first round would be House of Commons, Liberal; House of Commons, Conservative; House of Commons, New Democrat; Senate, Conservative; and Senate, Liberal. That would be followed by a House of Commons Liberal, Conservative, and New Democrat, and then a House of Commons Liberal, thus taking senators out of the second round and replacing them with a New Democrat.

What is the will of the committee on the amendment to the motion?

(Amendment negatived)

I declare the amendment defeated.

Now we will return to the original motion as it was presented, which has official witnesses at 10 minutes and two rounds of 25 minutes each. Do I need to repeat that, or is it okay?

All right. All in favour of the motion, please so indicate.

(Motion agreed to)

We will continue with routine motions.

The third one—sorry, this is your turn.

[The Joint Chair, Hon. Kelvin Kenneth Ogilvie]

Thank you, Bob.

The next motion deals with a subcommittee on agenda and procedure.

The normal framework for this language starts out “That the Subcommittee on Agenda and Procedure be composed of the Joint Chairs and:”—fill in the rest of that based on the discussion at the table—“and that the Subcommittee be empowered to make decisions on behalf of the Committee with respect to its agenda, to invite witnesses, and to schedule hearings.”

Is there any motion to come before us?

Mr. Aldag.

[John Aldag, Liberal, Cloverdale—Langley City, BC]

We have consent among all parties not to have a subcommittee on agenda but to have the agenda set in camera by all members.

[The Joint Chair, Hon. Kelvin Kenneth Ogilvie]

You have heard that there is a general agreement on how we would proceed in this regard and that we will attempt to deal with witnesses at the meetings of the whole committee. It is my understanding that you would empower the joint chairs to make any changes that arise subsequently—that is, if witnesses identified from the priority list cannot make it, the joint co-chairs would be entitled to choose from the alternate list approved by the whole committee.

Is that your understanding?

[John Aldag, Liberal, Cloverdale—Langley City, BC]

That's correct.

[The Joint Chair, Hon. Kelvin Kenneth Ogilvie]

Thank you.

The motion is before the committee. All in favour?

(Motion agreed to)

That is carried. Thank you.

[The Joint Chair (Mr. Robert Oliphant), Liberal, Rob Oliphant]

Thank you.

The fourth motion concerns the distribution of documents.

Mr. Lemieux, you have the floor.

[Denis Lemieux, Liberal, Chicoutimi—Le Fjord, QC]

Mr. Chair, I move 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.

[The Joint Chair (Mr. Robert Oliphant), Liberal, Rob Oliphant]

Does anyone wish to debate this motion?

Go ahead, sir.

[James S. Cowan]

Is it the practice in the House of Common even for witnesses who appear that their documents, before they can be distributed, have to be in both official languages, or is this only for documents tabled by government?

[The Joint Chair (Mr. Robert Oliphant), Liberal, Rob Oliphant]

All documents in the House of Commons are required to be in both languages. If witnesses want to make a statement, they may make it orally in one language, but if it is going to be presented as evidence, it needs to be in both languages. Translation services are provided for witnesses. Am I correct on that? Yes.

[James S. Cowan]

Do we have sufficient resources to ensure that there will be no delay in the distribution of those documents?

[The Joint Chair (Mr. Robert Oliphant), Liberal, Rob Oliphant]

As a returning MP who has had four years of vacation, I am now remembering that there are resources for translation. If documents are provided ahead of time to the clerk, they will be prepared and ready for the meeting. If someone arrives with a document, it may take a couple of days to get it translated, so they may make their presentation orally and then the document will be entered into the committee's work once it's in translation.

[Gérard Deltell, Conservative, Louis-Saint-Laurent, QC]

Mr. Chair, you explained that when someone gives a verbal explanation, their words are translated. In that case, that works, that is in keeping with what Mr. Lemieux is proposing.

However, you say that if he wants to have a document translated, it can take a few days before the translation comes back to us. Does that mean, going by what Mr. Lemieux has said, that his testimony could be excluded?

[The Joint Chair (Mr. Robert Oliphant), Liberal, Rob Oliphant]

No, the oral testimony will be entered into the record of proceedings. The supporting documents would come in afterwards. I'll be very honest with you: I will turn to the clerk on these issues because I'm out of practice, but that's what I thought.

Is there any other discussion regarding the distribution of documents?

(Motion agreed to)

[The Joint Chair, Hon. Kelvin Kenneth Ogilvie]

We now move to motion 5. We need a motion from the floor to permit the committee to publish its proceedings.

[Murray Rankin, NDP, Victoria, BC]

I so move.

[The Joint Chair, Hon. Kelvin Kenneth Ogilvie]

It is duly moved that the committee publish its proceedings. Is there any further discussion?

(Motion agreed to)

[The Joint Chair (Mr. Robert Oliphant), Liberal, Rob Oliphant]

For the sixth motion, regarding travel accommodations and living expenses for witnesses, is there a motion?

Ms. Dabrusin.

[Julie Dabrusin, Liberal, Toronto—Danforth, ON]

I would like to bring a motion. It is as follows:

That, if requested, reasonable travel, accommodation and living expenses including child care and/or personal attendant care be reimbursed to witnesses upon application, not exceeding two (2) representatives per organization, and that, in exceptional circumstances, payment for more representatives be made at the discretion of the Joint Chairs.

[The Joint Chair (Mr. Robert Oliphant), Liberal, Rob Oliphant]

Is there any discussion?

Mr. Warawa.

[Mark Warawa, Conservative, Langley—Aldergrove, BC]

I have just a quick question. I think this is very normal and reasonable, with the understanding that video conferencing or video presentations should be given an opportunity and should actually be the first choice so that people don't have to travel.

[The Joint Chair (Mr. Robert Oliphant), Liberal, Rob Oliphant]

We will do our best to ensure that the technology will be provided to people who are not able to travel and that expenses will be covered for people who are able to travel.

Senator Nancy Ruth.