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

[Nancy Ruth, Senator, Ontario (Cluny), C]

I like the way you phrased it, because some people may not be able to get to a video conferencing centre. Thank you.

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

Is there any other discussion?

(Motion agreed to)

[The Joint Chair, Hon. Kelvin Kenneth Ogilvie]

We now move to motion 7, which deals with working meals.

Go ahead, Ms. Shanahan.

[Brenda Shanahan, Liberal, Châteauguay—Lacolle, QC]

Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Since I like to eat from time to time, I move that the joint clerks of the committee be authorized to make the necessary arrangements to provide working meals for the committee and its subcommittees.

[The Joint Chair, Hon. Kelvin Kenneth Ogilvie]

Thank you very much.

The motion is before the committee.

Is there further discussion?

(Motion agreed to)

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

The next motion is with respect to the committing and certifying of accounts.

Is there a motion?

Mr. Aldag.

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

I move that either joint chair, or, in accordance with the direction of the joint chairs, either joint clerk be authorized to commit funds and certify accounts from the approved budget of the committee.

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

Is there discussion?

(Motion agreed to)

[The Joint Chair, Hon. Kelvin Kenneth Ogilvie]

Regarding motion 9, which deals with in camera meetings, is there a motion on the floor?

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

Mr. Joint Chair Ogilvie, I move that each member of the committee be allowed to have a staff member present at in camera meetings; in addition, that each party be permitted to have one staff member from the whip's office present; and that a copy of the transcript of each in camera meeting be kept by the joint clerks for consultation by members of the committee or by their staff.

[The Joint Chair, Hon. Kelvin Kenneth Ogilvie]

Thank you.

The motion is before the committee. Does anyone wish to debate it?

(Motion agreed to)

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

The tenth motion is with respect to notice of motion.

Ms. Dabrusin.

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

I would like to propose that 48 hours' notice be required for any substantive motion to be considered by the committee, unless a substantive motion relates directly to business then under consideration, and that the notice of motion be filed with the joint clerks of the committee and distributed to members in both official languages.

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

Any questions, debate, or discussion?

(Motion agreed to)

[The Joint Chair, Hon. Kelvin Kenneth Ogilvie]

Turning to motion 11, is there a motion on quorum of subcommittees?

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

Mr. Joint Chair, should a subcommittee be struck by the committee, I move that the quorum of subcommittees be set at a majority of the total membership, so long as both members are represented.

[The Joint Chair, Hon. Kelvin Kenneth Ogilvie]

Thank you very much.

The motion is before the committee. Does anyone wish to debate it?

Go ahead, sir.

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

I would like to make a clarification, for the record. My honourable colleague said “both members”, but I believe he meant to say “both Houses”.

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

Yes, we need to write “both Houses”, that's right. Please make the correction.

Thank you, Mr. Deltell.

(Motion agreed to)

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

The last motion of this set of motions has to do with television proceedings.

Is there a motion?

Mr. Aldag.

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

The motion is that the joint chairs be empowered, at their discretion, to televise the committee's public proceedings.

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

Is there any discussion?

(Motion agreed to)

[The Joint Chair, Hon. Kelvin Kenneth Ogilvie]

The next item is under “other business”.

The first item is some information with regard to the 2 p.m. meeting. It's our understanding that government officials are in the room and that they have indicated that they're available to meet with the committee this afternoon. The consultation between the parties, as I understand it, has occurred. We have been advised that there is agreement to meet this afternoon between 2 p.m. and 4 p.m. with officials from Justice Canada and that official notices will be sent shortly.

I therefore put it before the members of the committee: are you as a committee in agreement that this occur in the manner I've described?

[Some hon. members]

Agreed.

[The Joint Chair, Hon. Kelvin Kenneth Ogilvie]

I should have indicated that there was also an agreement, as I understand it, among the parties that Justice will have a 20-minute time for presentation, so I want to make it clear that this is open for your commentary as well. Does that change anyone's view with regard to the overall motion or agreement?

Then I declare it's agreed that we will meet this afternoon under those conditions. The notices will go out as soon as possible.