Public Accounts Committee on Oct. 15th, 2020

[Lloyd Longfield, Liberal, Guelph, ON]

Madam Chair, I'd like to move that we adopt the routine motions that we adopted in the last session.

[The Chair, Conservative, Kelly Block]

Thank you very much, Mr. Longfield.

Do you want to adopt them in their entirety as one motion, or would you like to go through each motion as it is presented?

[Lloyd Longfield, Liberal, Guelph, ON]

I'd put it on the floor that we could do them all at the same time, unless the committee wants to go through one by one, and I am prepared to do that as well.

[The Chair, Conservative, Kelly Block]

Yes, Mr. Green.

[Matthew Green, NDP, Hamilton Centre, ON]

I propose that, in keeping with the practices of the other committees, we go one by one so that we can make necessary adjustments as they come up.

[The Chair, Conservative, Kelly Block]

All right.

Mr. Longfield, Mr. Green is proposing a different process from what you moved.

[Lloyd Longfield, Liberal, Guelph, ON]

That's fine.

[The Chair, Conservative, Kelly Block]

Okay, so we will move forward by consensus to go one by one.

[Lloyd Longfield, Liberal, Guelph, ON]

Mr. Green just wants me to do some work. That is okay. We have some reading to do. The first motion reads as follows:

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.

(Motion agreed to)

[The Chair, Conservative, Kelly Block]

We're on number two.

[Lloyd Longfield, Liberal, Guelph, ON]

The next reads:

That the Subcommittee on Agenda and Procedure be established and be composed of five members, namely the Chair and one member from each recognized party; and that the subcommittee work in a spirit of collaboration.

(Motion agreed to)

The next is:

That the Chair be authorized to hold meetings to receive and publish evidence when a quorum is not present, provided that at least four members are present, including two members from the opposition and two members from the government; and that in the case of previously scheduled meetings taking place outside of the Parliamentary Precinct, the committee members in attendance be required to wait for 15 minutes following the designated start of the meeting before they may proceed to hear witnesses and receive evidence, regardless of whether opposition or government members are present.

[The Chair, Conservative, Kelly Block]

Is there any discussion?

Yes, Matthew.

[Matthew Green, NDP, Hamilton Centre, ON]

I just want to make sure that it reads “that at least four members are present, including two members of the opposition and two members from the government”, just for clarity.

[The Chair, Conservative, Kelly Block]

Yes, it does.

(Motion agreed to)

[Lloyd Longfield, Liberal, Guelph, ON]

The next motion reads:

That witnesses be given ten minutes for their opening statement; 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: Round 1: 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, Conservative Party, five minutes, Liberal Party, five minutes, Bloc Québécois, two and a half minutes, New Democratic Party, two and a half minutes.

[Matthew Green, NDP, Hamilton Centre, ON]

I have a point of order.

The co-host has stopped my video, and I'm not sure why.

[The Chair, Conservative, Kelly Block]

All right.

There we go; it's there now.

[Matthew Green, NDP, Hamilton Centre, ON]

Would you also please put me on the speaking list for this? The timing of my video stopping was rather unfortunate.

[The Chair, Conservative, Kelly Block]

Yes, absolutely.

Mr. Green.

[Matthew Green, NDP, Hamilton Centre, ON]

Thank you.

I'd like to move an amendment:

That witnesses be given five (5) minutes for the opening statements; that whenever possible, witnesses provide the committee with their opening statements 72 hours in advance; that, at the discretion of the Chair, during the questioning of the witnesses, there be allocated six (6) minutes for the first questioner of each party, as follows: Round 1: 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 (5) minutes; Liberal Party, five (5) minutes; Bloc Québécois, two and a half (2.5) minutes; New Democratic Party, two and a half (2.5) minutes; Conservative Party, five (5) minutes; Liberal Party, five (5) minutes.

[The Chair, Conservative, Kelly Block]

Are there any other members who would like to speak to this amendment? Seeing none, we will vote.

Mr. Berthold.

[Luc Berthold, Conservative, Mégantic—L'Érable, QC]

Hello.

I would like a clarification on how the committee operates. Let's take the example of the appearance of the Auditor General. I imagine that, at the discretion of the chair, we may decide by consensus to give him more time to make his initial presentation.

[Matthew Green, NDP, Hamilton Centre, ON]

Of course. That would be my spirit and intent.

[The Chair, Conservative, Kelly Block]

Mr. Berthold, thank you for that clarification.

Is there any other discussion on the amendment?

[Francesco Sorbara, Liberal, Vaughan—Woodbridge, ON]

Could MP Green please repeat the words in regard to the 72 hours?