Public Safety Committee on Oct. 24th, 2022

[Alistair MacGregor, NDP, Cowichan—Malahat—Langford, BC]

I'd like to request a recorded vote.

(Motion agreed to: yeas 11; nays 0)

[The Chair, Liberal, Ron McKinnon]

I was counting on some amendments and subamendments.

Mr. Van Bynen, go ahead.

[Tony Van Bynen, Liberal, Newmarket—Aurora, ON]

Mr. Chair, I would like to reintroduce the motion I put forward on Thursday, October 6.

Do you want me to read the motion again? It's a matter of record already and notice has been provided.

[The Chair, Liberal, Ron McKinnon]

I think it would be best if you read it, so we're all clear on what it is.

[Tony Van Bynen, Liberal, Newmarket—Aurora, ON]

I move:

That, pursuant to Standing Order 108(2), the committee takes up a study to review emergency preparedness with respect to extreme weather hazards including but not limited to floods, forest fires, ice/snowstorms and hurricanes and that;

a- The study includes a review of critical infrastructure at high risk from these events; what all levels of government are doing to mitigate these risks; and what response and recovery capacity is in place when disasters do occur, including a review of roles, responsibilities, and processes to activate response mechanisms;

b- This study includes at least four meetings;

c- The committee invite the President of the King's Privy Council and Minister of Emergency Preparedness to appear, and other witnesses as requested by the committee;

d- This committee report its findings to the House; and that, pursuant to Standing Order 109, the government table a comprehensive response to the report.

[The Chair, Liberal, Ron McKinnon]

The motion is in order.

I will note to the committee that there's no deadline or time specified for when to have it. We have a number of things on the table. We'll have to try to juggle it as best we can.

If this passes, I would ask that all members submit witness lists, so that we can ask our.... I'm trying not to speak to the motion.

Is there any discussion?

[Raquel Dancho, Conservative, Kildonan—St. Paul, MB]

That was part of my question. I didn't catch if there was a date, but you're saying there's no specific date. If it passes, it will be happening; we just haven't decided when.

My concern is that earlier this fall, we talked about reviewing what happened at the mass killing in Saskatchewan. That is still very present, and the investigation continues. I think the committee agreed that it was a pressing issue. There was a bit of disagreement on whether or not we would wait until the inquiry for that is over. I want to reiterate that it is the Conservative priority. I know there are a few other parties that are also interested in studying it as soon as we conclude Bill C-21, or as soon as possible, given that we would like to prevent that from happening before.... I think it is the duty to ensure that it is the priority.

I think this motion originated, in part, from a Conservative member who is no longer on this committee, Tako Van Popta. He's a very hard-working member. We are pleased with the motion overall.

[The Chair, Liberal, Ron McKinnon]

Thank you.

I think we may have to have a subcommittee meeting down the road to sort out some of this stuff.

Is there any further discussion on this motion?

Go ahead, Mr. Noormohamed.

[Taleeb Noormohamed, Liberal, Vancouver Granville, BC]

Mr. Chair, in the spirit of my fellow British Columbian, the Conservative member who originally had this idea, I think it's a very important motion for us to get into.

The one thing I would suggest, if we are open to this during the course of the conversation about it, is to include some provisions for travel. I think there's a lot we can learn from what has happened in Japan and in New Orleans, and what has worked well and what has not worked well. We can see first-hand the long-term impacts of either good planning or poor planning.

Frankly, it may be too soon for us to travel to Atlantic Canada to see what has happened post-Fiona, but it's important for us to learn lessons from other parts of the world to bring best practices to Canada when possible.

I don't know how others feel about that, but I think it may be worthy of consideration.

[The Chair, Liberal, Ron McKinnon]

That's great.

Thank you, Mr. Noormohamed.

Is there any further discussion?

Seeing none, let us have a vote on this wonderful motion.

Do we need a roll call?

[Pam Damoff, Liberal, Oakville North—Burlington, ON]

I think it's easier for Tony.

[The Chair, Liberal, Ron McKinnon]

I'm sorry.

[Pam Damoff, Liberal, Oakville North—Burlington, ON]

I think Tony was having trouble hearing us. Maybe ask him if he wants to have a roll call or to see if we all agree.

[Tony Van Bynen, Liberal, Newmarket—Aurora, ON]

If there's unanimous consent, I'm delighted with that.

I haven't been able to hear the microphones very effectively. It might be all this Beatles music in the background.

[The Chair, Liberal, Ron McKinnon]

Let's see if we have agreement.

I see agreement around the table, so I'll consider that unanimous agreement.

(Motion agreed to)

Thank you, Mr. Van Bynen.

Is there any further business for us at this time?

Seeing none, thank you, all, for your time and your diligence in pursuing matters of great passion and concern.

With that, we are now adjourned.