Status of Women Committee on Feb. 20th, 2020

[Lindsay Mathyssen, NDP, London—Fanshawe, ON]

I've been involved in committees where they found it more helpful that the subcommittee roll into the full committee. It may be worth a bit of discussion that sometimes, as we need to, we put it into the regular time allocated for the meetings just to save us meetings about meetings. It's open for discussion.

[The Chair, Conservative, Karen Vecchio]

I know that last time, in the 42nd Parliament, we did a bit of both, so I think that as we move forward, we'll have collaboration. I have spoken to both parliamentary secretaries for this file. We're all working together. I believe that everybody's voice here needs to be equal, so having us all sit at committee doing business is very important. I think the subcommittee will meet on some things that are very important, maybe due to time limitations and things of that sort, but we'll work as much as we can as a whole committee.

(Motion agreed to)

[Sonia Sidhu, Liberal, Brampton South, ON]

Madam Chair, I move:

That the Chair be authorized to hold meetings to receive evidence and to have that evidence printed when a quorum is not present, provided that at least four (4) members are present, including one member of the opposition and one member of the government, but when travelling outside the parliamentary precinct, that the meeting begin after fifteen (15) minutes, regardless of members present.

(Motion agreed to)

[Sonia Sidhu, Liberal, Brampton South, ON]

Madam Chair, I move:

That witnesses be given ten (10) minutes for their opening statement; that at the discretion of the Chair, during the questioning of 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 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.

(Motion agreed to)

[Sonia Sidhu, Liberal, Brampton South, ON]

I move:

That the Clerk of the Committee be authorized to distribute documents to members of the Committee only when the documents are available in both official languages and that witnesses be advised accordingly.

(Motion agreed to)

[Sonia Sidhu, Liberal, Brampton South, ON]

I move:

That the Clerk of the Committee be authorized to make the necessary arrangements to provide working meals for the Committee and its Subcommittees.

[The Chair, Conservative, Karen Vecchio]

I'll make one comment on this. I know there are some restrictions of diet. Please make sure that the clerk is aware of them. We'll try to work with them.

(Motion agreed to)

[Sonia Sidhu, Liberal, Brampton South, ON]

I move:

That, if requested, reasonable travel, accommodation and living expenses be reimbursed to witnesses not exceeding two (2) representatives per organization; provided that, in exceptional circumstances, payment for more representatives be made at the discretion of the Chair.

[The Chair, Conservative, Karen Vecchio]

Is there any discussion from this?

Go ahead, Gudie.

[Gudie Hutchings, Liberal, Long Range Mountains, NL]

Madam Chair, first of all congratulations.

On this, I would just like to say that I think wherever possible we should avail ourselves of video conferencing technology. It's better for the environment; it's better for people travelling in weather conditions. Wherever possible, I think we should try to avail ourselves of this technology.

[The Chair, Conservative, Karen Vecchio]

Alice.

[Alice Wong, Conservative, Richmond Centre, BC]

I concur with Ms. Hutchings' suggestion, because sometimes witnesses are not willing to come all the way. I think this is good. I second Ms. Hutchings' recommendation.

[The Chair, Conservative, Karen Vecchio]

This has been discussed many times. As we're looking at this issue, this is a very good way of setting these policies. We will ask the clerk to always try to see whether we can do video conferencing first and then offer the opportunity to travel as a secondary option.

We have just added that any time possible we'll use video conferencing technology.

Go ahead, Raquel.

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

I have a concern that if video conferencing is almost always available, if we pass this motion, then we won't ever have anyone physically here.

I'm just wondering whether there's any consideration for folks coming physically, particularly if they are from nearby.

[The Chair, Conservative, Karen Vecchio]

There will be flexibility such that when witnesses are in this area, that's what we'll do as well. We will look at what works best for not only the witnesses but for our committee as well.

(Motion agreed to [See Minutes of Proceedings])

[Sonia Sidhu, Liberal, Brampton South, ON]

Madam Chair, I move:

That, unless otherwise ordered, each Committee member be allowed to have one staff member at an in camera meeting and that one additional person from each House officer's office be allowed to be present.

[The Chair, Conservative, Karen Vecchio]

For the sake of anyone new, that means one staff member only. Then there will be one representative from each party; there will be somebody from the whip's office or the House leader's office for each. There will be, then, one staffer and one person representing the party as a whole.

(Motion agreed to)

[Sonia Sidhu, Liberal, Brampton South, ON]

Next, I move:

That one copy of the transcript of each in camera meeting be kept in the Committee Clerk's office for consultation by members of the Committee or by their staff.

(Motion agreed to)

[Sonia Sidhu, Liberal, Brampton South, ON]

Madam Chair, I move:

That a forty-eight (48) hours notice, interpreted as two (2) nights, shall be required for any substantive motion to be considered by the Committee, unless the substantive motion relates directly to business then under consideration, provided that (1) the notice be filed with the Clerk of the Committee no later than 4:00 p.m. from Monday to Friday; that (2) the motion be distributed to Members in both official languages by the Clerk on the same day the said notice was transmitted if it was received no later than the deadline hour; and that (3) notices received after the deadline hour or on non-business days be deemed to have been received during the next business day and that when the committee is travelling on official business, no substantive motions may be moved.

(Motion agreed to)

[Sonia Sidhu, Liberal, Brampton South, ON]

Madam Chair, I move:

That, in relation to Orders of Reference from the House respecting Bills,

(a) the Clerk of the Committee shall, upon the Committee receiving such an Order of Reference, write to each Member who is not a member of a caucus represented on the Committee to invite those Members to file with the Clerk of the Committee, in both official languages, any amendments to the Bill, which is the subject of the said Order, which they would suggest that the Committee consider;

(b) suggested amendments filed, pursuant to paragraph (a), at least 48 hours prior to the start of clause-by-clause consideration of the Bill to which the amendments relate shall be deemed to be proposed during the said consideration, provided that the Committee may, by motion, vary this deadline in respect of a given Bill; and

(c) during the clause-by-clause consideration of a Bill, the Chair shall allow a Member who filed the suggested amendments, pursuant to paragraph (a), an opportunity to make brief representations in support of them.

(Motion agreed to)

[The Chair, Conservative, Karen Vecchio]

Lindsay.

[Lindsay Mathyssen, NDP, London—Fanshawe, ON]

Madam Chair, I move:

That any motion to go in camera should be debatable and amendable, and that the committee may only meet in camera for the following purposes:

(a) to discuss administrative matters of the committee

(b) a draft report

(c) briefings concerning national security;

And furthermore, minutes of in camera meetings should reflect on the results of all votes taken by the committee while in camera, including how each member voted when a recorded vote is requested.

[The Chair, Conservative, Karen Vecchio]

In this discussion of in camera meetings, what about when witnesses have very sensitive situations? For instance, we have had witnesses in the past who we thought maybe were fearful of doing something publicly.

Gudie.

[Gudie Hutchings, Liberal, Long Range Mountains, NL]

I would add after subsection (a) that we include the selection and consideration of witnesses. It would read, “to discuss administrative matters of the committee, including the selection and consideration of witnesses”.

Then, of course, further to what you were saying, subsection (d) would be “protection of privacy of any individuals”.

Karen, was that what you were referring to?

[The Chair, Conservative, Karen Vecchio]

Yes, that's really important.