Status of Women Committee on Oct. 13th, 2020

[The Clerk of the Committee, Ms. Stephanie Bond]

Honourable members of the committee, I see a quorum. I must inform members that the clerk of the committee can only receive motions for the election of chair. The clerk cannot receive other types of motions or entertain points of order or participate in debate.

We can now proceed to the election of the chair. Pursuant to Standing Order 106(2), the chair must be a member of the official opposition. I am now ready to receive motions for the chair.

[Jag Sahota, Conservative, Calgary Skyview, AB]

I'm nominating Marilyn Gladu to be the chair.

[Alice Wong, Conservative, Richmond Centre, BC]

I second the motion.

[The Clerk]

Are there any further motions? Seeing none, I declare the motion carried and Ms. Gladu duly elected chair of the committee. Congratulations.

(Motion agreed to)

Is it the pleasure of the committee for me to continue on with the election of the first vice-chair?

[Some hon. members]

Agreed.

[The Clerk]

Wonderful. Pursuant to Standing Order 106(2), the first vice-chair must be a member of the government party. I am now prepared to receive motions for the first vice-chair.

Monsieur Serré.

[Marc Serré, Liberal, Nickel Belt, ON]

Thank you, Madam Clerk.

I would like to nominate our honourable colleague, Ms. Sidhu, please.

[The Clerk]

Are there any further motions? Seeing none, I declare the motion carried and Ms. Sidhu elected as first vice-chair of the committee. Congratulations.

(Motion agreed to)

Pursuant to Standing Order 106(2), the second vice-chair must be a member of an opposition party other than the official opposition. I am now prepared to receive motions for the second vice-chair.

Mr. Serré.

[Marc Serré, Liberal, Nickel Belt, ON]

Thank you, Madam Clerk.

I'd like to nominate the honourable member from the Bloc Québécois, Ms. Larouche, as second vice-chair.

[The Clerk]

It has been moved by Mr. Serré that Ms. Larouche be elected as second vice-chair of the committee.

Are there any other motions?

I declare the motion carried and Ms. Larouche duly elected second vice-chair of the committee.

(Motion agreed to)

Now, I will invite Madam Gladu to take the chair.

[The Chair, Conservative, Marilyn Gladu]

Thank you so much to the clerk.

Thank you all.

Congratulations, Ms. Larouche. Welcome.

Thank you so much. It is an honour to be the chair of the committee. As you know, I was previously chair but never on Zoom. We will learn together.

[Andréanne Larouche, Bloc, Shefford, QC]

Madam Chair, I'd like to say something.

[The Chair, Conservative, Marilyn Gladu]

Yes, Madame Larouche.

[Andréanne Larouche, Bloc, Shefford, QC]

I just want to let the committee members know that I have some notices of motion. I plan to have my assistant, Arnaud Brubacher, send them to the clerk so they can be distributed to the committee members.

[The Clerk]

Thank you. Once we've dealt with the routine motions, I'll send the motions I've received to all committee members.

[The Chair, Conservative, Marilyn Gladu]

Very good. As you may be aware, in the past these were read sequentially. If it is the will of the committee, I will proceed to read through all of the standard motions that need to be passed. We'll offer for each an opportunity for discussion, and then we will vote yes or no.

The first one is for analysts services:

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.

Is there any discussion?

(Motion agreed to)

The second resolution relates to the subcommittee on agenda and procedure:

That the Subcommittee on Agenda and Procedure be established and be composed of five (5) members, the Chair, one member from each party; and that the subcommittee work in a spirit of collaboration.

Is there discussion?

Ms. Mathyssen.

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

I would like to add the word “recognized”, so that it would read, “one member from each recognized” party.

[The Clerk]

With the committee's permission, I can circulate Ms. Mathyssen's suggestion. Is everyone in agreement? Yes?

I will send that now to your P9 accounts.

[The Chair, Conservative, Marilyn Gladu]

Is there any further discussion on that particular resolution?

(Amendment agreed to)

(Motion as amended agreed to)

The next motion is on meeting without a quorum:

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 that when travelling outside the Parliamentary precinct, that the meeting begin after 15 minutes, regardless of members present.

Is there discussion?

Ms. Mathyssen.

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

I would like changes to be made. Instead of it “including one member of the opposition and one member of the government”, I would like it to read, “including two members of the opposition and two members of the government”.

[The Chair, Conservative, Marilyn Gladu]

Is there further discussion?

(Amendment agreed to)

(Motion as amended agreed to)

The next motion is on the time for opening remarks and questioning of witnesses:

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.

Is there discussion?

[Andréanne Larouche, Bloc, Shefford, QC]

Sorry, Madam Chair.

[The Acting Chair, Conservative, Marilyn Gladu]

Yes, Ms. Larouche?

[Andréanne Larouche, Bloc, Shefford, QC]

On the motion that was just moved, is it possible to give the Bloc Québécois its turn in the middle of the second round so that it has an opportunity to speak during the second round?

[The Chair, Conservative, Marilyn Gladu]

My understanding is that this is the standard preferred by the PROC committee. That's where the recommendation was initiated, and this committee has the ability to change it however it would like.