Evidence of meeting #1 for Status of Women in the 44th Parliament, 1st Session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was chair.
A recording is available from Parliament.
3:40 p.m.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Karen Vecchio
Are there questions or comments? Are we all in favour?
(Motion agreed to)
Continue, Mr. Serré.
3:40 p.m.
Liberal
Marc Serré Liberal Nickel Belt, ON
For the time for opening remarks and the questioning of witness, the motion is worded as follows: That witnesses be given five (5) minutes for their opening statement; 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 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) minutesLiberal Party, five (5) minutes Bloc Quebecois, 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.
3:40 p.m.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Karen Vecchio
Are there any questions or comments on the motion?
Go ahead, Leah.
3:40 p.m.
NDP
Leah Gazan NDP Winnipeg Centre, MB
Thanks, Madam Chair.
I'd like to propose an amendment, an addition that would read:
That each party represented on the committee be entitled to select one witness per two-hour witness panel.
The rationale for this amendment is that I think it's really important to listen to a diverse group of witnesses. I think it's vital to committee work, and specifically on this committee. I think it also reflects in the committee the proportional makeup of the House. I think it's important that we move to ensure each recognized party gets a quarter of the witnesses, which would ensure a more diverse group of witnesses. In looking around the table, I think that is really critical to this group.
In the last Parliament, this rotation was put in place through an opposition motion sponsored by Michelle Rempel Garner that instructed the health committee to study COVID-19. This worked very well and can be a model for other committees.
I'd like to put that on the table. Thank you.
December 14th, 2021 / 3:40 p.m.
Liberal
Anita Vandenbeld Liberal Ottawa West—Nepean, ON
It's been a few years since I was on this committee, but I do recall that we were very good at sometimes working on a consensus basis. Often in this area, the witnesses proposed by different parties are the same witnesses, so I don't want to constrict us in that kind of way. I think we've all worked very well collaboratively, and I think that if the worst comes to the worst, we have traditions in this place about how that is done. I certainly don't want us to be constrained by a motion when in fact we may all agree.
3:40 p.m.
Conservative
3:40 p.m.
NDP
Leah Gazan NDP Winnipeg Centre, MB
I want to honour that good faith suggestion, but I do think that there's a reason to have procedures and policies in committee. I would like to push it a little and still move the amendment that each party represented on the committee be entitled to select one witness per two-hour witness panel.
3:40 p.m.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Karen Vecchio
That's fair enough.
I'm going to give some background for anyone who hasn't been stuck with me as chair before. What I usually do and what I've done in the past is grant witnesses based on proportion. If we were at 25% each and you put in 25%, I always believe that it's up to those parties to put through those witnesses' names based on the number they've been allocated. I do not mess with those lists, because that is who you, as one of those members, wish to see.
In the past we have based it on the representation in the House of Commons. As I've said, I've always guaranteed that I would not mess around with your lists. I don't think that's the option of the chair, because I do believe that diversity of opinion is exactly what we need.
Is there any other discussion or are there concerns on this issue before we go forward?
Okay. Would everybody like to see the amendment? Shall we have a vote? Okay. We'll have a recorded vote.
(Amendment negatived: nays 8; yeas 2)
The amendment has been defeated. Are there any other amendments?
We'll go to the main motion.
(Motion agreed to)
Mr. Serré, continue.
3:45 p.m.
Liberal
Marc Serré Liberal Nickel Belt, ON
Thank you, Madam Chair.
The motion relates to document distribution. It reads:
That only the clerk of the committee be authorized to distribute documents to members of the committee provided the documents are in both official languages, and that the witnesses be advised accordingly.
3:45 p.m.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Karen Vecchio
Are there any questions or comments?
(Motion agreed to)
Go ahead.
3:45 p.m.
Liberal
Marc Serré Liberal Nickel Belt, ON
For working meals, I move:
That the clerk of the committee, at the discretion of the Chair, be authorized to make the necessary arrangements to provide working meals for the committee and its subcommittees.
3:45 p.m.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Karen Vecchio
Then for everyone here we'll have some hot dogs and pop. I'm just joking.
All those in favour?
3:45 p.m.
Conservative
Karen Vecchio Conservative Elgin—Middlesex—London, ON
Okay.
Madame Larouche, did you hear the last motion?
3:45 p.m.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Karen Vecchio
That's excellent.
Marc, can you just read that last motion so that we have it all on the record, please?
3:45 p.m.
Liberal
Marc Serré Liberal Nickel Belt, ON
Okay. Here goes:
That the clerk of the committee, in consultation with the Chair, be authorized to make the necessary arrangements to provide working meals for the committee and its subcommittees.
3:45 p.m.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Karen Vecchio
That's excellent. Are there any questions or comments?
(Motion agreed to)
Please continue, Marc.
3:45 p.m.
Liberal
Marc Serré Liberal Nickel Belt, ON
That, if requested, reasonable travel, accommodation and living expenses be reimbursed to witnesses not exceeding two representatives per organization, and that in exceptional circumstances, payment for more representatives be made at the discretion of the Chair.
3:45 p.m.
Conservative
3:45 p.m.
Liberal
Marc Serré Liberal Nickel Belt, ON
For access to in camera meetings, 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.
