Transport Committee on Dec. 16th, 2021

[Taylor Bachrach, NDP, Skeena—Bulkley Valley, BC]

Essentially, the committee would be permitted to go in camera to consider a draft report, attend briefings concerning national security, consider lists of witnesses and for any other reason with the unanimous consent of the members of the committee.

It allows us to go in camera for any reason, as long as we all agree that it warrants going in camera. What it prevents is the use of in camera to discuss things that may be publicly sensitive, but are not issues that, for legal or other reasons, should be held held in camera.

Does that make sense, Mr. Chair?

[The Chair, Liberal, Peter Schiefke]

I'm just looking to see whether there are any hands raised by colleagues who have any further questions or comments on this particular motion.

Go ahead, Mr. Barsalou-Duval.

[Xavier Barsalou-Duval, Bloc, Pierre-Boucher—Les Patriotes—Verchères, QC]

I have a few questions about procedure. When Mr. Bachrach asked the clerk a question earlier, we didn't get an answer.

If we don't adopt this motion, how will the decision to move in camera be made? Will the chair decide, or will the decision be made some other way?

[The Chair, Liberal, Peter Schiefke]

This is turning out to be quite complicated.

In essence, the clerk would be in a situation where he would have to speak to this. It would, perhaps, be seen as him either defending it or moving in favour of it.

We're deferring more to Mr. Bachrach to try to speak to how exactly the committee would proceed with voting if we were to find ourselves in that situation. This is a question that's been posed by our colleague Mr. Barsalou-Duval.

[Taylor Bachrach, NDP, Skeena—Bulkley Valley, BC]

The question is how we would procedurally go about going in camera if this motion passed. Is that correct , Mr. Chair?

If I understand, that was a question from the clerk.

[The Chair, Liberal, Peter Schiefke]

That was actually a question from Mr. Barsalou-Duval.

He'd like to know what the procedure would be if we found ourselves in that situation.

I will ask Mr. Barsalou‑Duval to clarify his question.

[Xavier Barsalou-Duval, Bloc, Pierre-Boucher—Les Patriotes—Verchères, QC]

My question was for the clerk. If we don't adopt this motion, how will the decision to move in camera be made? Who will decide? Will the committee have a say in the decision to move in camera?

[The Clerk]

I'm sorry for the confusion. I believe the question was about what happens with questions that are taken while you're in camera under the provisions of this motion. That is very tricky, because we'd be recording names and whatnot, which is counter to how we do things in camera.

However, if you're talking about a regular meeting without this motion, if one were to go in camera, we'd simply require a motion. It's a dilatory motion, so you can move it off the floor at any time and you just take a vote. There's no debate; there's a vote right away on whether to go in camera.

Conversely, the chair can also call for a meeting to begin in camera. If the committee does not agree to that, the very first thing the committee would do at the beginning of that in camera meeting is move to go public. There would be no debate; you'd take a vote and go public, if that was the will of the committee.

[The Chair, Liberal, Peter Schiefke]

Does that answer your question, Mr. Barsalou‑Duval?

[Xavier Barsalou-Duval, Bloc, Pierre-Boucher—Les Patriotes—Verchères, QC]

Yes. Thank you very much.

[The Chair, Liberal, Peter Schiefke]

Thank you.

Are there any other questions or comments?

We're going to do a recorded division.

[The Chair, Liberal, Peter Schiefke]

(Motion negatived: nays 8; yeas 2 [See Minutes of Proceedings])

Are there any other motions that colleagues would like to present?

I have Mr. Bachrach.

[Taylor Bachrach, NDP, Skeena—Bulkley Valley, BC]

Mr. Chair, I was going to bring forward a third one regarding witness allocation. This is a motion that other committees have passed, but I thought maybe I would just speak to the spirit and see if we can get general agreement from you and from the committee.

I believe it was our practice in the last Parliament when we had a two-hour witness panel that each party would have a witness from their submitted lists appear so that we had a diversity of witnesses on each panel. Other committees have chosen to codify that with a routine motion.

I'm not sure that's necessary, but perhaps, Mr. Chair, you and Mr. Clerk could indicate whether that would be your intent and if we could have that as a practice. I think that would suffice, and I would not bring forward a formal motion.

[The Chair, Liberal, Peter Schiefke]

I'd like to get the thoughts of our members on this. Are there any questions or comments?

I have Ms. Gladu.

[Marilyn Gladu, Conservative, Sarnia—Lambton, ON]

Yes, as a former chair, I would say that while it is great to have diversity of thought—and when witnesses are submitted there's a number of them, depending on the representation—you can't always schedule the witnesses when you want to schedule them, because they are not available.

I would say that if we took the intent that we would have diversity of thought and a mix of the witnesses, that would be a great way to proceed, but I wouldn't fall on that sword if there are scheduling issues.

[The Chair, Liberal, Peter Schiefke]

Thank you, Ms. Gladu.

Are there any other questions or comments?

Mr. Bachrach, I would just add my comments on this.

As chair, I will do my very best to ensure that all members have their voices heard, and that's with regard to the witnesses we invite to appear before this committee, but by putting ourselves in a situation where, as Ms. Gladu pointed out, in some cases it's very difficult to get the witnesses we want, we kind of pigeonhole ourselves into that situation. As chair, I'm going to make every effort with the clerk to ensure there is representation from all parties when we have witnesses appear.

[Taylor Bachrach, NDP, Skeena—Bulkley Valley, BC]

Thank you, Mr. Chair. That works for me.

With that, I'll end my comments on routine motions. Thanks for entertaining them.

[The Chair, Liberal, Peter Schiefke]

Thank you, Mr. Bachrach.

Are there any other motions that colleagues would like to put forward?

Seeing none, could I get a motion to adjourn from one of my fine esteemed colleagues?

[Vance Badawey, Liberal, Niagara Centre, ON]

I move to adjourn.

[The Chair, Liberal, Peter Schiefke]

Mr. Badawey moves to adjourn. All in favour?

(Motion agreed to)

Thank you, colleagues. I will simply add “merry Christmas” for those of you who will be celebrating.

I wish you a safe, happy and prosperous new year. All the best, everyone.

Thank you, everyone.