ETHI Committee Meeting

The Standing Committee on Access to Information, Privacy and Ethics met at 3:38 p.m. this day, in Room 371, West Block, for the purpose of electing a Chair, pursuant to Standing Order 106(1).

On motion of Michelle Simson, it was agreed, — That Paul Szabo be elected Chair of the Committee.

The Clerk of the Committee presided over the election of the Vice-Chairs.

On motion of Earl Dreeshen, it was agreed, — That Russ Hiebert be elected First Vice-Chair of the Committee.

On motion of Carole Freeman, it was agreed, — That Bill Siksay be elected Second Vice-Chair of the Committee.

Paul Szabo took the Chair.

On motion of Russ Hiebert, it was agreed, — That 48 hours’ notice be required for any substantive motion to be considered by the Committee, unless the substantive motion relates directly to business then under consideration; and that the notice of motion be filed with the Clerk of the Committee and distributed to members in both official languages.

On motion of Carole Freeman, it was agreed, — 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.

On motion of Bob Dechert, it was agreed, — That the Subcommittee on Agenda and Procedure be composed of four members, one member from each of the political parties and that each member of the subcommittee shall be permitted to have one assistant attend at any meetings of the Subcommittee on Agenda and Procedure.

Carole Freeman moved, — 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 three (3) members are present, including one member of the opposition.

Debate arose thereon.

Earl Dreeshen moved, — That the motion be amended by replacing the word “three (3)” with the word “four (4)”; and by replacing the words “including one member of the opposition” with the words “including one member from each recognized party” .

After debate, the question was put on the amendment and the result of the vote was announced: YEAS: 5; NAYS: 5.

Whereupon, the Chair voted in the negative.

Accordingly, the amendment was negatived.

After debate, the question was put on the motion and it was agreed to.

On motion of Bill Siksay, it was agreed, — That only the Clerk of the Committee be authorized to distribute documents to members of the Committee and only when such documents exist in both official languages.

On motion of Michelle Simson, it was agreed, — That the Clerk of the Committee be authorized to make the necessary arrangements to provide working meals for the Committee and its subcommittees.

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

Debate arose thereon.

Bill Siksay moved, — That the motion be amended by adding the words “including if requested, reasonable childcare expenses be reimbursed” after the word “Chair”.

After debate, the question was put on the amendment of Bill Siksay and it was agreed to.

After debate, the question was put on the motion, as amended, and it was agreed to.

The motion, as amended, read as follows:

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

On motion of Kelly Block, it was agreed, — That, unless otherwise ordered, each Committee member be allowed to be accompanied by one staff person at an in camera meeting and in addition each party shall be permitted to have one party staff member in attendance.

It was agreed, — 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.

Pierre Poilievre moved, — That the order of questions for the first round of the questioning shall be as follows: Liberal, Bloc, NDP, Conservative. Questioning during the second round shall alternate between the opposition members and government members in the following fashion: Liberal, Conservative, Bloc, Conservative, Liberal, Conservative, Conservative. Based on the principle that each committee member should have a full opportunity to question the witnesses if time permits further rounds shall repeat the pattern of the first two at the discretion of the chair.

Debate arose thereon.

Bill Siksay moved, — That the motion be amended by replacing the words “The order of questions for the first round of the questioning shall be as follows: Liberal, Bloc, NDP, Conservative. Questioning during the second round shall alternate between the opposition members and government members in the following fashion: Liberal, Conservative, Bloc, Conservative, Liberal, Conservative, Conservative. Based on the principle that each committee member should have a full opportunity to question the witnesses if time permits further rounds shall repeat the pattern of the first two at the discretion of the chair” with the words “That during the first round of questioning of witnesses seven minutes be allocated to each party in the following order: Liberal, Bloc québecois, New Democratic Party, Conservative, and that in subsequent rounds five minutes be allocated to each party on each round in the following order: Liberal, Conservative, Bloc québecois, Conservative, New Democratic Party, Liberal, Conservative”.

Debate arose thereon.

Pierre Poilievre moved, — That the amendment be amended by replacing the words “Liberal, Conservative, Bloc Québecois, Conservative, New Democratic Party, Liberal, Conservative” with the words “Liberal, Conservative, Bloc Québecois, Conservative, Liberal, Conservative, Conservative ”.

After debate, the question was put on the subamendment and the result of the vote was announced: YEAS: 5; NAYS: 5.

Whereupon, the Chair voted in the negative.

Accordingly, the subamendment was negatived.

Pierre Poilievre moved, — That the amendment be amended by replacing the words “That during the first round of questioning of the witnesses seven minutes be allocated to each party in the following order: Liberal, Bloc québecois, New Democratic Party, Conservative, and in subsequent rounds five minutes be allocated to each party on each round in the following order; Liberal, Conservative, Bloc québecois, Conservative, New Democratic Party, Liberal, Conservative” with the words “That this committee recognize the democratic will of the Canadian people in apportioning questioning time on an equal per-member basis by ensuring that each party gets one question per member in the first two rounds”.

Debate arose thereon.

After debate, the question was put on the subamendment and the result of the vote was announced: YEAS: 5; NAYS: 5.

Whereupon, the Chair voted in the negative.

Accordingly, the subamendment was negatived.

Borys Wrzesnewskyj moved, — That the motion be amended by replacing the words “That during the first round of questioning of the witnesses seven minutes be allocated to each party in the following order: Liberal, Bloc québecois, New Democratic Party, Conservative, and in subsequent rounds five minutes be allocated to each party on each round in the following order; Liberal, Conservative, Bloc québecois, Conservative, New Democratic Party, Liberal, Conservative” with the words “recognizing that no democratic system is perfect, and notwithstanding that the Conservative Party of Canada received only 38% of the popular vote in the last election, and notwithstanding the Prime Minister's unwillingness to respect those areas of Canada which are unrepresented with additional seats we maintain the status quo time allotment for questions which provide the Conservative Party of Canada with a disproportionate voice on this committee”.

The Chair ruled the proposed subamendment inadmissible.

After debate, the question was put on the amendment of Bill Siksay and it was agreed to.

After debate, the question was put on the motion, as amended, and it was agreed to.

The motion, as amended, read as follows:

That during the first round of questioning of the witnesses seven minutes be allocated to each party in the following order: Liberal, Bloc Québecois, New Democratic Party, Conservative, and that in subsequent rounds five minutes be allocated to each party on each round in the following order: Liberal, Conservative, Bloc Québecois, Conservative, New Democratic Party, Liberal, Conservative.

On motion of Russ Hiebert, it was agreed, — That witnesses be given no more than ten (10) minutes for their opening statements and that additional information be deposited with the Clerk of the Committee.

At 4:42 p.m., the Committee adjourned to the call of the Chair.