Each year, parliamentary committees undertake numerous studies based on the permanent or specific mandates given to them by the House of Commons. For instance, they study bills and may amend them before sending them back to the House of Commons. They are involved in the review of the government’s spending by examining departmental estimates, reports on plans and priorities (departmental plans) and performance reports. They also participate in the review of order in council appointments by calling nominees to appear. Furthermore, committees may initiate their own studies on issues related to the subject areas of their mandates. In conducting these studies, committees will hear from witnesses and, in most cases, will present a report of their findings and recommendations back to the House of Commons. Given the number and scope of their studies, it is clear that committees play an essential role in the work of the House of Commons.

The Liaison Committee, composed of the Chairs of all standing committees and the House Co-Chairs of standing joint committees, is empowered to deliberate on administrative matters relating to the standing committee system. Its main responsibility is to apportion funds to standing committees from the money allocated for that purpose by the Board of Internal Economy. To this end, a global envelope in the amount of $4 million for the 2020-21 fiscal year, is available to committees for their activities.

The Reports on Committee Activities and Expenditures, which are usually prepared three times per fiscal year by the Liaison Committee, present cumulative financial information on committees’ expenditures and the work they are doing. When required, they also include information on special committees, which are normally funded by the Board of Internal Economy. They serve as essential reporting and accountability mechanisms, not only for activities, but also for the use of the resources at committees’ disposal. By summarizing and consolidating statistics regarding the number of meetings, meeting hours, reports and witnesses for each committee, these reports, presented in a format intended to help readers better understand the work of committees, provide readers with a concise summary of committee mandates, activities and expenditures. Finally, they complement other reports and disclosure tools available to Canadians on the Board of Internal Economy website.

It is worth noting in this report that the measures taken by the House of Commons in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic have had an important impact on committees and their activities.

On March 13, 2020, the House of Commons adjourned its proceedings until Monday, April 20, 2020, and cancelled all scheduled committee meetings. Over the course of the next five months, by Orders (April 11, April 20, April 29, May 26 and July 20), the House authorized a number of its committees to meet where committee members and witnesses would participate via either teleconferencing or videoconferencing. This would be the first time the House of Commons would permit its members to fully participate in committee proceedings remotely. During this period, committees were primarily mandated to receive evidence concerning matters related to the Government’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic but were also authorized to meet on other matters. From April 1, 2020 to August 18, 2020, 11 committees received the authorization to meet virtually and held a total of 203 meetings. During this period, in addition to the committees that met virtually, 8 committees met in person and held a total of 20 meetings.

On August 18, 2020, Parliament was prorogued until September 23, 2020.

At the opening of the 2nd Session of the 43rd Parliament, the House of Commons adopted an Order that allowed members of standing, special and legislative committees and the Liaison Committee, as well as their subcommittees, where applicable, to participate to committee proceedings either in person or by videoconference except for the first meeting to elect a chair, which were to be held virtually. This Order also instructed that witnesses would participate to committee proceedings remotely. This resulted in committees meeting in a hybrid format where members could participate in the proceedings either in person in the committee meeting rooms or remotely via the Zoom application.

The Order adopted by the House allowing for hybrid committee meetings expired on December 11, 2020. Therefore, on January 25, 2021, the House adopted a motion ordering, once again, that members participate either in person or by videoconference and that witnesses participate remotely during meetings of standing, standing joint, special and legislative committees and the Liaison Committee, and well as their subcommittees, where applicable.

Hybrid committee meetings have led to many changes in work methods and logistical processes, especially with the additional preparations of witnesses in advance of their remote appearance before a committee. Several technical improvements affecting committee meetings have been made throughout the pandemic. Additional details are available in Appendix A of this report.

Measures taken by the House of Commons in the context of the pandemic have had an impact on committee activities and expenditures. In the current fiscal year, expenditures totalled $165,717 as committees conducted numerous studies during which they heard from 3,904 witnesses in 908 meetings and tabled 115 reports in the House.

We hope this report, which covers the period from April 1, 2020 to March 31, 2021, provides helpful and concise information on the activities of committees, thus giving a better sense of their important work on behalf of Canadians.

For further information, please contact the Liaison Committee at LIAI@parl.gc.ca.