PROC Committee Meeting

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Minutes of Proceedings

Standing Committee on Procedure and House Affairs (PROC)

43rd Parliament, 2nd Session

Meeting 24

Thursday, February 18, 2021, 11:06 a.m. to 1:15 p.m.

Room 425, Wellington Building, 197 Sparks Street

Webcast

Presiding

Ruby Sahota, Chair (Liberal)

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Members of the Committee present

Liberal

Conservative

Bloc Québécois

Alain Therrien

NDP

Daniel Blaikie

Acting Members present

• Peter Fragiskatos for Mark Gerretsen (Liberal)

• Wayne Long for Hon. Kirsty Duncan (Liberal)

In attendance

Library of Parliament

• Andre Barnes, Analyst

• Laurence Brosseau, Analyst

Government’s Reasons for Proroguing Parliament in August 2020

Witnesses

As an individual

• Duane Bratt, Professor, Political Science, Faculty of Arts, Mount Royal University

• Patrick Taillon, Professor, Constitutional Law, Faculty of Law, Université Laval

Pursuant to Standing Order 32(7) and the motion adopted by the committee on Thursday, November 5, 2020, the committee resumed its study of the government’s reasons for proroguing Parliament in August 2020.

The witnesses made statements and answered questions.

Election of Vice-Chairs

Pursuant to Standing Order 106(2), the clerk of the committee presided over the election of a vice-chair.

On motion of Karen Vecchio, it was agreed, — That John Nater be elected First Vice-Chair of the committee.

At 12:11 p.m., the sitting was suspended.

At 12:17 p.m., the sitting resumed in camera.

Conduct of a Federal Election during the COVID-19 Pandemic

Pursuant to Standing Order 108(3)(a)(vi) and the motion adopted by the committee on Tuesday, October 20, 2020, the committee resumed its study of the conduct of a federal election during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The committee resumed consideration of a draft report.

It was agreed, — That the draft report, as amended, be adopted.

It was agreed, — That the report be entitled: "Final Report: Protecting Public Health and Democracy during a Possible Pandemic Election".

It was agreed, — That the Chair, clerk and analysts be authorized to make such grammatical and editorial changes as may be necessary without changing the substance of the report.

It was agreed, — That dissenting or supplementary opinions, of no more than ten pages in length, or no more than the length of the report, whichever is shorter, be submitted electronically, in both official languages, to the Clerk of the Committee, not later than 12:00 p.m. on Thursday, February 25th, 2021.

ORDERED, — That the Chair present the report to the House.

Committee Business

The committee proceeded to the consideration of matters related to committee business.

It was agreed, — That the committee meet in public on February 23, 2021, to consider matters related to committee business.

At 1:15 p.m., the committee adjourned to the call of the Chair.

Justin Vaive

Clerk of the Committee