HUMA Committee Meeting
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Minutes of Proceedings
Conservative
Bloc Québécois
Armine Yalnizyan and Matthew Chater made statements and answered questions.
At 5:08 p.m., the sitting was suspended.
At 5:11 p.m., the sitting resumed.
Angela Bonfanti and Paulette Senior made statements.
Stephanie Kusie moved, — That, in the context of its study to the government's response to the COVID-19 pandemic, the committee send for the following documents to be provided by the Government by Tuesday, June 30, 2020.
1) All briefing notes, memorandums, emails, guidance and documents related to the Canada Emergency Response Benefit between Sunday, March 1, 2020 and Thursday, May 28, 2020;
2) All briefing notes, memorandums, emails and documents related to the eligibility requirements for the Canada Emergency Response Benefit between Sunday, March 1, 2020 and Thursday, May 28, 2020;
3) All briefing notes, memorandums, emails and documents related to potential fraudulent cases of the Canada Emergency Response Benefit between Sunday, March 1, 2020 and Thursday, May 28, 2020;
4) All legal opinions sent to the government by briefing notes, email, documents or other forms of communication related to the Canada Emergency Response Benefit between Sunday, March 1, 2020 and Thursday, May 28, 2020.
Debate arose thereon.
On motion of Jenny Kwan, it was agreed, — That the motion be amended by replacing the words “Tuesday, June 30, 2020” with the words “Monday, August 31, 2020”.
On motion of Jenny Kwan, it was agreed, — That the motion be amended by adding the words “from and to Ministers, Deputy Ministers, Assistant Deputy Ministers and Directors” after the words “guidance and documents”.
On motion of Jenny Kwan, it was agreed, — That the motion be amended by adding the words “from and to Ministers, Deputy Ministers, Assistant Deputy Ministers and Directors” before the words “related to the eligibility”.
On motion of Jenny Kwan, it was agreed, — That the motion be amended by adding the words “from and to Ministers, Deputy Ministers, Assistant Deputy Ministers and Directors” before the words “related to potential”.
On motion of Jenny Kwan, it was agreed, — That the motion be amended by adding the words “from and to Ministers, Deputy Ministers, Assistant Deputy Ministers and Directors” before the words “related to the Canada”.
On motion of Jenny Kwan, it was agreed, — That the motion be amended by deleting the words “4) All legal opinions sent to the government by briefing notes, email, documents or other forms of communication related to the Canada Emergency Response Benefit between Sunday, March 1, 2020 and Thursday, May 28, 2020.”.
Anthony Housefather moved, — That the motion be amended by adding the words “Irrespective of the foregoing, matters of cabinet confidence, solicitor-client privilege and national security shall be excluded from the request and that the documents be redacted as may be necessary to protect the privacy of Canadian citizens and permanent residents whose names and personal information may be included in the documents as well as public servants who have been providing assistance on this matter.”.
Debate arose thereon.
After debate, the question was put on the amendment of Anthony Housefather and it was agreed to on the following recorded division:
YEAS: Louise Chabot, Han Dong, Anthony Housefather, Jenny Kwan, Wayne Long, Ryan Turnbull, Adam Vaughan — 7;
NAYS: Dan Albas, Rosemarie Falk, Stephanie Kusie, Brad Vis — 4.
Anthony Housefather moved, — That the motion be amended by deleting the word “emails” from sections 1, 2 and 3; and by adding the words “and dated” after every iteration of “Canadian Emergency Response Benefit” in sections 1, 2 and 3.
Debate arose thereon.
After debate, the question was put on the amendment of Anthony Housefather and it was agreed to on the following recorded division:
YEAS: Louise Chabot, Han Dong, Anthony Housefather, Wayne Long, Ryan Turnbull, Adam Vaughan — 6;
NAYS: Dan Albas, Rosemarie Falk, Stephanie Kusie, Jenny Kwan, Brad Vis — 5.
After debate, the question was put on the motion, as amended, and it was agreed to on the following recorded division:
YEAS: Dan Albas, Louise Chabot, Han Dong, Rosemarie Falk, Anthony Housefather, Stephanie Kusie, Jenny Kwan, Wayne Long, Ryan Turnbull, Adam Vaughan, Brad Vis — 11;
NAYS: — 0.
The motion, as amended, read as follows:
That, in the context of its study of the government’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Committee send for the following documents to be provided by the Government by Monday, August 31, 2020:
1) All briefing notes, memorandums, guidance and documents from and to Ministers, Deputy Ministers, Assistant Deputy Ministers and Directors related to the Canada Emergency Response Benefit and dated between Sunday, March 1, 2020 and Thursday, May 28, 2020;
2) All briefing notes, memorandums, and documents from and to Ministers, Deputy Ministers, Assistant Deputy Ministers and Directors related to the eligibility requirements for the Canada Emergency Response Benefit and dated between Sunday, March 1, 2020 and Thursday, May 28, 2020;
3) All briefing notes, memorandums, and documents from and to Ministers, Deputy Ministers, Assistant Deputy Ministers and Directors related to potential fraudulent cases of the Canada Emergency Response Benefit and dated between Sunday, March 1, 2020 and Thursday, May 28, 2020.
Irrespective of the foregoing, matters of cabinet confidence, solicitor-client privilege and national security shall be excluded from the request and that the documents be redacted as may be necessary to protect the privacy of Canadian citizens and permanent residents whose names and personal information may be included in the documents as well as public servants who have been providing assistance on this matter.
At 6:12 p.m., the committee adjourned to the call of the Chair.