HUMA Committee Meeting

The Standing Committee on Human Resources, Skills and Social Development and the Status of Persons with Disabilities met at 11:15 a.m. this day, in Room 253-D, Centre Block, for the purpose of electing a Chair, pursuant to Standing Order 106(1).

On motion of Ron Cannan, it was agreed, — That Dean Allison be elected Chair of the Committee.

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

On motion of Michael John Savage, it was agreed, — That Raymonde Folco be elected First Vice-Chair of the Committee.

On motion of Josée Beaudin, it was agreed, — That Yves Lessard be elected Second Vice-Chair of the Committee.

Dean Allison took the Chair.

Michael John Savage moved, — That the Subcommittee on Agenda and Procedure be composed of the Chair, the two Vice-Chairs and one member of the New Democratic Party.

Debate arose thereon.

Ed Komarnicki moved, — That the motion be amended by adding the words “and one member from the government party” after the word “Party”.

The question was put on the amendment of Ed Komarnicki and it was negatived, by a show of hands: YEAS: 5; NAYS: 6.

The question was put on the motion and it was agreed to, by a show of hands: YEAS: 6; NAYS: 5.

On motion of Yves Lessard, it was agreed, — That the Committee retain the services of one or more analyst(s) from the Library of Parliament, as needed, to assist the Committee in its work, at the discretion of the Chair.

Maria Minna moved, — That the Chair or the Vice-Chair be authorized to hold meetings to receive and publish evidence when a quorum is not present, provided that one member of the opposition is present.

Ben Lobb moved, — That the motion be amended by adding after the word “opposition” the following: “as well as one member of the governement”.

The question was put on the amendment of Ben Lobb and it was negatived, by a show of hands: YEAS: 5; NAYS: 6.

The question was put on the motion and it was agreed to, by a show of hands: YEAS: 6; NAYS: 5.

Ed Komarnicki moved, — That in hearing evidence, the witnesses be allowed a maximum of ten (10) minutes for their presentation and that the rounds of questioning be as follows:

First Round (time includes Question & Answer)

Liberal Party - 7 minutes
Bloc Quebecois - 7 minutes
New Democratic Party - 7 minutes
Conservative Party- 7 minutes

Second Round (times includes Question & Answer)

Liberal Party - 5 minutes
Conservative Party- 5 minutes
Bloc Quebecois - 5 minutes
Conservative Party - 5 minutes
Liberal Party - 5 minutes
Conservative Party- 5 minutes
New Democratic Party - 5 minutes
Conservative Party- 5 minutes

If time permits, further rounds shall repeat the pattern of the first two at the discretion of the Chair.

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

On motion of Yves Lessard, it was agreed, — That, if requested, reasonable travel, accommodation and living expenses be reimbursed to witnesses not exceeding two (2) representatives per organization and that, if requested, reasonable childcare expenses of witnesses be reimbursed.

Raymonde Folco moved, — That the Clerk of the Committee be authorized to distribute to the members of the Committee documents only when they exist in both official languages.

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

Yves Lessard moved, — That the Committee authorize the Chair, in consultation with the Clerk, to make the necessary arrangements to provide for working meals, from time to time and that the cost of these meals be charged to the Committee's budget.

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

Michael John Savage moved, — That, unless otherwise ordered, each Committee member be allowed to have one staff person present at in camera meetings. In addition, each party shall be permitted to have one party staff member at in camera meetings.

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

Ed Komarnicki moved, — 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 and that the period of notice be calculated from the time the motion has been distributed to the members of the Committee by the Clerk of the Committee (not counting weekends).

Raymonde Folco moved, — That the motion be amended by deleting the word “substantive”.

After debate, the question was put on the amendment of Raymonde Folco and it was agreed to.

Maurice Edgar Peter Vellacott moved, — That the motion be amended by adding before the word “48” the following: “unless there is unanimous consent”.

After debate, the question was put on the amendment of Maurice Vellacott and it was agreed to.

The question was put on the motion, as amended, and it was agreed to, by a show of hands: YEAS: 6; NAYS: 5.

The motion, as amended, read as follows:

That, unless there is unanimous consent, 48 hours' notice be required for any motion to be considered by the Committee, unless the 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 and that the period of notice be calculated from the time the motion has been distributed to the members of the Committee by the Clerk of the Committee (not counting weekends).

It was agreed, — That one copy of the transcript of all in camera meetings be kept in the Committee Clerk’s office for consultation by members of the Committee.

On motion of Raymonde Folco, it was agreed, — That the Clerk circulate to all Members of the Committee, Order in Council appointments referred to the Standing Committee on Human Resources.

On motion of Yves Lessard, it was agreed, — That whenever the Main Estimates or the Supplementary Estimates are tabled in the House, the Committee invite the Minister and any relevant Senior Officials of a Department to appear at a meeting of the Committee, which is televised if possible and that whenever a Chapter of a Report of the Auditor General refers to a subject under the mandate of the Committee, the Committee invite the Office of the Auditor General of Canada and any relevant Senior Officials of a Department to appear at a meeting of the Committee, which is televised if possible.

Ed Komarnicki moved, — That the consideration and examination of any bill, government or private members' bill, which falls within the express mandate of the committee, shall take precedence over any study or non-legislative examination, other than questions of privilegeand that in such circumstances, the non-legislative study shall be deferred until such time as the bill is reported back to the House.

After debate, the question was put on the motion and it was negatived, by a show of hands: YEAS: 5; NAYS: 6.

It was agreed, — That the Minister of Human Resources and Skills Development be invited to appear on Tuesday February 10, 2009, in relation to the Supplementary Estimates (B) 2008-2009.

It was agreed, — That the meeting of Thursday February 12, 2009, consist of committee business as well as a summary of evidence on the Federal Contribution to Reducing Poverty in Canada study.

At 12:28 p.m., the Committee adjourned to the call of the Chair.