HUMA Committee Meeting

The Standing Committee on Human Resources, Skills and Social Development and the Status of Persons with Disabilities met at 3:32 p.m. this day, in Room 228, La Promenade Building, the Chair, Phil McColeman, presiding.

Jinny Jogindera Sims gave notice of the following motion:

That in the Standing Committee on Human Resources, Skills and Social Development and the Status of Persons with Disabilities, the Chair may receive a motion to move in camera only for the purpose of discussing: (a) wages, salaries and other employee benefits;(b) contracts and contract negotiations; (c) labour relations and personnel matters; (d) a draft agenda or draft report; and (e) documents or matters requiring confidentiality, such as national security; and that furthermore, all votes taken in camera be recorded in the Minutes of Proceedings, including which member voted which way when recorded votes are requested.

Scott Armstrong moved, — That the Committee proceed to sit in camera.

The question was put on the motion and it was agreed to on the following recorded division: YEAS: Scott Armstrong, Brad Butt, Rodger Cuzner, Joe Daniel, Colin Mayes, Cathy McLeod, Devinder Shory — 7; NAYS: Alexandre Boulerice, Sadia Groguhé, Jinny Jogindera Sims, Jonathan Tremblay — 4.

At 3:37 p.m., the sitting was suspended.

At 3:39 p.m., the sitting resumed in camera.

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.

It was agreed, — That the Subcommittee on Agenda and Procedure be composed of five (5) members, including the Chair, the two (2) Vice-chairs and the two (2) Parliamentary Secretaries; that the quorum of the Subcommittee shall consist of at least three (3) members, including one member of the Official Opposition; that each member of the Subcommittee shall be permitted to have one assistant attend any meetings of the SubCommittee on Agenda and Procedure; and that each party shall be permitted to have one (1) staff member from their House offices attend any meetings.

It was agreed, — 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 four (4) members are present, including one member from each recognized party; and that, in the case of previously scheduled meetings taking place outside the Parliamentary precinct, the Committee members in attendance shall only be required to wait for 15 minutes following the designated start of the meeting before they may proceed to hear witnesses and receive evidence, regardless of whether opposition or government members are present.

It was agreed, — That the witnesses from any one organization shall be allowed five (5) to ten (10) minutes, at the discretion of the chair, to make their opening statements; that, during the questioning of witnesses where only one (1) panel of witnesses has been invited to appear before the Committee, the order of questions for the first and subsequent rounds of questioning shall be as follows: New Democratic Party (7 minutes); Conservative Party (7 minutes); Liberal Party (7 minutes); New Democratic Party (5 minutes); Conservative Party (5 minutes); New Democratic Party (5 minutes); and that, during the questioning of witnesses where two (2) panels of witnesses have been invited to appear before the Committee, there shall be five (5) minutes allocated to each questioner and that the order of questions for the first and subsequent rounds of questioning shall be as follows: New Democratic Party (5 minutes); Conservative Party (5 minutes); Liberal Party (5 minutes); New Democratic Party (5 minutes); Conservative Party (5 minutes); and New Democratic Party (5 minutes).

It was agreed, — That only the clerk be authorized to distribute to the members of the Committee any documents, including motions, and that all documents which are to be distributed amongst the members must be in both official languages; and that the clerk shall advise all witnesses appearing before the Committee of this requirement.

It was agreed, — That the Committee authorize the clerk, in consultation with the Chair, to make the necessary arrangements to provide for working meals, as may be required, and that the cost of these meals be charged to the Committee budget.

It was agreed, — That, if requested, reasonable travel, accommodation, child care, attendant care 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.

It was agreed, — That each Committee member in attendance shall be permitted to have one (1) staff member attend any in camera meetings; and that each party shall be permitted to have one (1) staff member from a House Officer attend in camera meetings.

It was agreed, — That in camera meetings be transcribed and that the transcription be kept with the clerk for later consultation by members of the Committee or by their staff.

It was agreed, — That a notice of 48 hours, interpreted as two nights, be required before a member may move a substantive motion, unless it deals directly with the matter before the Committee at that time, provided that: (a) this notice be emailed to the Committee Clerk no later than 4:00 p.m. from Monday to Friday; (b) this notice be distributed by e-mail to members in both official languages by the Clerk on the same day the said notice was transmitted if it was received no later than the deadline hour; (c) notices received after the deadline hour be deemed to have been received during the next business day; and (d) this rule does not prevent a member to give notice of a motion orally during a meeting of the Committee, in which case notice shall be deemed to have been given before the deadline that day.

It was agreed, — That the Committee not undertake consideration of any substantive motion during any Committee travel.

It was agreed, — That, in relation to Orders of Reference from the House respecting Bills, (a) the Chair of the Committee shall, upon the Committee receiving such an Order of Reference, write to each Member of Parliament who is not a member of a caucus represented on the Committee to invite those Members to file, in a letter to the Chair, in both official languages, any amendments to the Bill, which is the subject of the said Order, which they would suggest that the Committee consider; (b) suggested amendments filed, pursuant to paragraph (a), at least 48 hours prior to the start of clause-by-clause consideration of the Bill to which the amendments relate shall be deemed to be proposed during the said consideration, provided that the Committee may, by motion, vary this deadline in respect of a given Bill; and (c) during the clause-by-clause consideration of a Bill, the Chair shall allow a Member who filed suggested amendments, pursuant to paragraph (a), an opportunity to make brief representations in support of them.

It was agreed, — That the Subcommittee on Agenda and Procedure meet on Tuesday, November 5, 2013.

At 4:07 p.m., the Committee adjourned to the call of the Chair.