Government Operations Committee on June 17th, 2024

[Garnett Genuis, Conservative, Sherwood Park—Fort Saskatchewan, AB]

Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Mr. Green is fully within his rights to move a motion without notice during committee business. I want to just ask, though, if that motion can be distributed for ease and convenience in the two official languages.

It's very useful for me to be able to read the French version too.

Okay, it's being distributed. Thank you very much, Mr. Green.

I wonder, Chair, if it would make sense to suspend for the vote and then come back to conclude or to continue, in any event, on Mr. Green's motion. That will give us both time to vote and time to have a look at it.

[Matthew Green, NDP, Hamilton Centre, ON]

I think we moved UC on how we're to deal with it

[The Chair, Conservative, Kelly McCauley]

We're going to continue until five minutes out.

If you wish, we can continue debate on this.

[Garnett Genuis, Conservative, Sherwood Park—Fort Saskatchewan, AB]

Until we're five minutes out will be until when?

[The Chair, Conservative, Kelly McCauley]

The vote is in 11 minutes, so we have about—

[Garnett Genuis, Conservative, Sherwood Park—Fort Saskatchewan, AB]

We have six minutes.

[The Chair, Conservative, Kelly McCauley]

We will be done here in seven minutes.

[Garnett Genuis, Conservative, Sherwood Park—Fort Saskatchewan, AB]

Do we want to have a two-minute suspension?

[The Chair, Conservative, Kelly McCauley]

If you wish, why don't we continue? Do you want to suspend to discuss this? Do you want to suspend—

[Garnett Genuis, Conservative, Sherwood Park—Fort Saskatchewan, AB]

I'm just—

[The Chair, Conservative, Kelly McCauley]

I'm not keen on suspending and then coming back after the vote.

[Philip Lawrence, Conservative, Northumberland—Peterborough South, ON]

I have a point of order.

[Garnett Genuis, Conservative, Sherwood Park—Fort Saskatchewan, AB]

I will just share some reflections on the concept then—

[The Chair, Conservative, Kelly McCauley]

I'm sorry. There is a point of order.

Go ahead, Mr. Lawrence.

[Philip Lawrence, Conservative, Northumberland—Peterborough South, ON]

Just for clarity, Mr. Chair, I believe that, when you give UC for the bells, you can withdraw it at any time.

[The Chair, Conservative, Kelly McCauley]

Thanks.

Go ahead, Mr. Genuis.

[Garnett Genuis, Conservative, Sherwood Park—Fort Saskatchewan, AB]

Let me just start by proposing one amendment that I think will clarify one piece of the motion.

I'd like to propose that we add the word “or” after 106(4). With this amendment, I guess, Chair, this would read:

That, as per the usual practice of House of Commons standing committees, the Standing Committee on Government Operations and Estimates shall not meet during Parliament’s summer recess unless the requirements of s.106(4) or of the Standing Orders are met.

Standing Order 106(4) is one mechanism by which there could be the summoning of a summer meeting, but there are, I think, other Standing Orders or other provisions under which there could be special meetings called as well.

I think in the “s.106(4)”, the “s.” clearly refers to the standing order. Otherwise, the motion would be redundant. It would be unless the requirements of Standing Order 106(4) of the Standing Orders are met, and clearly Standing Order 106(4) is part of the Standing Orders.

It seems to me that having the “or” in there clarifies that, if there are any Standing Orders that would provide for there being a summer meeting.... I mean, there are various situations that could occur. Of course, notionally, the House could even be recalled in the middle of the summer. There could be urgent legislation that is referred to this committee in the middle of the summer, and I do think—

[The Chair, Conservative, Kelly McCauley]

Let me just interrupt to clarify so the clerk can keep track. It's “unless the requirements of s.106(4) or—

[Garnett Genuis, Conservative, Sherwood Park—Fort Saskatchewan, AB]

It's “or of the Standing Orders”.

[The Chair, Conservative, Kelly McCauley]

Okay. Continue, please.

[Garnett Genuis, Conservative, Sherwood Park—Fort Saskatchewan, AB]

While we're talking, Chair, I will even send that in writing to the clerk to make it a little easier. I want to be very respectful of the two languages.

[An hon. member]

[Inaudible—Editor]

[The Chair, Conservative, Kelly McCauley]

Can we let Mr. Genuis continue with the floor?

[Garnett Genuis, Conservative, Sherwood Park—Fort Saskatchewan, AB]

I do want to say I take it a bit personally that Mr. Green doesn't want us to get together in the middle of the summer.

[Matthew Green, NDP, Hamilton Centre, ON]

Spend time with your kids, man.