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Minutes of Proceedings

44th Parliament, 1st Session
Meeting 57
Tuesday, March 7, 2023, 11:04 a.m. to Tuesday, March 21, 2023, 11:54 a.m.
Televised
Presiding
Hon. Bardish Chagger, Chair (Liberal)

• Michael Barrett for Blaine Calkins (Conservative)
• Kyle Seeback for Blaine Calkins (Conservative)
• Tracy Gray for John Nater (Conservative)
• Richard Lehoux for Michael Cooper (Conservative)
• Christine Normandin for Marie-Hélène Gaudreau (Bloc Québécois)
• Peter Fragiskatos for Ryan Turnbull (Liberal)
• Kelly Block for Blaine Calkins (Conservative)
• Eric Duncan for John Nater (Conservative)
• Richard Lehoux for Luc Berthold (Conservative)
• James Maloney for Ryan Turnbull (Liberal)
• Anita Vandenbeld for Ruby Sahota (Liberal)
• Wayne Long for Ruby Sahota (Liberal)
• Eric Duncan for Blaine Calkins (Conservative)
• Eric Duncan for Michael Cooper (Conservative)
• Michael Barrett for John Nater (Conservative)
• Francesco Sorbara for Ruby Sahota (Liberal)
• James Maloney for Ruby Sahota (Liberal)
• Anthony Housefather for Ruby Sahota (Liberal)
• Wayne Long for Sherry Romanado (Liberal)
• Eric Duncan for Luc Berthold (Conservative)
• Jenna Sudds for Mark Gerretsen (Liberal)
• Yvan Baker for Ryan Turnbull (Liberal)
• Kelly Block (Conservative)
• Ya'ara Saks (Liberal)
Library of Parliament
• Laurence Brosseau, Analyst
• Andre Barnes, Analyst
• Hon. Mélanie Joly, P.C., M.P., Minister of Foreign Affairs
• Hon. Dominic LeBlanc, P.C., M.P., Minister of Intergovernmental Affairs, Infrastructure and Communities
Department of Foreign Affairs, Trade and Development
• Jennie Chen, Executive Director, Greater China Political and Coordination
• Tara Denham, Director General, Office of Human Rights, Freedoms and Inclusion
Privy Council Office
• Allen Sutherland, Assistant Secretary to the Cabinet, Machinery of Government and Democratic Institutions
Pursuant to Standing Order 106(4), the committee commenced consideration of the request by five members of the committee to discuss the committee's ongoing study on foreign election interference.

Motion

Michael Cooper moved, — That the committee, in relation to its study of foreign election interference, invite Katie Telford, Chief of Staff to the Prime Minister, to appear alone for three hours, during the week of March 13, 2023, provided that she be sworn or affirmed.

Debate arose thereon.

Amendment

Rachel Blaney moved, — That the motion be amended by adding, after the words “for three hours”, the words “by herself”, and after the words “provided that she be sworn or affirmed”, the following: “; and b. invite the following individuals to appear before the committee as part of this study, provided that they be sworn or affirmed: i. Jeremy Broadhurst, Azam Ishmael, Hamish Marshall and Walied Solomon, national campaign directors for the Liberal Party of Canada and the Conservative Party of Canada during the 2019 and 2021 federal election campaigns; ii. Jenni Byrne, Leader of the Official Opposition’s senior leadership advisor, and Tausha Michaud, Chief of Staff to the former leader of the Official Opposition”.

After debate, the question was put on the motion and it was agreed to on the following recorded division:

YEAS: Michael Barrett, Luc Berthold, Rachel Blaney, Michael Cooper, Marie-Hélène Gaudreau, John Nater — 6;

NAYS: Greg Fergus, Jennifer O'Connell, Sherry Romanado, Ruby Sahota, Ryan Turnbull — 5.

Amendment

Ryan Turnbull moved, — That the motion, as amended, be amended by replacing the words after "in relation to its study of foreign election interference" with the following: “Invite the 2019 and 2021 National Campaign Directors of each recognized party in the House of Commons and the security-cleared party representatives to the Security and Intelligence Threats to Elections Task Force during the 2019 and 2021 federal elections”.

Debate arose thereon.

At 2:02 p.m., the sitting was suspended.

At 9:04 a.m., on Thursday, March 9, 2023, the sitting resumed.

Debate resumed on the amendment of Ryan Turnbull.

At 12:09 p.m., the sitting was suspended.

At 12:12 p.m., the sitting resumed.

Ministers Mélanie Joly and Dominic LeBlanc made statements and, with Jennie Chen, answered questions.

At 1:17 p.m., the sitting was suspended.

At 4:34 p.m., the sitting resumed.

The debate continued.

At 6:18 p.m., the sitting was suspended.

At 10:33 a.m., on Tuesday, March 14, 2023, the sitting resumed.

Debate resumed on the amendment of Ryan Turnbull.

At 1:11 p.m., the sitting was suspended.

At 1:26 p.m., the sitting resumed.

The debate continued.

At 4:16 p.m., the sitting was suspended.

At 4:30 p.m., the sitting resumed.

The debate continued.

At 7:29 p.m., the sitting was suspended.

At 7:43 p.m., the sitting resumed.

The debate continued.

At 10:09 p.m., the sitting was suspended.

At 11:00 a.m., on Tuesday, March 21, 2023, the sitting resumed.

Debate resumed on the amendment of Ryan Turnbull.

At 11:04 a.m., the sitting was suspended.

At 11:24 a.m., the sitting resumed.

The question was put on the amendment of Ryan Turnbull and it was negatived on the following recorded division:

YEAS: Yvan Baker, Greg Fergus, Sherry Romanado, Ruby Sahota, Jenna Sudds — 5;

NAYS: Michael Barrett, Luc Berthold, Michael Cooper, Marie-Hélène Gaudreau, Peter Julian, John Nater — 6.

Amendment

Michael Cooper moved, — That the motion, as amended, be amended by replacing the words “during the week of March 13, 2023,” with the following: “between Monday, April 3, 2023, and Friday, April 14, 2023,”.

After debate, the question was put on the amendment of Michael Cooper and it was agreed to on the following recorded division:

YEAS: Yvan Baker, Michael Barrett, Luc Berthold, Michael Cooper, Greg Fergus, Marie-Hélène Gaudreau, Peter Julian, John Nater, Sherry Romanado, Ruby Sahota, Jenna Sudds — 11;

NAYS: — 0.

Amendment

Peter Julian moved, — That the motion, as amended, be amended by deleting, after the word “appear”, the word “alone” and by replacing the words “for three hours” with the following: “for a minimum of two hours”.

After debate, the question was put on the amendment of Peter Julian and it was agreed to on the following recorded division:

YEAS: Yvan Baker, Michael Barrett, Luc Berthold, Michael Cooper, Greg Fergus, Marie-Hélène Gaudreau, Peter Julian, John Nater, Sherry Romanado, Ruby Sahota, Jenna Sudds — 11;

NAYS: — 0.

The question was put on the motion, as amended, and it was agreed to on the following recorded division:

YEAS: Yvan Baker, Michael Barrett, Luc Berthold, Michael Cooper, Greg Fergus, Marie-Hélène Gaudreau, Peter Julian, John Nater, Sherry Romanado, Ruby Sahota, Jenna Sudds — 11;

NAYS: — 0.

The motion, as amended, read as follows:

That the committee, in relation to its study of foreign election interference:

a. invite Katie Telford, Chief of Staff to the Prime Minister, to appear for a minimum of two hours by herself, between Monday, April 3, 2023, and Friday, April 14, 2023, provided that she be sworn or affirmed; and

b. invite the following individuals to appear before the committee as part of this study, provided that they be sworn or affirmed:

i. Jeremy Broadhurst, Azam Ishmael, Hamish Marshall and Walied Solomon, national campaign directors for the Liberal Party of Canada and the Conservative Party of Canada during the 2019 and 2021 federal election campaigns;

ii. Jenni Byrne, Leader of the Official Opposition’s senior leadership advisor, and Tausha Michaud, Chief of Staff to the former leader of the Official Opposition.

At 11:54 a.m., the committee adjourned to the call of the Chair.



Miriam Burke,
Sophia Nickel
Clerks of the committee