ETHI Committee Meeting

    Honourable members of the committee, I see that we have a quorum.

     I must inform the members that the clerk of the committee can only receive motions for the election of the chair. The clerk cannot receive other types of motions and cannot entertain points of order, nor participate in debate.

    We can now proceed to the election of the chair.

    Pursuant to Standing Order 106(2), the chair must be a member of the official opposition. I am ready to receive motions for the chair.

    Mr. Barrett.

    Thank you, Madam Clerk.

    At this time, I'd like to nominate John Brassard for the position of chair.

    Thank you.

    It has been moved by Mr. Barrett that Mr. John Brassard be elected chair of the committee.

    Are there any other motions?

    A voice: No.

    The Clerk: Thank you.

    The motion on the floor is the following: that Mr. Brassard be elected chair of the committee pursuant to the House order of June 23, 2022. I will now proceed to a recorded division, unless there is obvious consent of the committee.

    Is there obvious consent of the committee?

    Are there objections to Mr. Brassard's being the chair?

    An hon. member: There are no objections.

    The Clerk: There we go.

    (Motion agreed to)

    The Clerk: I declare the motion carried, and John Brassard duly elected chair of the committee.

    Some hon. members: Hear, hear!

    Thank you, Madam Clerk, for looking after this procedural issue.

    I certainly look forward to working with all members of the committee. We know why we're here. We have some very important work. From the consultations and discussions I've had with Mr. Kelly, I know that he had—and I expect that I'm going to have—extreme confidence in the ability of the clerk and the analysts to do great work. I look forward to working with you and keeping the direction of the committee on track. I appreciate the support.

    The first order of business we have to deal with is the issue of the budget. I suspect that all members of the committee have the budget.

    Are there any discussions on the budget that you received? I see none.

    Do we have approval of the budget?

    Some hon. members: Agreed.

    The Chair: Okay. Thank you.

    The next item I am going to turn over to the clerk, because we are planning to meet at some point over the next few days, likely next Monday, to discuss the work plan of the committee as we move forward. I understand, Madam Clerk, that there are witnesses for a study, for a meeting. You've put the invitation out to the witnesses. Could you update the committee on where we stand with that?

    Certainly.

    Invitations were sent. I do not have names officially of witnesses who have confirmed yet, but invitations were sent. The plan was and still is to meet on the study that was moved by Mr. Williams.

    Okay.

    We expect we should hear back from witnesses over the next couple of days. When we do, we will put out the appropriate notice of meeting.

    Mr. Barrett, I see your hand.

    Mr. Chair, as the order from the House had the chair vacant for the last couple of days and you have just assumed the chair, in the absence of business on today's agenda beyond the budget being approved and while we are waiting for witnesses for Monday, this would give an opportunity to members of the committee who have just been given access to the digital binder, even those of us who are returning—and it's a pleasure to be back—so I think at this time it would be best if we moved to adjourn.

    Mr. Barrett has moved to adjourn.

    I do want to make one comment before we go there.

    There was some unfinished business with respect to a previous study. My understanding, following a brief discussion with the clerk, is that it has been dealt with. Within that study was a planned trip of the committee to either Denver, Colorado or Palo Alto, or both. I'm just looking for some direction from the committee.

    I should have dealt with this before. We are learning as we go. We have a motion by Mr. Barrett to adjourn.

    Is there any objection to Mr. Barrett's motion?

    Mr. Fergus, I see your hand.

     It's not an objection, but a point of clarification.

     Mr. Chair, first of all, congratulations on assuming the chair.

     I know Mr. Barrett quite appropriately made that motion in good faith. I'm wondering, Mr. Chair, if Mr. Barrett might want to temporarily put it aside, so that you can dispense with that issue.

    Thank you for that, Mr. Fergus.

    There's no real rush in dealing with that other issue at this point. Although the trip has been discussed and approved, there's no imminent plant to depart, so we can deal with that at another meeting.

     We'll deal with Mr. Barrett's motion to adjourn.

    (Motion agreed to)

    The Chair: The meeting is adjourned.