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SDIR Committee Meeting

Notices of Meeting include information about the subject matter to be examined by the committee and date, time and place of the meeting, as well as a list of any witnesses scheduled to appear. The Evidence is the edited and revised transcript of what is said before a committee. The Minutes of Proceedings are the official record of the business conducted by the committee at a sitting.

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Library of Parliament
• Lara Coleman, Analyst
• Jean-Philippe Duguay, Analyst
Pursuant to Standing Order 106(1) and the motion adopted by the Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs and International Development on Monday, December 13, 2021, the subcommittee met for the purpose of electing a chair.
Pursuant to Standing Order 106(2), the clerk of the subcommittee presided over the election of a chair.

On motion of Sameer Zuberi, it was agreed, — That Ali Ehsassi be elected Chair of the subcommittee.

Pursuant to Standing Order 106(2), the clerk of the subcommittee presided over the election of vice-chairs.

On motion of Arnold Viersen, it was agreed, — That John Williamson be elected First Vice-Chair of the subcommittee.

On motion of Sameer Zuberi, it was agreed, — That Denis Trudel be elected Second Vice-Chair of the subcommittee.

The subcommittee proceeded to the consideration of matters related to subcommittee business.

On motion of Anita Vandenbeld, it was agreed, — That the subcommittee 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.

On motion of Anita Vandenbeld, it was agreed, — That the Chair be authorized to hold meetings to receive evidence and to have that evidence published when a quorum is not present, provided that at least four members are present, including two members of the opposition parties and two members of the government party, but when travelling outside the Parliamentary Precinct, that the meeting begin after 15 minutes, regardless of members present.

On motion of Anita Vandenbeld, it was agreed, — That, at the discretion of the Chair, witnesses be given five minutes for their opening statement; that, at the discretion of the Chair, during the questioning of witnesses, there be allocated seven minutes for the first questioner of each party; and that thereafter five minutes be allocated to each subsequent questioner in the following order: Liberal Party, Conservative Party, Bloc Québecois, New Democratic Party; and that wherever possible the witnesses provide their statement to the subcommittee 72 hours in advance.

On motion of Anita Vandenbeld, it was agreed, — That a 48-hour notice, interpreted as two nights, be required for any substantive motion to be moved in subcommittee , unless the substantive motion relates directly to business then under consideration, provided that:
(a) the notice be filed with the clerk of the subcommittee no later than 4:00 p.m. from Monday to Friday;
(b) the motion be distributed to Members and the offices of the whips of each recognized party 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 or on non-business days be deemed to have been received during the next business day; and that when the subcommittee is holding meetings outside the Parliamentary Precinct, no substantive motion may be moved.

On motion of Anita Vandenbeld, it was agreed, — That, unless otherwise ordered, each subcommittee member be allowed to be accompanied by one staff member at in camera meetings and that one additional person from each House officer’s office be allowed to be present.

On motion of Anita Vandenbeld, it was agreed, — That only the clerk of the subcommittee be authorized to distribute documents to members of the Committee provided the documents are in both official languages, and that the witnesses be advised accordingly.

On motion of Anita Vandenbeld, it was agreed, — That the clerk of the subcommittee, at the discretion of the Chair, be authorized to make the necessary arrangements to provide working meals for the subcommittee.

On motion of Anita Vandenbeld, it was agreed, — That, if requested, reasonable travel, accommodation and living expenses be reimbursed to witnesses not exceeding two representatives per organization; provided that, in exceptional circumstances, payment for more representatives be made at the discretion of the Chair.

On motion of Anita Vandenbeld, it was agreed, — That one copy of the transcript of each in camera meeting be kept in the subcommittee clerk’s office for consultation by members of the subcommittee or by their staff; and that the analysts assigned to the subcommittee also have access to the in camera transcripts.

On motion of Anita Vandenbeld, it was agreed, — That the clerk inform each witness who is to appear before the subcommittee that the House Administration support team must conduct technical tests to check the connectivity and the equipment used to ensure the best possible sound quality; and that the Chair advises the subcommittee, at the start of each meeting, of any witness who did not perform the required technical tests.

On motion of Anita Vandenbeld, it was agreed, — That all documents submitted for committee business that do not come from a federal department, Member's offices, or that have not been translated by the Translation Bureau be sent for prior linguistic review by the Translation Bureau before being distributed to members.

On motion of Anita Vandenbeld, it was agreed, — That in relation to orders of reference from the House respecting Bills,
(a) The clerk of the subcommittee shall, upon the subcommittee receiving such an order of reference, write to each member who is not a member of a caucus represented on the subcommittee to invite those members to file with the clerk of the subcommittee, in both official languages, any amendments to the bill, which is the subject of the said Order, which they would suggest that the subcommittee 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 subcommittee 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.

At 7:12 p.m., the subcommittee adjourned to the call of the Chair.



Erica Pereira
Clerk of the Subcommittee