Committee overview and member biographies: Standing Committee on Procedure and House Affairs—February 27, 2020

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Mandate of the committee

The mandate of the House of Commons Standing Committee on Procedure and House Affairs (PROC) is set out in section 108(3)(a) of the Standing Orders of the House of CommonsPROC acts as a striking committee for house standing committees under section 104 of the standing orders, and possesses the powers of examination and inquiry common to all standing committees under section 108(1)(a) of the standing orders.

The committee is specifically mandated to examine and conduct studies related to the following items:

Key committee activity: 43rd Parliament, 1st session

In this section

PROC Committee members’ typically focus on issues relating to the management of the House of Commons.

On June 13, 2019 during the 42nd Parliamentary session, committee members proposed a number of potential studies that they wished to call to the attention of the next PROC Committee in 2020, 2 of which are of interest to Public Services and Procurement Canada (PSPC).

Unimpeded access to the Parliamentary Precinct

Long Term Vision and Plan

The committee, along with members of the house, raised concerns about the functionality of certain aspects of West Block as a workplace for parliamentary business. The committee wishes to underline the following matters:

Appearance: February 18, 2020

Study: LTVP—Centre Block rehabilitation project

PSPC witnesses: Rob Wright, Assistant Deputy Minister, Science and Parliamentary Infrastructure Branch, Duncan Retson, Associate Assistant Deputy Minister, Science and Parliamentary Infrastructure Branch and Jennifer Garrett, Director General, Centre Block Program, Science and Parliamentary Infrastructure Branch.

Summary: As part of their presentation, officials updated members on the LTVP strategy to modernize the precinct and create an integrated Parliamentary campus. They also informed members of some of the main challenges they are facing including the modernization of information technology (IT), security, accessibility and certain design constraints. The meeting was an hour shorter than originally scheduled. Therefore, there was not enough time for committee members to ask questions. All witnesses have been invited back to appear before the committee Tuesday, February 25, 2020.

Members are taking a keen interest in the project and most are participating in a tour of the work being done on Centre Block on Thursday, February 20.

Key committee activity: 42nd Parliament, 1st Session

Appearance: May 1, 2018

Study: Use of Indigenous languages in proceedings of the House of Commons.

PSPC witnesses: Matthew Ball, Acting Vice-President, Translation Bureau and Stéphan Déry, Chief Executive Officer, Translation Bureau

Summary: Some committee members focused their line of questioning around the use of Indigenous languages in the new West Block, Translation Bureau’s quality and capacity to interpret Indigenous languages, and Translation Bureau’s code of ethics.

Committee report: June 19, 2018

Title: Use of Indigenous languages in proceedings of the House of Commons

Report recommendations relevant to PSPC: that the use of Indigenous languages be recognized in the House of Commons as set out in the report and that the Board of Internal Economy (BOIE) examine and consider ensuring that expenses on the part of members related to Indigenous language use for the purpose of carrying out their parliamentary functions and duties be authorized under the members by-law.

Appearance: December 11, 2018

Briefing: Centre Block rehabilitation project

PSPC witnesses: Jennifer Garrett, Director General, Centre Block Program and Rob Wright, Assistant Deputy Minister, Parliamentary Precinct Branch

Summary: Some committee members, while debating the rehabilitation project, mused about the possibility of using the West Block space as a second, parallel House of Commons chamber for other debates following the move back to Centre Block. Members also discussed the need for input on a family-friendly space in Centre Block upon reopening. There was further discussion about retrofitting Centre Block in order to protect it in the event of an earthquake. Members were also curious about the total cost of the rehabilitation of Centre Block.

Appearance: April 2, 2019

Study: Potential removal of elm tree on Parliament Hill

PSPC witnesses: Jennifer Garrett, Director General, Centre Block Program, Lisa MacDonald, Senior Landscape Architect and Arborist and Rob Wright, Assistant Deputy Minister, Parliamentary Precinct Branch

Summary: Some committee members focused their line of questioning around the significance of the elm tree, replacement of the tree, a re-evaluation of visitor centre before deciding to replant trees, health of tree, timeline to cut down the elm tree, and work involved to remove the elm tree.

Appearance: May 14, 2019

Study: Mandate of the Standing Committee on Procedure and House Affairs and oversight of the Centre Block rehabilitation project and the Long Term Vision and Plan

PSPC Witnesses: Jennifer Garrett, Director General, Centre Block Program and Rob Wright, Assistant Deputy Minister, Parliamentary Precinct Branch

Summary: Discussion was had about the feasibility of a parallel chamber. Some members wanted to be sure that they would see a critical path of when major decisions needed to be made so that the elected members would have adequate input. Other members questioned the possibility of enlarging the Centre Block Chamber of the House of Commons in order to accommodate future increases in the number of members of Parliament. There was also discussion about outstanding questions surrounding the development of the visitors centre.

Committee members biographies

Liberal Party of Canada

Honourable Kirsty Duncan: Ontario
Liberal member of Parliament for Etobicoke North
Honourable Kirsty Duncan
Interest in Public Services and Procurement Canada portfolio
Other interests and interventions
Honourable Ginette Petitpas Taylor: New Brunswick
Liberal member of Parliament for Moncton-Riverview-Dieppe
Honourable Ginette Petitpas Taylor

Served as a member of the Standing Committee on Procedure and House affairs from 2015 to 2017, and Chair of the Subcommittee on Private Members’ Business of the Standing Committee on Procedure and House Affairs.

Interest in Public Services and Procurement Canada portfolio
Other interests and interventions
Mark Gerretsen: Ontario
Liberal member of Parliament for Kingston and the islands
Mark Gerretsen
Interest in Public Services and Procurement Canada portfolio
Other interests and interventions
Omar Alghabra: Ontario
Liberal member of Parliament for Mississauga Centre
Omar Alghabra
Interest in Public Services and Procurement Canada portfolio
Other interests and interventions
Ruby Sahota: Ontario (Chair)
Liberal member of Parliament for Brampton North
Ruby Sahota
Interest in Public Services and Procurement Canada portfolio
Other interests and interventions
Ryan Turnbull: Ontario
Liberal member of Parliament for Whitby
Ryan Turnbull
Interest in Public Services and Procurement Canada portfolio
Other interests and interventions

Conservative Party of Canada

John Brassard: Ontario
Conservative member of Parliament for Barrie-Innisfil
John Brassard
Interest in Public Services and Procurement Canada portfolio
Other interests and interventions
Eric Duncan: Ontario
Conservative member of Parliament for Stormont-Dundas-South Glengarry
Eric Duncan
Interest in Public Services and Procurement Canada portfolio

During the 43rd Parliament, Mr. Duncan has spoken about infrastructure projects and first nations communities

Other interests and interventions
Blake Richards: Alberta (Vice-Chair)
Conservative member of Parliament for Banff-Airdrie
Blake Richards
Interest in Public Services and Procurement Canada portfolio
Other interests and interventions
Corey Tochor: Saskatchewan
Conservative member of Parliament for Saskatoon-University
Corey Tochor
Interests and interventions

Bloc Québecois

Alain Therrien: Quebec (Vice-Chair)
Bloc member of Parliament for La Prairie
Alain Therrien
Interest in Public Services and Procurement Canada portfolio
Interests and interventions

New Democratic Party

Rachel Blaney: British Columbia
New Democratic Party member of Parliament for North Island-Powell River
Rachel Blaney
Interest in Public Services and Procurement Canada portfolio
Other interests and interventions

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