Overview of the Appearances in the House of Commons and the Senate
House of Commons- Committee of the Whole study of COVID-19 and 2nd reading of Bill C-13
The House will meet on Tuesday, March 24, 2020, from 12:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m., for the consideration of Bill C-13 (measures related to the COVID-19 pandemic). Your participation is requested for the full four hours.
Around 12:15 p.m. the House of Commons will resolve itself into a committee of the whole to consider matters related to the COVID-19 pandemic for a period not exceeding one hour and forty-five minutes.
You have been asked to attend with the following ministers:
Minister Hajdu
Minister Morneau
Minister Garneau
Minister Qualtrough
Minister Hussen
Minister Miller
Minister Freeland
Minister Champagne
Minister Duclos
Officials will not be allowed on the floor of the House of Commons and your support in the lobby will be limited to one person.
During the first hour of the proceedings of the committee, the Chair will call members in a fashion consistent with the approach taken during Question Period. The 12 spots in that rotation will be as follows:
No member shall be recognized for more than 5 minutes; members may be permitted to split their time with one or more members by so indicating to the Chair.
During the following 45 minutes of the proceedings, a member of each opposition party shall be recognized for not more than 15 minutes during which the member shall not speak in debate for more than 10 minutes. The rotation for these 3 spots will be CPC, BQ and NDP.
The 15 minutes may be used both for debate and for posing questions.
When a member is recognized he or she shall indicate how the 15 minutes is to be apportioned.
Members may be permitted to split their time with one or more members by so indicating to the Chair.
At the conclusion of the time provided for the proceedings, or when no member rises to speak, whichever is earlier, the committee shall rise.
Around 2:00 p.m., when the committee of the whole rises, the House will begin debate on the motion for second reading of the Bill.
A member of each recognized party and a member of the Green Party may speak to the motion for not more than twenty minutes, followed by ten minutes for questions and comments.
The rotation will be LIB, CPC, BQ, NDP and GP.
Members may be permitted to split their time with another member.
At the conclusion of the time provided for the debate or when no member rises to speak, whichever is earlier, the motion be will deemed adopted and the Bill deemed read a second time and referred to a committee of the whole; deemed considered in committee of the whole, deemed reported without amendment, deemed concurred in at report stage, deemed read a third time and passed.
Senate – Committee of the Whole study of COVID-19 and consideration of Bill C-13
The Senate will sit on Wednesday, March 25, 2020, at 10 AM, for the consideration of Bill C-13.
Under "Government Notices of Motions", Senator Harder, with leave of the Senate, will present a motion with respect to two Committees of the Whole. The Committee of the Whole motion is expected to contain the following elements:
A Committee of the Whole for a maximum of 60 minutes with Minister Morneau on the subject matter of Bill C-13 regarding emergency legislative measures to commence at the start of Orders of the Day;
A Committee of the Whole for a maximum of 90 minutes with Ministers Hajdu and Blair on the Government's response to the COVID-19 situation to begin immediately before the start of Government Motions;
That officials be permitted to enter the chamber (one official per Minister), and
Each intervention by a senator would be limited to 5 minutes each.
Around 10 a.m. - At the start of Orders of the Day, the Senate would commence with the Committee of the Whole with Minister Morneau.
Following the conclusion of Committee of the Whole, the Senate will proceed to complete Bill C-13 at all stages by moving that it be read a second time. After the bill is adopted at second reading, Senator Harder will move, with leave of the Senate, that the bill be read a third time. The Senate would then adopt Bill C-13 at third reading.
Around 12 p.m. - While Bill C-13 is awaiting Royal Assent, the Senate will then proceed to a Committee of the Whole with you and Minister Hajdu with the following configuration:
You will be permitted to provide brief introductory remarks (5 minutes)
You will sit on the Government side of the chamber;
DM Stewart will be supporting you; he will be allowed to sit in close proximity.
Senators will be advised to sit away from this general vicinity to encourage social distancing.
You are expected to take questions on the Public Safety portfolio as well as IRCC and TC.
Following Royal Assent by Written Declaration, Senator Harder will present an adjournment motion, with leave, for the Senate to return on Tuesday, April 21st, 2020, as originally planned. Senator Harder will then move the adjournment of the Senate.