Legislative Assembly of Ontario

The committee met at 0902 in committee room 2.

Intended appointments

Mr. John Ecker

Review of intended appointment, selected by government party: John Ecker, intended appointee as member, Durham College of Applied Arts and Technology board of governors.

The Chair (Mr. Will Bouma): Good morning, everyone. Apologies for starting a little bit late and for the little bit of confusion over the room. I gather there were technical difficulties in our regular room. I think we’re still being broadcasted, yes? Everything’s good? Thank you very much, staff, for making that happen on short notice.

The Standing Committee on Government Agencies will now come to order. We are meeting to conduct a review of an intended appointee. We are joined by staff from legislative research, Hansard, and broadcast and recording. As always, all comments by members and witnesses should go through the Chair.

Our intended appointee today is John Ecker, nominated as member of the Durham College of Applied Arts and Technology board of governors. Mr. Ecker, you can come forward. You may make an initial statement at your discretion. Following this, there will be questions from members of the committee. With that questioning we will start with the government, followed by the official opposition, with 15 minutes allocated to each recognized party. Any time you take in your statement will be deducted from the time allotted to the government.

Again, thank you for joining us and for coming in. I apologize for dancing and moving things around, but I guess that’s part of the reason why we’re looking forward to making some major improvements in the building. Again, thank you for joining us, and you can make your statement, sir.

Mr. John Ecker: Thank you very much, Mr. Chair and members of the Standing Committee on Government Agencies. It’s my pleasure and honour to have been appointed to serve my community as a governor on the board of Durham College of Applied Arts and Technology.

I’ve lived in Whitby since 1989, when I moved there with my wife. We raised our children in Whitby and we’re proud to live in Durham region, a place that has given so much to my family.

As I grew up in Brantford, Ontario, my parents were always involved in our community, and their example instilled in me a commitment to civic engagement and volunteerism. Inspired by them, I believe in giving back to my community, and I’ve done so to the best of my ability in my volunteer work and career roles.

Over the years, I’ve been involved in numerous volunteer activities. I was chair of the Whitby Public Library board and a strong advocate for the building of the town’s new central library. I was on the board and served as chair of the Waterview Child Care Centre as it undertook a move from the historic grounds of the former Whitby Psychiatric Hospital. I was also chair of the Lynde Marsh Alliance, a land trust established under the leadership of my local MPP at the time, the Honourable Jim Flaherty. The Lynde Marsh Alliance helped to identify and protect natural heritage lands in Durham’s Lynde Marsh watershed.

I was also appointed by Whitby town council to serve on the local architectural conservancy advisory committee, or LACAC as it was called at the time. I served as vice-chair for several years, and then as chair until 2018. While serving on LACAC, I was a strong advocate for heritage conservation and was a vocal proponent of the town’s retention of the Lynde House, Whitby’s oldest home and a building that has an association with the War of 1812. I’ve also participated in the town’s Doors Open program, and I have been vocal on many other local matters.

I received a five-year service recognition award from the province for my work with LACAC and another as a member of the Whitby Public Library board. I also served for several years on the board of Credit Canada, the country’s largest not-for-profit credit counselling organization.

Internationally, several years ago I helped establish the Bimini Museum in the Bahamas. I then created Bimini Bound, a local effort in Whitby that, through three public drives, sent over 10,000 books and other learning resources to schools on the island of Bimini.

My current volunteer roles include serving as the chair of the Ontario Heritage Trust and chair of the June Callwood Outstanding Achievement Award.

My active involvement in volunteer roles extends to my faith community. I serve on the advisory board of ShareLife, the Toronto Catholic archdiocese’s annual appeal. The $15.5-million effort includes support for more than 30 health and social service agencies which have an open intake policy where no one is denied help on the basis of religion, gender or cultural background.

Most of my career roles have been in the communications, marketing, branding, public relations and fundraising fields. My current role is with the Archdiocese of Toronto, where I am director of the Family of Faith Campaign and special projects. I began my work there in 2013, helping to develop and then launch the Family of Faith Campaign, the largest and most successful faith community fundraising project in the country.

Since then, I’ve worked on projects that included an operational review and reorganization of the archdiocese’s refugee office, a number of pandemic-related initiatives and, since 2021, work on archdiocesan efforts in Indigenous healing and reconciliation. That included a role as project lead for production and programming for Pope Francis’s visit to Canada in the summer of 2022, in Iqaluit, Nunavut.

Before my work with the archdiocese, I was a vice-president at the National Aboriginal Achievement Foundation. I led the organization’s very successful rebrand, and the organization is now known as Indspire. Indspire helps fund post-secondary education for First Nation, Inuit and Metis students. Through its Indspire Awards, it also celebrates the achievement of Indigenous role models.

Professionally, I have also held other senior career roles with the Toronto Region Board of Trade; the Ontario Trillium Foundation; Echo, the former provincial agency for women’s health; and Durham College. My work at Durham College largely related to its ultimately successful project to bring a university to Durham.

Ontario colleges provide students the skills they need to be successful at work and in life. Before I received my degree in political science from the University of Waterloo, I attended Fanshawe College in London, where I earned a diploma in photography. The college provided me with core skills and knowledge that have helped me in my professional communications and marketing work, and gave me the solid grounding that has nourished my lifelong photography hobby.

As a governor of Durham, I will proudly promote the interests of the college as it continues its excellent work in the community. As I hope you’ll understand, given my volunteer and professional background, I believe I would be well suited to serve on Durham College’s board of governors.

Mr. Chairman and members of the committee, thank you for allowing me to give these introductory remarks. I look forward to providing further information and answering any questions that the committee might have.

The Chair (Mr. Will Bouma): Thank you, Mr. Ecker.

We now turn to the government, with nine and a half minutes on the clock. Member Harris, go ahead.

Mr. Mike Harris: Mr. Ecker, thank you. It’s great to hear a little bit about your professional background. I was wondering if you might be able to pull a couple of pieces out of that and tell us why you think that those specific items might help and assist on the board of governors at Durham College.

Mr. John Ecker: Certainly, governors at any college, I think, can bring a lot to the table when they have a broad background, not only deep in the community, as well as their professional work. I believe that I bring that by my deep knowledge of the Durham region, my experience on other boards—not only serving as a board member but also as a chair, I think, gives me a good appreciation and understanding of the roles of boards of directors. I believe that I’ll bring a lot to the role.

Mr. Mike Harris: How do you think your work with Indigenous youth and Indigenous communities can lend to that role as well?

Mr. John Ecker: I’m very committed to healing and reconciliation with Indigenous people. Obviously, as I talked about my role, that’s important.

Durham has a very diverse and dispersed Indigenous community. The college and the university, I understand, are providing good space for Indigenous students, but, as a governor, I would be fully supportive and as engaged as I possibly can to help further their engagement in the school system there but also to help set them up for success. I’ll be a constant and vigilant advocate on their behalf.

Mr. Mike Harris: Thank you.

The Chair (Mr. Will Bouma): Moving on to member Smith, with seven and a half minutes on the clock.

Ms. Laura Smith: Thank you, Mr. Ecker, for being here today. So—

Interjection.

The Chair (Mr. Will Bouma): Oh.

Ms. Laura Smith: Sorry?

Mr. Dave Smith: He’s supposed to say your riding as well, because I’m here with you.

Ms. Laura Smith: Oh, I’m sorry. Laura Smith, member of provincial Parliament for the riding of Thornhill. Thank you.

Mr. Dave Smith: The Chair is supposed to do that.

Ms. Laura Smith: Oh. Well, I did it. It’s okay.

Thank you, Mr. Ecker, for being here today. You have quite a large portfolio of do-goodery work, basically, and I appreciate that. We appreciate people who are in the communities, in the environment that makes the communities so—

Interjections.

Ms. Laura Smith: Okay, they’re talking amongst themselves.

You talked about a number of your chair positions, with the library, ShareLife, but you also talked about Ontario Heritage Trust. Could you tell us about your experience there and how that would directly be helpful in the position that, if successful, you will undertake?

Mr. John Ecker: Thank you for the question. I’ve been chair of the trust for the last few years. For those of you who don’t know the trust, it is the province’s lead heritage agency. It is involved in promoting, protecting and preserving Ontario’s built, natural and cultural heritage.

The trust, over the past several years, has really done a lot to look at the way that stories in Ontario and our history are presented to the public. A lot of that work is engaging in communities to have conversations—sometimes tough conversations—about the way that we not only talk about our built heritage, but the way that a lot of minority groups have contributed to the great success of this province.

The diversity that we’ve got at Durham College is really important, and I believe that my engagement with the trust and the way that it does its work will be quite transferrable and quite helpful to Durham.

Ms. Laura Smith: It’s challenging, in heritage, because there’s a constant battle to preserve what we have but realize what should be, and that can be—could you highlight a challenge, just briefly, that you’ve experienced at heritage? You don’t have to provide names or specifics.

Mr. John Ecker: It’s not so much a—I’m going to say it’s an opportunity. I would use the example of—we recently unveiled a plaque in August, on Moose Factory Island. It replaced a plaque that was dedicated to the HBC staff house. It was really about HBC and the presence of HBC in that area.

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Of course, there is a rich Indigenous heritage and legacy in that part of the province. The Ontario Heritage Trust got engaged with the community to look to ensure that the full story was being told there. That work involved the Ontario Heritage Trust and connecting with Indigenous leaders and historical groups to look at the way that a better and fuller story could be told there. It’s not easy work for the trust, but it’s important work because of the contribution that Indigenous people have made to the province.

I had the great pleasure of being there to unveil not only one plaque but two plaques, because it was also presented in the Indigenous language as well.

Ms. Laura Smith: Thank you.

I’ll pass the torch.

The Chair (Mr. Will Bouma): Member Smith from Peterborough–Kawartha, you’re next with three minutes and 20 seconds left.

Mr. Dave Smith: Thank you, Chair. I appreciate that.

Mr. Ecker, as the Chair has said, I’m from Peterborough–Kawartha. There is a natural rivalry between Peterborough and Oshawa. I’ve looked at your credentials, and I’ll be very straightforward on it: Why Durham College? Why not Sir Sandford?

Mr. John Ecker: Well, I was asked to consider Durham. I live in Durham. But I, too, love Peterborough. I had a cottage there for many years, near Buckhorn. It’s a beautiful part of the province.

Mr. Dave Smith: Thank you. As I said, I’ve looked at your credentials. I think they look excellent and I’m envious that Durham has the potential for someone like you. Sir Sandford has lost on that possibility.

Mr. John Ecker: You’re very kind. Thank you.

The Chair (Mr. Will Bouma): Member Sandhu, with two and a half minutes on the clock.

Mr. Amarjot Sandhu: Thank you, Mr. Ecker, for your presentation. You know international students are a main pillar in Ontario’s post-secondary education system. I also came to this country as an international student, so I always have that soft spot for international students. If you are appointed for the position, how will you support them and make them feel welcomed at Durham?

Mr. John Ecker: Thank you for the question. I understand that among all the provincial colleges in Ontario, the representation of international students at Durham is not really high. There is probably some opportunity to look at more international students attending Durham, but that’s for discussion if I were appointed as a governor, in due course.

I think welcoming international students and making them feel at home means also recognizing the great culture that they often bring from their home countries and making sure that there is space for them at the college to not only continue to celebrate that heritage, but also great ways to get involved and to learn more about Ontario and Canada and what larger life is like in the country here as well.

Mr. Amarjot Sandhu: Thank you.

The Chair (Mr. Will Bouma): With a minute left, Madame Gallagher Murphy.

M^me Dawn Gallagher Murphy: A minute? We’ll go quick. Is there anything that we haven’t asked you yet that you would like to speak to about your background and what makes you suitable for this role with the board of governors?

Mr. John Ecker: Thank you for the question. I think I’ve covered it in my remarks. I would just reinforce my enthusiasm to give back. This is a volunteer position. It’s not a paid position. I had to think long and hard about whether I wanted to proceed, because it is a commitment. I think it’s an important one. So long as I can add value, I’m willing to contribute to my community.

M^me Dawn Gallagher Murphy: Thank you.

The Chair (Mr. Will Bouma): We will now turn to the opposition side. Member Bourgouin, you have 15 minutes.

Mr. Guy Bourgouin: Merci and thank you for coming and putting your name up. My first question will be: Your position will bring you to define the role and mission of the college, which will be fundamental to establish the future of the college of applied arts and technology. Do you believe that you have any personal biases that would affect defining the mission of the college? This may include political, social, religion, cultural and other forms of personal bias.

Mr. John Ecker: No, I don’t. Thank you.

Mr. Guy Bourgouin: How do you intend on withdrawing biases from your role at the college?

Mr. John Ecker: I’m sorry. Could you repeat the first part of the question?

Mr. Guy Bourgouin: Okay. How do you intend on withdrawing biases from your role at the college?

Mr. John Ecker: The board of governors acts as a collective body, and I’ll contribute at the table with the interests of Durham College first and foremost in my mind. I bring experience, I bring background and I bring knowledge. At the board of governors table, I’ll function to do what’s best for Durham College.

Mr. Guy Bourgouin: How will your previous experience with Ontario institutions like the Trillium Foundation influence your governance on the board?

Mr. John Ecker: I think it helps. Rather than an influence, I think it helps inform. It has been a long time since I was at the Ontario Trillium Foundation, but it’s a great organization that funds terrific community projects, including those in Durham and that whole catchment area. So I think it just helps to inform what I can bring to the table as a governor.

Mr. Guy Bourgouin: A recent article published by the Investigative Journalism Foundation said that an exclusive data analysis revealed that a majority of tribunal members have Conservative ties—members that appear in front of this committee. Would you say you have ties to the Conservative Party, federally and provincially?

Mr. John Ecker: I’ve certainly been a member and a supporter of the riding association and the federal EDA, yes.

Mr. Guy Bourgouin: You mentioned, I believe, that you had been asked to apply for this position. You were asked by whom?

Mr. John Ecker: Well, I was asked whether I’d let my name stand. My MPP, Lorne Coe, asked me if he could put my name forward, and then some time later, I was contacted by the minister’s office and asked if I would let my name stand. I think I said that I would need to reflect on it, and then I got back and said sure, I’d be happy to participate.

Mr. Guy Bourgouin: I’m happy that you have experience with reconciliation and First Nations. I come from a riding that represents a lot of First Nations, and I’ve seen the plaque that you were speaking of. I want to thank Trillium for that, because that’s a great initiative. But with that experience at hand—I think you mentioned it, but I’d like to hear more on that experience and helping the First Nations, because a lot of First Nations are really struggling, financially and also to be able to go to college and better themselves, and then their communities also. So can you expand on that?

Mr. John Ecker: Oh, boy, we could talk for hours about that. I think that a lot of people don’t understand the conditions that a lot of Indigenous people are in. You talked about education. There’s a bit of a myth that Indigenous kids get full pop, full pay, for attending a post-secondary institution. They get some money, but they don’t get it all. So that’s why organizations like Indspire, where I used to work, were so important, because it really set up kids for success. A lot of Indigenous students aren’t always going to school right after high school; they’re going there as mature students, sometimes as young parents, and they need support.

I think that we should always be looking at ways to enable Indigenous students to live their dreams and pursue their education. Organizations like Indspire would fund things like buying tools and equipment necessary for trades, or providing funding to offset child care. So there need to be creative approaches, but there are challenges there and there’s lots to be done. I’m proud to be doing lots of healing and reconciliation work with the church.

The Chair (Mr. Will Bouma): Member Pasma, go ahead. You have nine minutes and 45 seconds.

Ms. Chandra Pasma: Thank you so much for being here, Mr. Ecker. I know it’s not always the most comfortable experience, to be grilled by MPPs, but it’s an important part of our public appointments process in Ontario to make sure that appointments are actually being made based on the merit and qualifications of the appointee rather than on connections to the government. Unfortunately that’s not always the case, so it’s important to have this opportunity to put your qualifications and connections to the government on the record.

0920

I want to start with a question about international students, because what we have seen in the past few years in Ontario is that the government is so significantly underfunding post-secondary education. Government support is less than 30% of the funding for post-secondary institutions. They also froze tuition, which nobody is complaining about. It’s good to not shift the burden onto Ontario students, but they didn’t replace that funding for institutions. Institutions are therefore in a very precarious financial situation and they have turned to international students to make up the difference, recruiting international students in huge numbers. But what we’ve heard from many international students, faculty and staff, and organizations that support students is that students are basically being treated like a cash cow and the services that are needed to actually support them in their education, to provide them with housing and other supports are not there. So, we are basically propping up our post-secondary system in Ontario by exploiting people from other countries who are desperate to get a Canadian education.

I’m wondering, first of all, do you support this state of events, and secondly, as a governor, how will you fight to make sure that the supports for international students, for them to actually succeed and get a decent education for the tuition dollars they’re bringing here, will be in place?

Mr. John Ecker: Thank you for the question and I appreciate all the context and the information that you’ve provided. Listen, I’m not on the board of governors yet; I’ve got lots to learn. You’re asking big questions. Those are questions that I need to learn the answers about as I become a governor and to hear what the college’s position is, because the board, no doubt, has its own path that it wants to address those issues that you’ve talked about. When I address that, it will be as a member of the board of governors and not presupposing anything in advance of any appointment.

Ms. Chandra Pasma: I appreciate that you want to take the time to learn before discussing specifics about pathways and supports for students, but I don’t think you need to actually be in the position to pronounce on the morality of the current situation, particularly as someone with a long history of working in faith-based roles and in reconciliation for Indigenous peoples. Do you think it’s okay that our system is built on the exploitation of people from the Global South?

Mr. John Ecker: I think we need to have a well-funded system that works well, is what I think. I have lots to learn, and in what I’ve shared with you this morning, I’ve demonstrated the capacity to listen and to learn and to make good decisions, but the decisions on the issues that you’re raising would be made as a board collective. I don’t speak for the board. I’m not going to try to. I’m sorry.

Ms. Chandra Pasma: Okay, thank you. I appreciate that answer.

As my colleague mentioned, there are a lot of concerns in Ontario right now that our tribunals, agencies and boards have been hamstrung, by the fact that we are seeing unqualified appointments being made largely on the basis of people’s connections to the Conservative Party. It has contributed to significant backlogs and delays and access to justice for people; also questions about the fairness of decisions that are being made. I think it’s a problem that people in Ontario are incredibly concerned about, especially given this government’s actions in other areas where we see insiders being prioritized over the well-being of Ontarians and often in a way that gives them significant financial benefit.

So, I do want to dig a little bit more into your ties to the Conservative Party, federally and provincially, especially because it’s concerning to me to hear that you were asked to apply by your MPP Lorne Coe when you were on the riding association and you have donated over $6,000 to the Progressive Conservative Party of Ontario in the last five years.

Did you work on MPP Coe’s election campaign?

Mr. John Ecker: Yes, I did.

Ms. Chandra Pasma: Okay. Was this appointment ever discussed during the campaign or at any point when you were discussing donations to the party?

Mr. John Ecker: As I said before, I was asked by MPP Coe if I would let my name stand, so I wasn’t asked to apply. I was asked about my interest, and I said that I would be willing to let my name stand, and the process took off from there.

I work very hard in my community, and I think that people who run for office need to be supported. You wouldn’t be here yourself if not for people who believe in you and made contributions to your own election. I’m proud to always support candidates who are doing great work in their community. That has not always been with one party, and certainly I’ve supported municipal candidates who would not be seen as any one particular stripe as well.

I think that people who are running for office need support, and you don’t get here unless you’ve got people who are willing to put in the shoe leather and the money to help make things happen.

Ms. Chandra Pasma: Absolutely, but do you understand how, when people who put in the shoe leather and thousands of their own dollars are being appointed to government positions, that is a perception of a conflict of interest for the average Ontarian?

Mr. Mike Harris: Point of order.

The Chair (Mr. Will Bouma): Excuse me, pause the clock. Member Harris has a point of order.

Mr. Mike Harris: I’m just trying to understand how this would affect the member’s qualifications to be able to stand as a member of the board of governors at Durham College. I think we’ve all heard that he is very well qualified for this position, and what the member is trying to get at, I almost feel, is borderline unparliamentary.

The Chair (Mr. Will Bouma): Thank you. I appreciate that. I don’t believe that’s a valid point of order.

I will return the floor to member Pasma, with three and a half minutes left.

Ms. Chandra Pasma: Thank you, Chair. I think that’s the problem with the Conservative government’s attitude in the last year and a half, in a nutshell: that they don’t see a problem with favouring insiders for government decisions.

Do you understand—

Mr. Mike Harris: Point of order. That one is over the line and, quite frankly, unparliamentary. The member should withdraw and perhaps recuse herself from the proceedings here today.

Ms. Chandra Pasma: Oh, good Lord.

The Chair (Mr. Will Bouma): Order.

Mr. Mike Harris: Maybe we should get the chatter on the record too.

Ms. Chandra Pasma: I’m sorry I hurt your feelings, Mike, but sometimes—

Mr. Mike Harris: It’s got nothing to do with feelings.

Interjections.

The Chair (Mr. Will Bouma): I’m going to ask the members to refrain from speaking. Thank you. I’m going to ask the members to observe decorum with each other and try not to be imputing any motives, not making any accusations.

We’ve got three minutes of testimony and questioning yet to go, and I would ask Member Pasma to continue.

Ms. Chandra Pasma: Thank you, Chair.

So do you understand how this would be seen by Ontarians as a conflict of interest and a perception of bias?

Mr. John Ecker: Which Ontarians?

Ms. Chandra Pasma: Sorry?

Mr. John Ecker: Sorry, my appointment would be seen by Ontarians as—

Ms. Chandra Pasma: Yes.

Mr. John Ecker: Which ones?

Ms. Chandra Pasma: People living in the province of Ontario.

Mr. John Ecker: With respect, I’m here to talk about my qualifications, my community involvements, my volunteer involvements and my professional credentials, and I think I’ve done a fairly good job of describing what I’ve done in my community. I’m here on that basis. I can’t speak to your overall concerns about the other things you’re mentioning; I’m just here about me.

Ms. Chandra Pasma: Okay. So your answer is, no, you don’t see it as a conflict of interest or a perception of bias.

Do you know how much money you have contributed to the federal Conservative Party over the last decade?

Mr. John Ecker: I haven’t kept track, but you probably have, I guess.

Ms. Chandra Pasma: Well, Elections Canada keeps track.

Mr. John Ecker: Of course.

Ms. Chandra Pasma: Fifteen pages of donations—over $8,000 in the last decade.

Mr. John Ecker: Yes.

Ms. Chandra Pasma: Do you believe that could contribute to a perception of bias?

Mr. John Ecker: Not at all.

Ms. Chandra Pasma: Okay.

Finally, last question and then I’ll turn it over to MPP Fraser for the last few minutes: Have you ever sat at the Premier’s table for a family wedding?

Mr. John Ecker: Wow. No, I have not.

Ms. Chandra Pasma: Okay. Thank you.

The Chair (Mr. Will Bouma): Member Fraser for a minute and 40 seconds.

Mr. John Fraser: Thank you. John Fraser, MPP for Ottawa South. Very quickly: the issue around international students, when you get there—if you get there—is a really serious one. There is an issue of taking advantage of international students; there’s also the issue of grade inflation, which is not allowing Ontario students to get to where they need to be. I appreciate that you need to find out more about that, but the use of international students to fund our—it’s out of whack, so I just wanted to put that suggestion to you.

That’s all I wanted to say. I don’t have any questions. Thank you very much for being here.

Mr. John Ecker: Thank you.

The Chair (Mr. Will Bouma): That concludes our testimony for today. Mr. Ecker, thank you for joining us today. You can stay in the room while we finish our deliberations, or tour the halls. As I mentioned before the meeting, the building is scheduled to be closed for a long time, after the next election in 2026, so I would encourage you to have a look around before that happens, while you’re here. Otherwise, we will now move to concurrence—but you’re all set with committee.

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Member Harris.

Mr. Mike Harris: I move concurrence in the intended appointment of John Ecker, nominated as member of the Durham College of Applied Arts and Technology board of governors.

The Chair (Mr. Will Bouma): Concurrence in the appointment has been moved by member Harris. Is there any discussion? Seeing none, are members ready to vote?

Ms. Chandra Pasma: Recorded vote.

The Chair (Mr. Will Bouma): A recorded vote has been requested.

Ayes

Fraser, Gallagher Murphy, Harris, Pang, Sandhu, Dave Smith, Laura Smith.

Nays

Bourgouin, Pasma.

The Chair (Mr. Will Bouma): That motion is carried.

Moving on, members, the deadline to review the intended appointment of Jovica Palashevski, selected from the September 29, 2023, certificate, is October 29, 2023. Do we have unanimous agreement to extend the deadline to consider the intended appointment to November 28, 2023? I heard a no.

Members, that concludes our business for today. This committee now stands adjourned.

The committee adjourned at 0935.

STANDING COMMITTEE ON GOVERNMENT AGENCIES

Chair / Président

Mr. Will Bouma (Brantford–Brant PC)

Vice-Chair / Vice-Président

Mr. John Fraser (Ottawa South / Ottawa-Sud L)

Ms. Doly Begum (Scarborough Southwest / Scarborough-Sud-Ouest ND)

Mr. Will Bouma (Brantford–Brant PC)

Mr. Guy Bourgouin (Mushkegowuk–James Bay / Mushkegowuk–Baie James ND)

Mr. John Fraser (Ottawa South / Ottawa-Sud L)

M^me Dawn Gallagher Murphy (Newmarket–Aurora PC)

Mr. Mike Harris (Kitchener–Conestoga PC)

Mr. Kevin Holland (Thunder Bay–Atikokan PC)

Mr. Graham McGregor (Brampton North / Brampton-Nord PC)

Mr. Billy Pang (Markham–Unionville PC)

Ms. Chandra Pasma (Ottawa West–Nepean / Ottawa-Ouest–Nepean ND)

Mr. Amarjot Sandhu (Brampton West / Brampton-Ouest PC)

Substitutions / Membres remplaçants

Mr. Dave Smith (Peterborough–Kawartha PC)

Ms. Laura Smith (Thornhill PC)

Clerk / Greffier

Mr. Isaiah Thorning

Staff / Personnel

Ms. Lauren Warner, research officer,
Research Services