The committee met at 0900 in committee room 1.

Election of Chair

The Clerk of the Committee (Mr. Christopher Tyrell): Good morning, honourable members. It is my duty to call upon you to elect a Chair. Are there any nominations?

Ms. Daiene Vernile: Yes, Chair. I would like to nominate MPP McMeekin as Chair of this committee.

The Clerk of the Committee (Mr. Christopher Tyrell): Does the member accept the nomination?

Mr. Ted McMeekin: I do, sir.

The Clerk of the Committee (Mr. Christopher Tyrell): Are there any further nominations? There being no further nominations, I declare the nominations closed and Mr. McMeekin elected Chair of the committee.

Mr. McMeekin, if you would take the chair.

The Chair (Mr. Ted McMeekin): I’ll go on script here. Good morning, honourable members. How are you all? Thank you for your overwhelming vote of confidence. I appreciate it.

Election of Vice-Chair

The Chair (Mr. Ted McMeekin): It’s now my official duty to entertain a motion for Vice-Chair. Are there any motions? Soo?

Ms. Soo Wong: I nominate Mr. Dickson to be the Vice-Chair.

The Chair (Mr. Ted McMeekin): Okay. Any debate? The motion has been moved that Mr. Joe Dickson be named the Vice-Chair. Are members ready to vote?

Ms. Daiene Vernile: Yes.

The Chair (Mr. Ted McMeekin): Okay. All those in favour, please raise your hand. Joe, it was overwhelming. Mr. Clerk, I think we have a Vice-Chair. The motion is carried.

Appointment of subcommittee

The Chair (Mr. Ted McMeekin): I’d like to inform members that yesterday’s change in committee memberships has created a vacancy on our subcommittee on committee business. We need a motion for someone to replace Ms. McGarry as the Liberal representative.

Mr. Joe Dickson: Mr. Chair, I move that Mr. Berardinetti replace Mrs. Kathryn McGarry on the subcommittee on committee business.

Ms. Jennifer K. French: Ultimately, it’s up to you guys, but in the interest of gender parity, could we invite another woman to the subcommittee? Because our Chair and our Vice-Chair are both gentlemen of the committee—just saying.

The Chair (Mr. Ted McMeekin): We can do whatever we want, honourable member.

Ms. Jennifer K. French: I would like to put that forward: that I’m awfully lonely sometimes.

The Chair (Mr. Ted McMeekin): So there’s a motion on the floor. Any discussion? Well, we’re having some discussion. Any other discussion on gender parity? I’m a big fan of gender parity, as you know, but I’m just the Chair.

Ms. Daiene Vernile: Chair, I’m a sub today, so whether or not my comments carry any weight—I agree with gender parity, but with our caucus it falls to the number of responsibilities that you have. All of the members are looking at what’s on their plate right now, other committees that they’re committed to, and this is why we’re moving forward as we are.

The Chair (Mr. Ted McMeekin): That may have something to say about why I’m the chairperson: number of responsibilities—let’s give him one, right?

Okay. Well, we have a motion on the floor. All those in favour? Opposed, if any?

Interjections.

The Chair (Mr. Ted McMeekin): What did I say?

Ms. Jennifer K. French: I can’t hear you.

The Chair (Mr. Ted McMeekin): Opposed, if any? Good. All right. The motion is carried.

Since you’re subbing, will you be in touch with the honourable member and let him know of his successful appointment as our—

Interjections.

The Chair (Mr. Ted McMeekin): I will too, if I see him. If he shows up today, I’ll say that to him.

Okay. So I’ve got to bang the gavel.

The committee adjourned at 0906.

STANDING COMMITTEE ON REGULATIONS AND PRIVATE BILLS

Chair / Président

Mr. Ted McMeekin (Ancaster–Dundas–Flamborough–Westdale L)

Vice-Chair / Vice-Président

Mr. Joe Dickson (Ajax–Pickering L)

Mr. Lorenzo Berardinetti (Scarborough Southwest / Scarborough-Sud-Ouest L)

Mr. Grant Crack (Glengarry–Prescott–Russell L)

Mr. Joe Dickson (Ajax–Pickering L)

Ms. Jennifer K. French (Oshawa ND)

Mr. Ted McMeekin (Ancaster–Dundas–Flamborough–Westdale L)

Mr. Mario Sergio (York West / York-Ouest L)

Mr. Bill Walker (Bruce–Grey–Owen Sound PC)

Ms. Soo Wong (Scarborough–Agincourt L)

Mr. Jeff Yurek (Elgin–Middlesex–London PC)

Substitutions / Membres remplaçants

Ms. Daiene Vernile (Kitchener Centre / Kitchener-Centre L)

Clerk / Greffier

Mr. Christopher Tyrell

Staff / Personnel

Ms. Tamara Hauerstock, research officer,
Research Services