The committee met at 0900 in room 151 and by video conference.

The Chair (Ms. Goldie Ghamari): Good morning. The Standing Committee on General Government will now come to order.

We have the following members present in the room: MPP Jane McKenna and MPP Wayne Gates.

The following members are participating remotely: MPP Bob Bailey, MPP Guy Bourgouin, MPP Amarjot Sandhu, MPP Mike Schreiner, and MPP Daisy Wai.

We have just been joined by MPP Crawford. MPP Crawford, can you please confirm that you are present and that you are in Ontario?

Mr. Stephen Crawford: Yes, I’m present and I’m here in Oakville, Ontario.

The Chair (Ms. Goldie Ghamari): Thank you very much.

We are also joined by staff from legislative research, Hansard, and broadcast and recording.

Please speak slowly and clearly, and wait until I recognize you before starting to speak. Since it could take a little time for your audio and video to come up after I recognize you, please take a brief pause before beginning. As always, all comments should go through the Chair.

Are there any questions before we begin?

Committee business

The Chair (Ms. Goldie Ghamari): The first item on the agenda is committee business. Are there any motions? MPP McKenna?

Ms. Jane McKenna: Yes, thank you, Chair. I move that the committee enter closed session for the purposes of organizing committee business and that broadcasting staff be permitted to remain in the closed session meeting for the purposes of operating the electronic meeting technology.

The Chair (Ms. Goldie Ghamari): MPP McKenna has moved a motion. Any discussion or comments? If none, I will now put the question. Shall the motion—oh, sorry?

Mr. Chris Glover: Hi. Madam Speaker, yes—

The Chair (Ms. Goldie Ghamari): Sorry, MPP Glover. I didn’t see you there. Yes, MPP Glover?

Mr. Chris Glover: I’d like to ask what the necessity is for going into closed session.

The Chair (Ms. Goldie Ghamari): Would anyone care to respond to MPP Glover’s question? MPP McKenna.

Ms. Jane McKenna: It’s because we’re going to be talking about moving forward with workplace safety and appointments that are coming up next, so we’re just going to go into closed session prior to that.

Mr. Chris Glover: Just to clarify, Madam Speaker: We’re talking about personnel appointments to the WSIB?

The Chair (Ms. Goldie Ghamari): MPP McKenna?

Ms. Jane McKenna: Yes.

Mr. Chris Glover: Okay. Is that the only matter on the agenda?

Ms. Jane McKenna: Yes. We’re just going to be setting up times for the committee next week and the week after and setting up times for the minister to come in. So we’re going to have it in closed session.

Mr. Chris Glover: Right. And all of the matters on the agenda over the next couple of weeks have to do with personnel?

The Chair (Ms. Goldie Ghamari): MPP Glover, this meeting was called for organizational purposes regarding bill—sorry, what was the bill, MPP McKenna?

Ms. Jane McKenna: Bill 238. We can put it up on the screen, can we not? Oh, I have to read it first. Sorry, I have to read it first. Once I read it, then we’ll put it up on the screen. It’s for Bill 238.

Mr. Chris Glover: Okay. I understand when we’re dealing with a personnel issue that we need a closed session, but if there are any other matters that do not relate to personnel, then those should be in an open session.

The Chair (Ms. Goldie Ghamari): At this point, MPP Glover has had an opportunity to ask his question and there has been—

Mr. Chris Glover: I’ll move that and offer it as a friendly amendment. It states right now, “I move that the committee enter closed session for the purposes of organizing committee business and that broadcasting staff be permitted....” Then, I’d just like to add in there a phrase, perhaps after “organizing committee business”: “or any matters relating to personnel.” I offer that as a friendly amendment—or maybe “for any matters relating to personnel issues.”

Interjection.

The Chair (Ms. Goldie Ghamari): MPP Glover, this is a routine motion, so there are no friendly amendments to this.

At this point, I’ve been advised that we can either vote on this motion or not.

Mr. Chris Glover: Can I propose a formal amendment to this?

The Chair (Ms. Goldie Ghamari): It’s a routine motion, and routine motions are not amended.

Mr. Chris Glover: So routine motions are not amendable?

The Chair (Ms. Goldie Ghamari): I’m taking this from Bosc and Gagnon: “Any member may move a motion to go from sitting in public to sitting in camera.... The motion is decided immediately without debate or amendment.” That is the ruling.

Mr. Chris Glover: Okay. Thank you, Madam Chair.

The Chair (Ms. Goldie Ghamari): Thank you.

MPP Gates?

Mr. Wayne Gates: Can I just propose a 15-minute break so I can talk to my colleagues, please?

The Chair (Ms. Goldie Ghamari): Because Bosc and Gagnon state that the motion must be moved or voted on immediately, you would need unanimous consent from the committee in requesting a 15-minute recess.

Mr. Wayne Gates: I could request a recess right after we do the—

The Chair (Ms. Goldie Ghamari): Yes.

Mr. Wayne Gates: Okay. That’s fine.

I don’t understand why we’re going into closed session. It’s supposed to be an open and transparent government. I’m missing something here. Anyway, if that’s the ruling of the Chair, I’ll abide by the Chair, and I’m sure one of my colleagues or myself will move a motion to take a recess.

The Chair (Ms. Goldie Ghamari): MPP McKenna?

Ms. Jane McKenna: I just wanted to say that we’re setting up the committee study on Bill 238. It was just easier for the committee to discuss programming a study in closed session, since it’s just organizing business.

The Chair (Ms. Goldie Ghamari): Thank you. If there is no further debate, are the members prepared to vote? I will now put the question. Shall the motion, moved by MPP McKenna, carry? All those in favour, please raise their hands.

Mr. Wayne Gates: May I request a recorded vote, please?

The Chair (Ms. Goldie Ghamari): MPP Gates has requested a recorded vote. All those in favour—

Interjection.

The Chair (Ms. Goldie Ghamari): Before we do the requested vote, I do have to confirm MPP Sabawy, because he has joined us now. MPP Sheref Sabawy, can you please confirm that you are present and that you are in Ontario?

Mr. Sheref Sabawy: Yes, this is Sheref Sabawy, MPP for Mississauga–Erin Mills. I’m calling from Mississauga, Ontario.

The Chair (Ms. Goldie Ghamari): Thank you.

We will now turn to the motion brought forward by MPP McKenna. MPP Gates has requested a recorded vote. At this point, I would ask that during the voting procedure you please raise your hands and keep them raised until the Clerk says your name, and then you can lower your hand at that point.

With respect to MPP McKenna’s motion, shall the motion carry?

Ayes

Bailey, Crawford, McKenna, Sabawy, Sandhu, Wai.

Nays

Bourgouin, Gates, Glover.

The Chair (Ms. Goldie Ghamari): I declare the motion carried. We’ll now be entering into closed session.

The committee continued in closed session at 0909.

STANDING COMMITTEE ON GENERAL GOVERNMENT

Chair / Présidente

Ms. Goldie Ghamari (Carleton PC)

Vice-Chair / Vice-Président

Mr. Mike Schreiner (Guelph G)

Ms. Jill Andrew (Toronto–St. Paul’s ND)

Mr. Robert Bailey (Sarnia–Lambton PC)

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

Mr. Stephen Crawford (Oakville PC)

Ms. Goldie Ghamari (Carleton PC)

Mr. Chris Glover (Spadina–Fort York ND)

Mr. Mike Harris (Kitchener–Conestoga PC)

Mr. Sheref Sabawy (Mississauga–Erin Mills PC)

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

Mr. Mike Schreiner (Guelph G)

Mrs. Daisy Wai (Richmond Hill PC)

Substitutions / Membres remplaçants

Mr. Wayne Gates (Niagara Falls ND)

Ms. Jane McKenna (Burlington PC)

Clerk / Greffier

Mr. Isaiah Thorning

Staff / Personnel

Mr. Michael Vidoni, research officer,
Research Services