The committee met at 1300 in room 151 and by video conference.

Election of Chair

The Clerk of the Committee (Ms. Valerie Quioc Lim): Good afternoon, honourable members. This is a meeting of the Standing Committee on the Legislative Assembly.

It is my duty to call upon to you to elect a Chair. Are there any nominations? Ms. Ghamari.

Ms. Goldie Ghamari: I nominate MPP Laurie Scott.

The Clerk of the Committee (Ms. Valerie Quioc Lim): MPP Scott, do you accept the nomination?

Ms. Laurie Scott: Yes, thank you. I accept the nomination.

The Clerk of the Committee (Ms. Valerie Quioc Lim): Are there any further nominations? There being no further nominations, I declare the nominations closed and Ms. Scott elected Chair of the committee.

Election of Vice-Chair

The Clerk of the Committee (Ms. Valerie Quioc Lim): Now it is my duty to call upon you to elect a Vice-Chair. Are there any nominations? Mr. Hassan.

Mr. Faisal Hassan: I nominate my colleague France Gélinas.

The Clerk of the Committee (Ms. Valerie Quioc Lim): Madame Gélinas, do you accept the nomination?

M^me France Gélinas: Yes, I do.

The Clerk of the Committee (Ms. Valerie Quioc Lim): Are there any further nominations? There being no further nominations, I declare the nominations closed and Madame Gélinas elected as Vice-Chair of the committee.

Now it is my duty to call upon you to elect an Acting Chair. Are there any nominations? Ms. Ghamari.

Ms. Goldie Ghamari: I nominate MPP Jim McDonell as Acting Chair.

The Clerk of the Committee (Ms. Valerie Quioc Lim): Mr. McDonell, do you accept the nomination?

Mr. Jim McDonell: Yes.

The Clerk of the Committee (Ms. Valerie Quioc Lim): Are there further nominations for Acting Chair? There being no—oh, was that a hand?

Mr. Faisal Hassan: Just for clarification, is that part of the organization?

The Clerk of the Committee (Ms. Valerie Quioc Lim): Yes, because we need a member to chair the meeting in person. Because our Chair and Vice-Chair are not here in person, we are electing an Acting Chair.

Mr. Faisal Hassan: Okay. Thank you.

The Clerk of the Committee (Ms. Valerie Quioc Lim): There being no further nominations, I declare the nominations closed and Mr. McDonell elected as Acting Chair of the committee.

The Acting Chair (Mr. Jim McDonell): Good afternoon, everyone. Before we begin, I would like to do an attendance check, to go over some of the guidelines for the format of committee meetings that include remote participation and physical distancing.

So that everyone is aware, the following member is present in the room: MPP Ghamari. Virtually, we have MPP Scott—

Interjection.

The Acting Chair (Mr. Jim McDonell): Okay, so we begin.

MPP Scott, can you confirm that you are present and that you are an MPP?

Ms. Laurie Scott: Yes, I confirm both.

The Acting Chair (Mr. Jim McDonell): And can you confirm whether you are currently in Ontario?

Ms. Laurie Scott: Yes, I am.

The Acting Chair (Mr. Jim McDonell): MPP Rima Berns-McGown, you’re present?

Ms. Rima Berns-McGown: I am Rima Berns-McGown. I am the MPP, and I’m present in Beaches–East York, Ontario.

The Acting Chair (Mr. Jim McDonell): MPP France Gélinas?

M^me France Gélinas: I’m France Gélinas, MPP for Nickel Belt, and I’m in beautiful Nickel Belt.

The Acting Chair (Mr. Jim McDonell): MPP Faisal Hassan?

Mr. Faisal Hassan: My name is Faisal Hassan. I’m the MPP for York South–Weston. I’m here in York South–Weston.

The Acting Chair (Mr. Jim McDonell): MPP Sam Oosterhoff?

Mr. Sam Oosterhoff: I’m Sam Oosterhoff, and I am here in Niagara West.

The Acting Chair (Mr. Jim McDonell): MPP Vijay Thanigasalam?

Mr. Vijay Thanigasalam: I’m Vijay Thanigasalam. I’m currently in Scarborough–Rouge Park.

The Acting Chair (Mr. Jim McDonell): MPP Jeff Yurek?

Mr. Jeff Yurek: Jeff Yurek. You called me “MPP” so that would assume that I’m the MPP. I’m in St. Thomas, and I am in Ontario.

Could I just get clarification on why you care where we’re at? Does the committee not operate if you’re not in Ontario?

The Acting Chair (Mr. Jim McDonell): I’ll turn that over to the Clerk.

Interjection.

The Acting Chair (Mr. Jim McDonell): My understanding is that we just want to confirm that you’re in Ontario. But I agree with your question.

Mr. Jeff Yurek: Chair, I’m just taking up time, but what’s the purpose of knowing that we’re in Ontario? Does that affect the way democracy operates at the Legislature? I’d just like to understand why I say and do things.

The Acting Chair (Mr. Jim McDonell): I understand. We’ll have to get back to you on that. It’s a good question.

Mr. Jeff Yurek: Okay. If we’re just trying to avoid another St. Barts issue down the road—but still, just state that.

The Acting Chair (Mr. Jim McDonell): I agree. You’re an MPP for an area in Ontario. Naturally, that’s all that should matter.

Thanks, everybody, for confirming. Did I miss any members?

Appointment of subcommittee

The Acting Chair (Mr. Jim McDonell): I will now entertain a motion for the appointment of the subcommittee on committee business. MPP Gélinas?

M^me France Gélinas: I move that the subcommittee on committee business be appointed to meet from time to time at the call of the Chair, or at the request of any member thereof, to consider and report to the committee on the business of the committee;

That the presence of all members of the subcommittee is necessary to constitute a meeting; and

That the subcommittee be composed of the following members: the Chair as Chair, Ms. Ghamari, Madame Gélinas; and

That substitution be permitted on the subcommittee.

The Acting Chair (Mr. Jim McDonell): I’ve heard the motion. Is there any discussion? Are members ready to vote? All those in favour, please raise your hand. All those opposed? I declare the motion carried.

That concludes our business for today. I thank everybody for coming to the meeting today. The committee is now adjourned.

The committee adjourned at 1310.

STANDING COMMITTEE ON THE LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY

Chair / Présidente

Ms. Laurie Scott (Haliburton–Kawartha Lakes–Brock PC)

Vice-Chair / Vice-Présidente

M^me France Gélinas (Nickel Belt ND)

Ms. Rima Berns-McGown (Beaches–East York ND)

M^me France Gélinas (Nickel Belt ND)

Ms. Goldie Ghamari (Carleton PC)

Mr. Faisal Hassan (York South–Weston / York-Sud–Weston ND)

Mr. Jim McDonell (Stormont–Dundas–South Glengarry PC)

Mr. Sam Oosterhoff (Niagara West / Niagara-Ouest PC)

Ms. Laurie Scott (Haliburton–Kawartha Lakes–Brock PC)

Mr. Vijay Thanigasalam (Scarborough–Rouge Park PC)

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

Clerk / Greffière

Ms. Valerie Quioc Lim

Staff / Personnel

Ms. Heather Conklin, research officer,
Research Services