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

Committee business

The Chair (Mr. Peter Tabuns): Good morning, everyone. I call this meeting to order. We’re meeting today to discuss the schedule for the Standing Committee on Estimates’ hearings on the selected ministries. Are there any questions before we begin? Are there any motions? Mr. Parsa.

Mr. Michael Parsa: I move that, in addition to the committee’s regularly scheduled meeting times, the committee meet at the following times for the consideration of the 2021-22 estimates:

—Tuesday, May 25, 2021, from 9 a.m. until 12 noon and from 1 p.m. until 6 p.m.; and

—Wednesday, May 26, 2021, from 9 a.m. until 12 noon and from 1 p.m. until 6 p.m.; and

—Thursday, May 27, 2021, from 9 a.m. until 12 noon and from 1 p.m. until 6 p.m.; and

—Tuesday, June 8, 2021, from 9 a.m. until 12 noon and from 1 p.m. until 6 p.m.; and

—Wednesday, June 9, 2021, from 9 a.m. until 12 noon and from 1 p.m. until 6 p.m.; and

—Thursday, June 10, 2021, from 9 a.m. until 12 noon and from 1 p.m. until 6 p.m.; and

—Tuesday, June 15, 2021, from 9 a.m. until 12 noon and from 1 p.m. until 6 p.m.; and

—Wednesday, June 16, 2021, from 9 a.m. until 12 noon and from 1 p.m. until 6 p.m.; and

—Thursday, June 17, 2021, from 9 a.m. until 12 noon and from 1 p.m. until 6 p.m.; and

That, if it is required in order to complete all selections of ministries before the end of June 17, 2021, the committee also meet on Friday, June 11, 2021, from 9 a.m. until 12 noon and from 1 p.m. until 6 p.m.

The Chair (Mr. Peter Tabuns): Thank you, MPP Parsa. Before I proceed, did all members hear that clearly? Is there a need for it to be repeated? MPP Armstrong.

Ms. Teresa J. Armstrong: Chair, because there are so many dates and so many times, I’d like to take a moment to read it. I don’t have a calendar in front of me, so I just want to know, are these the dates that we’re sitting or are there some dates here skipped?

The Chair (Mr. Peter Tabuns): MPP Parsa, can you address that question?

Mr. Michael Parsa: Yes. Thank you very much, Chair. Basically, this would be on top of our regular schedule, MPP Armstrong. Some of it will be on the constit week. The purpose of this is for us to be able to get through as many of our selections—basically, through this, we will be able to get through all our selections. With the standard schedule the way we had it set, we were not going to be able to get through it. At most, we were going to be able to get through MCCSS and, I believe, ENDM, so some of them we would not have been able to get to.

The Chair (Mr. Peter Tabuns): MPP Armstrong.

Ms. Teresa J. Armstrong: Okay. Can I take a moment just to read it?

The Chair (Mr. Peter Tabuns): Yes.

Ms. Teresa J. Armstrong: Thank you.

The Chair (Mr. Peter Tabuns): The committee is agreeable that we’ll give the member a moment to read it and check? Thank you.

Members of the committee, I suggest we take a brief recess, say, about five minutes, and then we’ll come back to it. Thank you.

The committee recessed from 0903 to 0908.

The Chair (Mr. Peter Tabuns): Colleagues, thank you very much for your patience. We’re back in session.

Ms. Armstrong, you wanted to speak to this motion?

Ms. Teresa J. Armstrong: Yes, Chair. First, I wanted to thank everyone today for being so patient and slowing things down, because I know with masks I’m finding it hard sometimes to keep up the pace, not always hearing clearly, so I appreciate, MPP Parsa, your explanation.

I would like at this time to make an amendment to the motion.

The Chair (Mr. Peter Tabuns): If you would state your amendment.

Ms. Teresa J. Armstrong: What I would just like to add at the bottom of the motion is: “and;

“That, in the event the House is scheduled to sit during these times, the committee shall meet on Tuesdays from 9 a.m. to 10:15 a.m. and, following afternoon routine, to 6 p.m., and on Wednesdays, following afternoon routine, to 6 p.m.”

The Chair (Mr. Peter Tabuns): Okay. We have an amendment on the floor. Is there any debate on that amendment? MPP Parsa, you’re shaking your head. I assume that means you’re not debating it. It’s a friendly amendment.

Mr. Michael Parsa: Sorry, Chair. That’s correct, yes. Thank you.

The Chair (Mr. Peter Tabuns): We have an amendment on the floor. Please, by show of hands, all those in favour of the amendment that has been proposed? All those opposed to the amendment? The amendment carries.

Is there any further debate on the motion, as amended? I see no indication of interest in further debate. We will now go to the vote. All those in favour of the motion, as amended, please indicate by raising your hands. All those opposed, please indicate by raising your hands. The motion, as amended, carries.

Thank you, everyone. That concludes our business for today. The committee is now adjourned until 9 a.m. on Tuesday, May 11, 2021.

The committee adjourned at 0910.

STANDING COMMITTEE ON ESTIMATES

Chair / Président

Mr. Peter Tabuns (Toronto–Danforth ND)

Vice-Chair / Vice-Présidente

Ms. Donna Skelly (Flamborough–Glanbrook PC)

Ms. Teresa J. Armstrong (London–Fanshawe ND)

Mr. Toby Barrett (Haldimand–Norfolk PC)

Mr. Lorne Coe (Whitby PC)

Mr. Rudy Cuzzetto (Mississauga–Lakeshore PC)

Mr. Randy Hillier (Lanark–Frontenac–Kingston IND)

Ms. Jane McKenna (Burlington PC)

Ms. Judith Monteith-Farrell (Thunder Bay–Atikokan ND)

Mr. Michael Parsa (Aurora–Oak Ridges–Richmond Hill PC)

Mr. Randy Pettapiece (Perth–Wellington PC)

Ms. Donna Skelly (Flamborough–Glanbrook PC)

Mr. Peter Tabuns (Toronto–Danforth ND)

Clerk / Greffière

Ms. Thushitha Kobikrishna

Staff / Personnel

Ms. Laura Anthony, research officer,
Research Services

Mr. Dmitry Granovsky, research officer,
Research Services