The committee met at 1502 in committee room 1 and by video conference.

Committee business

The Chair (Mr. Roman Baber): I’d like to call this meeting of the Standing Committee on Justice Policy to order. We’re here to consider committee process with respect to Bill 168, which was referred to the committee pursuant to the order of the House on February 27, 2020.

The Vice-Chair (Ms. Effie J. Triantafilopoulos): Thank you, everyone. So I’d like to ask if there’s any business to discuss on Bill 168. I’d like to recognize MPP Bouma.

Mr. Will Bouma: Thank you, Madam 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 Vice-Chair (Ms. Effie J. Triantafilopoulos): Do we have any debate? MPP Singh.

Mr. Gurratan Singh: Yes. Thank you, Chair. It has come to our attention that by way of order in council, that this bill, Bill 168, has already come to pass. I think that it’s something that’s incredibly concerning given it supersedes this democratic institution and very much flies in the face of what this committee stands for. So I think that’s a required update before we move forward, and especially in the sense of having this discussion in—

Mr. Roman Baber: Point of order.

The Vice-Chair (Ms. Effie J. Triantafilopoulos): I would like to recognize MPP Baber on a point of order.

Mr. Roman Baber: Thank you, Chair. I believe that the member’s submissions are out of order as he is not making submissions to the content of the motion before the committee. I kindly ask that he be instructed to make submissions to the content of Mr. Bouma’s motion.

The Vice-Chair (Ms. Effie J. Triantafilopoulos): MPP Singh.

Mr. Gurratan Singh: If the member would let me complete my comment, for the very purpose that this is an issue that’s incredibly important—there’s a lot of interest and people want to hear about it across the board, across our province; we’ve had thousands of emails, a large number of people wanting to delegate. It’s important that this conversation stay public.

In addition, if we are hearing that this private member’s bill has already passed, if this is what’s being heard right now, it’s totally flying in the face of democracy and this committee and the democratic institutions and the fact that we should have open committees that people can depute and speak to. That even bolsters the position that we should have this conversation for the public to hear, in the open. It should be a discussion that should not be in camera; it should be the opposite. It should be something that people can hear and listen to because we should be held accountable and the public deserves an update.

The Vice-Chair (Ms. Effie J. Triantafilopoulos): Thank you very much, MPP Singh.

I believe we need to move forward on the motion that was put by MPP Bouma. Further debate on this particular motion?

There’s a handout there in terms of the motion moved by—

Interjection.

The Vice-Chair (Ms. Effie J. Triantafilopoulos): MPP Collard, I’m sorry; I couldn’t see you. Yes, I recognize you.

M^me Lucille Collard: I want to be on the record that I am asking the reason for which we need to go into closed session for the following business. Can I get an answer to my question, please?

Any motion should be justified and have a rationale. Can I get it?

The Vice-Chair (Ms. Effie J. Triantafilopoulos): Do we have any further debate? MPP Baber.

Mr. Roman Baber: Yes, the answer is that such discussions with respect to organization of the committee and process of the committee are routinely held without Hansard. This is typically the process.

The Vice-Chair (Ms. Effie J. Triantafilopoulos): I recognize MPP Taylor.

Miss Monique Taylor: I would also put in my objection to this going into closed session. We know that many people in Ontario are very interested in the moving of this bill. To hear that the government has moved forward with an order in council—I think that it is the public’s right and opportunity to be able to hear what is taking place in regard to this bill. So I will definitely be voting against this motion.

The Vice-Chair (Ms. Effie J. Triantafilopoulos): Thank you, MPP Taylor. I’d like to recognize MPP Vanthof.

Mr. John Vanthof: I’d like to just respond to MPP Baber on two issues. The first is, the first organizational meeting of this committee on this bill was held in public, so I see no reason why a follow-up meeting couldn’t be; and to the argument that it’s a routine procedure, obviously, what has just happened with the government is far from a routine procedure, where this bill was passed by order in council. So I think on this issue, citing routine procedure is a bit beyond the pale, and I will strongly object to moving this in camera.

The Vice-Chair (Ms. Effie J. Triantafilopoulos): Thank you very much for your comments.

I think we’ve had comments from everyone who wanted to comment on this particular motion. Are the members ready to vote?

I will ask all those in favour to please raise your hands. The Clerk will count the raised hands.

I will then ask those opposed to please raise your hands. The Clerk will count your hands.

The motion carries.

We’re just going to take a few minutes before we continue the in camera portion.

The committee recessed at 1510 and later continued in closed session.

STANDING COMMITTEE ON JUSTICE POLICY

Chair / Président

Mr. Roman Baber (York Centre / York-Centre PC)

Vice-Chair / Vice-Présidente

Ms. Effie J. Triantafilopoulos (Oakville North–Burlington / Oakville-Nord–Burlington PC)

Mr. Roman Baber (York Centre / York-Centre PC)

Mr. Will Bouma (Brantford–Brant PC)

M^me Lucille Collard (Ottawa–Vanier L)

Mr. Parm Gill (Milton PC)

Ms. Natalia Kusendova (Mississauga Centre / Mississauga-Centre PC)

Ms. Suze Morrison (Toronto Centre / Toronto-Centre ND)

Ms. Lindsey Park (Durham PC)

Mr. Gurratan Singh (Brampton East / Brampton-Est ND)

Mrs. Nina Tangri (Mississauga–Streetsville PC)

Ms. Effie J. Triantafilopoulos (Oakville North–Burlington / Oakville-Nord–Burlington PC)

Mr. Kevin Yarde (Brampton North / Brampton-Nord ND)

Substitutions / Membres remplaçants

Miss Monique Taylor (Hamilton Mountain ND)

Mr. John Vanthof (Timiskaming–Cochrane ND)

Clerk / Greffière

Ms. Thushitha Kobikrishna

Staff / Personnel

Ms. Heather Conklin, research officer,
Research Services

Mr. Andrew McNaught, research officer,
Research Services