Legislative Assembly of Ontario

The committee met at 1300 in committee room 2 and by video conference.

Committee business

The Chair (Ms. Natalia Kusendova): Good afternoon, everyone. I call this meeting to order. We are meeting today to consider the method of proceeding with respect to Bill 222, An Act to amend various Acts in respect of transportation-related matters.

We have the following members in the room: MPP Martin and MPP Bell. We have several participants remotely. We have one additional member who has joined us since the pre-meeting, and that was MPP Deepak Anand. Please confirm your attendance and where you’re calling from today.

Mr. Deepak Anand: Good afternoon, Chair. This is Deepak Anand, MPP for Mississauga–Malton. I’m calling from Mississauga. Thank you so much.

The Chair (Ms. Natalia Kusendova): Thank you very much. Welcome.

Staff from Hansard, broadcast and recording, and legislative research join us remotely today.

To make sure that everyone can understand what is going on, it is important that all participants speak slowly and clearly. Please 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? Seeing none, are there any motions? MPP Martin.

Mrs. Robin Martin: I move that the committee enter closed session for the purpose of organizing committee business and that broadcasting staff be permitted to remain in the closed session meeting for the purpose of operating the electronic meeting technology.

The Chair (Ms. Natalia Kusendova): A motion has been moved by MPP Martin. Is there any debate? MPP Bell.

Ms. Jessica Bell: Thank you, MPP Martin. It would be good to understand what the logic is behind this motion. Usually, these organization meetings happen in an open session.

The Chair (Ms. Natalia Kusendova): MPP Martin.

Mrs. Robin Martin: It’s our position that subcommittees meet in closed session to organize committee business, and that the full committee similarly should when organizing committee business, which is what we’re doing. That’s the logic.

The Chair (Ms. Natalia Kusendova): Any further debate? MPP Bell.

Ms. Jessica Bell: I’m just wondering why there was a change of plan on that. How is that different from—that idea existed before. I fail to understand why it would be a good thing to make these meetings closed. As someone who believes in transparency, as you do too, why not make them open?

The Chair (Ms. Natalia Kusendova): MPP Martin.

Mrs. Robin Martin: It’s just about organizing committee business, which is always done in closed session. I have no problem with doing this in closed session. I think this is an appropriate use of our time.

The Chair (Ms. Natalia Kusendova): Any further debate?

Ms. Jessica Bell: I would like a recorded vote.

The Chair (Ms. Natalia Kusendova): Okay. Are the members ready to vote?

Ayes

Anand, Babikian, Fee, Hogarth, Martin, Rasheed.

Nays

Bell, Burch, Karahalios.

The Chair (Ms. Natalia Kusendova): The motion is therefore carried.

MPP Martin.

Mrs. Robin Martin: I have another motion, Chair.

The Chair (Ms. Natalia Kusendova): Before we proceed with the next motion, we will conclude the official broadcasting of this committee. I therefore call for a five-minute recess.

The committee continued in closed session at 1306.

STANDING COMMITTEE ON SOCIAL POLICY

Chair / Présidente

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

Vice-Chair / Vice-Président

Mr. Aris Babikian (Scarborough–Agincourt PC)

Mr. Aris Babikian (Scarborough–Agincourt PC)

Mr. Jeff Burch (Niagara Centre / Niagara-Centre ND)

Ms. Amy Fee (Kitchener South–Hespeler / Kitchener-Sud–Hespeler PC)

Mr. Michael Gravelle (Thunder Bay–Superior North / Thunder Bay–Supérieur-Nord L)

Mr. Joel Harden (Ottawa Centre / Ottawa-Centre ND)

Mr. Mike Harris (Kitchener–Conestoga PC)

Ms. Christine Hogarth (Etobicoke–Lakeshore PC)

Mrs. Belinda C. Karahalios (Cambridge IND)

Mr. Terence Kernaghan (London North Centre / London-Centre-Nord ND)

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

Mrs. Robin Martin (Eglinton–Lawrence PC)

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

Substitutions / Membres remplaçants

Mr. Deepak Anand (Mississauga–Malton PC)

Ms. Jessica Bell (University–Rosedale ND)

Mr. Kaleed Rasheed (Mississauga East–Cooksville / Mississauga-Est–Cooksville PC)

Clerk / Greffière

Ms. Tanzima Khan

Staff / Personnel

Mr. Michael Vidoni, research officer,
Research Services