Evidence of meeting #20 for Agriculture and Agri-Food in the 39th Parliament, 1st Session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was point.
A recording is available from Parliament.
11:45 a.m.
Conservative
11:45 a.m.
Bloc
André Bellavance Bloc Richmond—Arthabaska, QC
I would like to keep the motion as I had drafted it but, to answer Mr. Gourde's request, the committee could very well decide to go there later on.
11:45 a.m.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Gerry Ritz
Just check with Jean-François right there, and we'll get the wording down properly.
Yes, Alex.
11:45 a.m.
NDP
Alex Atamanenko NDP British Columbia Southern Interior, BC
I was just going to say that I agreed with André as far as logistics go, and I was going to say that once these people are here, we can listen to them, and at that point in time we can talk to them about what might be a good time to go to visit, rather than making an amendment to an amendment to an amendment to an amendment.
11:50 a.m.
Liberal
Paul Steckle Liberal Huron—Bruce, ON
On the same point, if Mr. Bellavance would agree, I would ask him to withdraw the subamendment and deal with it as a separate matter of motion at a point when we've decided which way we're going with this one, rather than go through this process. Because this is going to get very complicated. We can still do what you want to do, but let's pull that back, pull it off, and then bring it back.
11:50 a.m.
Liberal
Wayne Easter Liberal Malpeque, PE
Mr. Chair, I'd certainly be willing to do that on agreement that we travel later. But the way Mr. Gourde's motion seems to be coming forward, the impression could be left that those who oppose his amendment really don't want to go to the area to see those potato producers.
I think the best approach would be that we bring them in, we hear them out, and then we do what André says at a later date, when it's convenient to all parties. But it's absolutely urgent that we hear these people for an hour next week to hear their financial concerns, so that we can express that to the government in a clear and unequivocal way.
11:50 a.m.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Gerry Ritz
That's terribly cynical, Mr. Easter, but I hear you.
So is the subamendment still on the table? André, are you withdrawing it?
11:50 a.m.
Bloc
André Bellavance Bloc Richmond—Arthabaska, QC
One could add to my motion, at the end: "and that the committee travel to the region at a future date".
11:50 a.m.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Gerry Ritz
Well, now you're changing the main motion. Let's do this in order. Let's call the question on--
11:50 a.m.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Gerry Ritz
--Monsieur Gourde's amendment. Then we'll go back to the main motion, and you guys can wordsmith it at that point. But let's clear one or two off the table here.
11:50 a.m.
Conservative
Jacques Gourde Conservative Lotbinière—Chutes-de-la-Chaudière, QC
If it's so urgent, Mr. Bellavance, why not go there?
11:50 a.m.
Bloc
André Bellavance Bloc Richmond—Arthabaska, QC
Well, Jacques, if it's so urgent, why don't you agree with us meeting with them here? That's what they're asking. Stop playing games. I know what you want. We want to hear them and we want to go there.
11:50 a.m.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Gerry Ritz
Gentlemen, we're going to call the question on Monsieur Gourde's amendment at this point.
11:50 a.m.
An hon. member
But isn't there a subamendment?
11:50 a.m.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Gerry Ritz
No, he's going to go back and change his own motion.
The subamendment that you tabled is withdrawn, so you can go back and change your own motion after we deal with the amendment--as I understand it.
11:50 a.m.
Bloc
André Bellavance Bloc Richmond—Arthabaska, QC
No. I wanted to add to Mr. Gourde's amendment. I want us to hear the witnesses here and to travel to their region later on, in the future.
11:50 a.m.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Gerry Ritz
Mr. Gourde's amendment did not include hearing from farmers here. His change of motion was that we go directly there and hear from them. You can't change his amendment--
11:50 a.m.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Gerry Ritz
--in the way that you're wanting to.
I'm going to call the question on Mr. Gourde's amendment as the amendment that's on the table right now. That's what's coming before us. We will read that into the record again, and then I'm going to call the question.
