Agriculture Committee on Oct. 7th, 2010

[The Chair, Conservative, Larry Miller]

Mr. Atamanenko.

[Alex Atamanenko, NDP, British Columbia Southern Interior, BC]

I'd like to read my motion. The motion basically asks for an extension of 30 days so we can continue the healthy, democratic debate on my Bill C-474. I think we agree that we've had some really good balanced points of view, and I'd like us to set aside some time for witnesses. I would like to have this extension given the fact that after I introduced the bill...we've agreed to spend some time on the report and other issues. I just feel that because of that and the summer break, we're running into time limits.

Anyway, here's the motion:

That the Committee request an extension of thirty sitting days to consider Bill C-474, An Act respecting the Seeds Regulations (analysis of potential harm), beyond the sixty days from the date of the Bills' referral to Committee, as provided in Standing Order 97.1(1); and that the continued study, clause by clause consideration and reporting of the Bill be completed by the end of the extension period.

I just might add that if we accept this motion, we have a proposal from the steering committee that could fit this into a timeline that I think would be acceptable to everybody.

[The Chair, Conservative, Larry Miller]

Alex, just so we're clear on the amount of extension time, do you have a date?

[Alex Atamanenko, NDP, British Columbia Southern Interior, BC]

I think the clerk could probably tell us. It's 30 days past—

[The Chair, Conservative, Larry Miller]

Oh, it's 30, so you're asking for the full 30 days.

[Alex Atamanenko, NDP, British Columbia Southern Interior, BC]

I won't need it, but according to the regulations—

[The Chair, Conservative, Larry Miller]

No, I just wanted to clarify that. It would be December 10, the Friday of the last scheduled week here.

[Alex Atamanenko, NDP, British Columbia Southern Interior, BC]

According to our discussions—

[The Chair, Conservative, Larry Miller]

No, I know, but just so we're clear on the date. I just wanted that.

Okay. You have the first chance to speak to your bill, if you care to.

[Alex Atamanenko, NDP, British Columbia Southern Interior, BC]

I've spoken a bit already, and I'll try not to take much time.

My point is that it's a piece of legislation on which I need some more time. A lot of us have a few witnesses. This would give us time to tidy it up. I believe we said that another three, four, or maybe five meetings at maximum would still give us time to finish our report before the November break and then get on to other business that we may decide to do.

I'm asking the committee to approve the motion so that I can have that extension. I will not need the full time to December. As I said, according to what we've calculated, this should be finished even before the Remembrance Day break. So a timeline has been worked out. I would just like to have assurances so that we can go ahead and then witnesses can be called when we get back.

[The Chair, Conservative, Larry Miller]

Thank you.

Mr. Lemieux.

[Pierre Lemieux, Conservative, Glengarry—Prescott—Russell, ON]

Thanks, Chair.

I just wanted to confirm a few things. If the extension is not granted, when must this be referred to the House?

[The Chair, Conservative, Larry Miller]

On October 22, and that's a Friday. That would be two weeks from tomorrow.

[Pierre Lemieux, Conservative, Glengarry—Prescott—Russell, ON]

So October 22, in two weeks, okay.

[The Chair, Conservative, Larry Miller]

Mr. Lemieux, further to that, the final work on it would have to be done on October 21. That's a regularly scheduled meeting day for us, a Thursday morning.

[Pierre Lemieux, Conservative, Glengarry—Prescott—Russell, ON]

Okay.

The second question I have, Chair, is that if this motion passes here at committee, will it still have to be dealt with by the House? Is that correct? The committee itself can recommend to the House that the House should allow the committee an extra 30 days, but the House must vote on this. It's not just resolved here at committee.

[The Chair, Conservative, Larry Miller]

I'm not sure how—

[Pierre Lemieux, Conservative, Glengarry—Prescott—Russell, ON]

This is a report to the House. I just want to confirm that.

[An hon. member]

Just for clarification, is it votable in the House then at that time?

[The Chair, Conservative, Larry Miller]

I'm not sure of the exact procedure.

It's an adoption of reports. That's how it would get dealt with. It would probably be one of those unanimous votes, that whoever's in the House at the time it came up—

[Pierre Lemieux, Conservative, Glengarry—Prescott—Russell, ON]

I wonder if you could check on that, because I remember that last week we voted on another private member's bill being extended 30 days, but I will say I can't remember whether it was a standing vote or whether I happened to be in the House when it was read aloud. I remember that it wasn't just an adoption of reports; it was more that the House had to concur on that for it to actually happen. They had to vote on it.

[The Chair, Conservative, Larry Miller]

Okay.

[Pierre Lemieux, Conservative, Glengarry—Prescott—Russell, ON]

Anyway, this should not halt debate; it's just a question of procedure.

[The Chair, Conservative, Larry Miller]

We'll get that shortly here. Is that fair enough?

Mr. Hoback.

[Randy Hoback, Conservative, Prince Albert, SK]

Chair, again on the process, Mr. Lemieux kind of asked the question I had about how it flows through the House. Maybe I'll just take it a step further. If we extend it and we want to complete it earlier than the 30 days, is there any restriction on completing that report next week or this week?