Evidence of meeting #15 for Foreign Affairs and International Development in the 39th Parliament, 1st Session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was lebanon.
5:05 p.m.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Kevin Sorenson
We will go then to the amendment to the motion, which is back to Mr. Martin's amendment. Again, we go to—
A point of order, Mr. Obhrai.
5:05 p.m.
Conservative
Deepak Obhrai Conservative Calgary East, AB
On a point of order, Mr. Chair, I wanted to know if the original mover of the motion, Madame Lalonde, is accepting the amendment.
5:05 p.m.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Kevin Sorenson
I believe she indicated at one point in time that she was not accepting that as a friendly amendment to the motion.
5:05 p.m.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Kevin Sorenson
She doesn't have to, as a friendly amendment; it was an amendment.
Madam Lalonde is up first to speak.
5:05 p.m.
Bloc
Francine Lalonde Bloc La Pointe-de-l'Île, QC
Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
I've spoken to the clerk as well as to the gentlemen, whose name I've forgotten, and I was right. I could have requested a vote on the chair's decision to allow Keith Martin's motion to stand as an amendment to my motion, when in fact my motion contained the exact same wording. Quite frankly, I've never seen this before.
However, since we have just had a debate, I regret that I didn't have the chance to state my position and that the Chair's decision was not put to a vote. Under the circumstances, I don't think his decision was a fair one.
Moreover, since my motion did call, among other things, for an immediate ceasefire, I won't oppose this motion. However, I have to say that I am deeply disappointed to have been prevented from voting on my own motion.
5:10 p.m.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Kevin Sorenson
Madam Lalonde, don't be torn. We don't want anyone torn or disappointed for not, at that point in time, having the opportunity to vote on your motion.
When someone brings forward an amendment, we listen to the amendment. If the chair rules that the amendment is in order, we proceed with debate, and you rightfully have the opportunity to question the chair's decision about whether or not his amendment was in order. If that is what you're calling for now—
5:10 p.m.
Bloc
Francine Lalonde Bloc La Pointe-de-l'Île, QC
I would have done it before the whole debate and the subamendment, but now I'm telling you that if I don't do it, it is because I could not. Of course, I cannot vote against the very proposition that I put forward.
5:10 p.m.
Some hon. members
Oh, oh!
5:10 p.m.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Kevin Sorenson
Thank you, Madam Lalonde. It sounded really good.
Madam Lalonde, because you did not challenge the decision, I accepted the Liberal amendment as in order, and we proceeded with debate on that. Now, if you are not challenging the chair's decision on whether or not the amendment was in order, then as I understand it, we still continue with debate on the amendment.
The subamendment has failed, so we go back to debate on the amendment. Again, we are open to debate.
Mr. Van Loan, and then--
5:10 p.m.
Bloc
5:10 p.m.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Kevin Sorenson
Okay, we will read the amendment to Madam Lalonde's motion.
I'll try it this time. Mr. Martin moves that the motion be amended by replacing all the words after the word “Given” with the following:
That the Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs calls on the Canadian government to urge an immediate ceasefire by all parties across the Lebanese-Israeli border.
That is the motion, and that is the amendment to your motion.
Madam Lalonde.
5:10 p.m.
Bloc
Francine Lalonde Bloc La Pointe-de-l'Île, QC
I have a question concerning the wording. If the word “given ” is retained, then this is not a resolution as such. The wording would need to be changed.
You keep the word “Given”, so it makes—
5:10 p.m.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Kevin Sorenson
Unless it's different on the interpretation, it's not a preamble. It's just all the words after the word “Given”, so—
August 1st, 2006 / 5:10 p.m.
Liberal
5:10 p.m.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Kevin Sorenson
Because it's written in Dr. Martin's handwriting, we're going to get him to come. Even the translators or interpreters wouldn't be able to figure this one out.
5:15 p.m.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Kevin Sorenson
Obviously the motion has to be grammatically correct, so I'll ask our clerk to.... The interpreters will have to translate it from the verbal. We're doing a translation of it as we go, here.
Madam Lalonde, we will now read you the amendment in English, and then we will read it again in French. It may require some wordsmithing, as it's just been done here at the table. First of all, let us read, and you can listen to the interpretation. The interpreters may pick up some different ways in which it's been changed here.
Our clerk will now read the amendment.
5:15 p.m.
The Clerk
The amendment is this:
That all the words be deleted after and including the word “Given” and be replaced with the following: That the Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs calls on the Canadian government to urge an immediate ceasefire by all parties across the Lebanese-Israeli border.
It would read as follows in French:
Que tous les mots après et incluant le mot “Attendu” soient remplacés par ce qui suit: Que le Comité permanent des affairs étrangères demande au gouvernement canadien de presser un cessez-le-feu immédiat par toutes les parties à travers la frontière libanaise-israélienne.
5:20 p.m.
Bloc
Francine Lalonde Bloc La Pointe-de-l'Île, QC
The word “presser” is used incorrectly in French. It would be more appropriate to say “Presse le gouvernement...”.
5:20 p.m.
The Clerk
“Presse le gouvernement”...
5:20 p.m.
Bloc
Francine Lalonde Bloc La Pointe-de-l'Île, QC
May I ask a question? At present, there is no officially recognized border between Lebanon and Israel. What word could we use instead of “border”? Could we use the expression “blue line” and write in parentheses after the word “border”, since this reflects the currently reality? Then we'd know what we're dealing with.
