Human Resources Committee on Feb. 5th, 2009

[Ed Komarnicki, Conservative, Souris—Moose Mountain, SK]

I've just had a document distributed. It's not in both official languages, so we need it to be corrected there.

The reason I put it in is that it was one that we had in the immigration committee, and it worked well. It doesn't substantively change the two days' notice, but what it does say is that it's a 48-hour notice that is calculated from the time the clerk of the committee sends it out. I put in brackets “not counting weekends”, and I don't know whether we should worry about that or not. But the intent of the motion is that you have to have 48 hours' notice. The notice starts to run from the time the clerk sends it out, and you don't count Saturday and Sunday. You get a clear 48 hours' notice and you know when it starts. This seemed to work well in the immigration committee.

I'll read it:

That 48 hours' notice be required for any substantive motion to be considered by the committee, unless the substantive motion relates directly to business then under consideration; and that the notice of motion be filed with the clerk of the committee and distributed to members in both official languages and that the period of notice be calculated from the time the motion has been distributed to the members of the committee by the clerk of the committee (not counting weekends).

It think it means that without saying it, which is why I put in in.

[The Chair, Conservative, Dean Allison]

Do we have any other discussion on this?

We'll go with Madam Folco, and then Mr. Savage.

[Raymonde Folco, Liberal, Laval—Les Îles, QC]

First of all, I am sorry, Mr. Komarnicki, but I must point out the fact that you have presented a motion in English only and that you were given time to do it. I will accept it because we are just getting started, but I must say that I am addressing this intentionally because you know the rules.

In addition, I don't fully understand—and I would like someone to explain this to me—how 48 hours is considered an improvement over two days. We could say two working days, for example. I don't understand the difference between the two.

[The Chair, Conservative, Dean Allison]

Go ahead, Mr. Komarnicki.

[Ed Komarnicki, Conservative, Souris—Moose Mountain, SK]

It's not calling into question the two days or 48 hours—I think they're the same thing. The issue was to provide clarity as to when the notice starts. If you wish to have “two days” as opposed to “48 hours”, it's no big deal. I used 48 hours to signify two days. I have no problem if you want to call them days as opposed to hours.

[Raymonde Folco, Liberal, Laval—Les Îles, QC]

So why is it substantive?

[The Chair, Conservative, Dean Allison]

Where he was suggesting it was different is that it be from the time the members get to see it versus from the time the clerk receives it.

That is the substantial difference there, correct?

I'm taking a list here. Madam Folco, are you done?

[Raymonde Folco, Liberal, Laval—Les Îles, QC]

I do have another question.

[The Chair, Conservative, Dean Allison]

Thank you very much.

[Raymonde Folco, Liberal, Laval—Les Îles, QC]

Thank you, Mr. Chair.

I'll speak in English because the motion is in English.

At the first line it says “48 hours' notice be required for any substantive motion”. My first question is, who decides when a motion is substantive, and what is a substantive motion as opposed to a “regular” motion?

Unless we have a good answer to that, I would suggest, as a friendly amendment or any other kind of amendment, that the word “substantive” be removed from that motion.

[The Chair, Conservative, Dean Allison]

I've just been informed by the clerk that “substantive” means that it's a debatable motion. So we're assuming that any motion that comes forward would be debatable.

[Raymonde Folco, Liberal, Laval—Les Îles, QC]

Let's take the word out.

[The Chair, Conservative, Dean Allison]

We could take the word out. Are you okay with the word out?

[Raymonde Folco, Liberal, Laval—Les Îles, QC]

If there is agreement with that.

[The Chair, Conservative, Dean Allison]

Okay, so we'll just remove the word.

[Raymonde Folco, Liberal, Laval—Les Îles, QC]

Everywhere it appears in the motion.

[An hon. member]

What did we just take out?

[The Chair, Conservative, Dean Allison]

The word “substantive” has been removed.

I'm still taking names. Madam Folco, did you have any additional comments?

[Raymonde Folco, Liberal, Laval—Les Îles, QC]

It's all right.

[The Chair, Conservative, Dean Allison]

We can come back to you, Madam Folco, if you'd like.

We're going to go with Mr. Savage, Mr. Lessard, Ms. Minna, and then Mr. Martin.

Mr. Savage.

[Michael Savage, Liberal, Dartmouth—Cole Harbour, NS]

I don't want to be obstreperous on this motion, but I don't see why we need to make a lot of changes. I don't think we had a lot of issues before about the two days' notice. It seems reasonably simple to me. I'll listen to other arguments that people have on that, and if there is the sense that we need to be more specific, I would support that. I'm just not sure we need it.

[The Chair, Conservative, Dean Allison]

Thank you. Let's continue on. I'm going to put you on the list.

Mr. Lessard, followed by Ms. Minna, Mr. Martin, and then back to Mr. Komarnicki.

[Yves Lessard, Bloc, Chambly—Borduas, QC]

Mr. Chairman, I am not being capricious. I can get by somewhat in Spanish, but unfortunately, not in English. What I have in front of me does not enable me to participate in the debate. Therefore, I would ask you to rule this amendment out of order, unless I receive an immediate translation. I am prepared to write it down if someone can give me a proper translation. I will write it very slowly to get the content. Otherwise, I would ask you to rule this amendment out of order.

[The Chair, Conservative, Dean Allison]

For the sake of Mr. Lessard--and you've got a legitimate point--we'll make sure that going forward, motions are written in both official languages.

But I'm going to ask—

[Yves Lessard, Bloc, Chambly—Borduas, QC]

I am still not getting the French translation, Mr. Chairman.