Evidence of meeting #59 for Human Resources, Skills and Social Development and the Status of Persons with Disabilities in the 40th Parliament, 2nd Session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was amendment.

A recording is available from Parliament.

On the agenda

MPs speaking

Also speaking

Frank Vermaeten  Senior Assistant Deputy Minister, Skills and Employment Branch, Department of Human Resources and Skills Development
Luc Taillon  Chief Actuary, Department of Human Resources and Skills Development
Louis Beauséjour  Director General, Employment Insurance Policy, Skills and Employment Branch, Department of Human Resources and Skills Development
Wayne Cole  Procedural Clerk

5:50 p.m.

Conservative

The Chair Conservative Dean Allison

I will move to amendment G-9 now.

Mr. Komarnicki, will you read that into the record?

5:50 p.m.

Conservative

Ed Komarnicki Conservative Souris—Moose Mountain, SK

It is:

That Bill C-56, in clause 16, be amended by replacing, in the French version, line 23 on page 43 with the following:

152.07(3)(b), “la détermination du nombre”.

(Amendment agreed to)

5:50 p.m.

Conservative

The Chair Conservative Dean Allison

Next we have amendment NDP-2.

Mr. Martin, would you like to read that?

5:50 p.m.

NDP

Tony Martin NDP Sault Ste. Marie, ON

Let me just start by saying to the government that I know there was some discussion about this, some expert panel, which is what this amendment is about. We want to have it established so we can keep track of this important piece of legislation to make sure it's working in the best interests of both the people who are going to benefit from it--the people of Canada--and the government itself. There was some indication that this panel would be set up. It was certainly promised in the budget. If the government were willing to bring it forward at the report stage and implement that panel, I would be more than willing to withdraw this amendment here this afternoon.

5:50 p.m.

Conservative

The Chair Conservative Dean Allison

I'm going to rule that out of order because it goes beyond the scope of the bill and incurs other costs.

5:50 p.m.

NDP

Tony Martin NDP Sault Ste. Marie, ON

I haven't moved the amendment yet.

5:50 p.m.

Conservative

The Chair Conservative Dean Allison

I'm sorry, I'm getting excited here. We're close to six o'clock.

Go ahead, Tony.

5:50 p.m.

NDP

Tony Martin NDP Sault Ste. Marie, ON

Amendment NDP-2 reads:

That Bill C-56, in clause 16, be amended by replacing the heading “REVIEW OF THIS PART” and lines 29 to 32 on page 43 with the following:

PANEL AND REVIEW OF THIS PART

152.34 (1) The Minister shall appoint a panel of experts within six months of the day on which this Part comes into force to review the impact, administration and operation of this Part.

(2) Each year for a period of five years, the panel shall consult Canadians and report its findings to each House of Parliament with recommendations for improvements.

5:55 p.m.

Conservative

The Chair Conservative Dean Allison

Thank you, Mr. Martin. Now I'll rule it out of order.

5:55 p.m.

Liberal

Michael Savage Liberal Dartmouth—Cole Harbour, NS

Why is it out of order?

5:55 p.m.

Conservative

The Chair Conservative Dean Allison

It's because it goes beyond the scope and charges additional financial responsibilities in order to make that happen on a yearly basis versus every five years.

5:55 p.m.

Liberal

Michael Savage Liberal Dartmouth—Cole Harbour, NS

Does it actually do that? The government already promised to establish this panel of experts.

5:55 p.m.

Conservative

The Chair Conservative Dean Allison

I'll read the--

5:55 p.m.

Liberal

Michael Savage Liberal Dartmouth—Cole Harbour, NS

That's okay. I'm just making the point that when we asked about this panel of experts, the response from the minister was that Marlene Jennings and I were the panel of experts. I never received an honorarium or anything like that, Mr. Chair, and I wonder if that's something you could bring back through the parliamentary secretary.

5:55 p.m.

Conservative

The Chair Conservative Dean Allison

All right, we'll raise that in the future.

Mr. Martin.

5:55 p.m.

NDP

Tony Martin NDP Sault Ste. Marie, ON

On a point of order, given that there are people in the country obviously willing to work without an honorarium and do this for free, perhaps it's not out of order.

5:55 p.m.

Conservative

Maurice Vellacott Conservative Saskatoon—Wanuskewin, SK

At their own expense--flights across the country?

5:55 p.m.

Conservative

The Chair Conservative Dean Allison

We have all the government amendments that were included in clause 16.

(Clause 16 as amended agreed to)

(Clauses 17 to 37 inclusive agreed to)

Shall the short title carry?

5:55 p.m.

Some hon. members

Agreed.

5:55 p.m.

Conservative

The Chair Conservative Dean Allison

Shall the title carry?

5:55 p.m.

Some hon. members

Agreed.

5:55 p.m.

Conservative

The Chair Conservative Dean Allison

Shall the bill as amended carry?

5:55 p.m.

Bloc

Yves Lessard Bloc Chambly—Borduas, QC

Mr. Chair, I would like a recorded division on the bill.

5:55 p.m.

Conservative

The Chair Conservative Dean Allison

Okay.

(Bill C-56 agreed to [See Minutes of Proceedings])

Shall I report the bill as amended back to the House?

5:55 p.m.

Some hon. members

Agreed.