Evidence of meeting #36 for International Trade in the 39th Parliament, 1st Session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was chair.
A recording is available from Parliament.
1:55 p.m.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Leon Benoit
Mr. Julian, your time is up, and you haven't moved your motion. There's no need to go to a vote on this one at all.
We will now, Mr. Julian, go to clause....
1:55 p.m.
NDP
1:55 p.m.
NDP
Peter Julian NDP Burnaby—New Westminster, BC
Thank you, Mr. Chair. Here I thought we were going to get along better, but obviously not.
I disagree with that decision. You have simply allowed other folks to implicitly move through, rather than expecting that they're moving. If you look at the transcripts, you have not proceeded that way up until now. If that is how you are going to play, it is your right to say that this is your expectation, but I challenge your decision.
1:55 p.m.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Leon Benoit
Okay, Mr. Julian.
We'll go to a recorded division that this committee sustain the decision of the chair.
(Chair's ruling sustained: yeas 9; nays 2)
1:55 p.m.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Leon Benoit
Mr. Julian, I just want to note that you are for some reason hesitating for a long time before casting your vote, even on your own motion, which seems very odd. I just want to note that, and to ask you if you could speed that up.
Mr. Julian, I also want to make a comment. I have asked you on more than one occasion to move your motion and get on with the debate. You have three minutes in total. You went over the three minutes. If you've made a decision not to move your motion, then there is no motion to vote on.
We are now going to the recorded division on clause 18.
Do you want to speak on clause 18?
2 p.m.
NDP
Peter Julian NDP Burnaby—New Westminster, BC
Please make sure that you offer that option before you move to recorded divisions, Mr. Chair.
2 p.m.
NDP
Peter Julian NDP Burnaby—New Westminster, BC
I appreciate that.
What have we done, Mr. Chair?
Here is bad news for the Canadian softwood industry right across the country. We're imposing a double tax now. This is what this committee is deciding, or at least 11 of the 12 members, aside from the NDP. We're deciding to impose a double tax that we know—that we have been informed—results in 67-cent dollars coming back to the companies through EDC. We know that. We heard the testimony, and yet irresponsibly, like driving over a cliff with the softwood industry in the back seat, we're simply saying: it doesn't matter that there's double taxation; we're not going to fix the bill.
We have also included end-matched lumber historically. For years we have assiduously defended ourselves from including end-matched lumber in the penalties that are applied, and yet now in clause 18 we do so. Again we were informed, Mr. Chair; Elliot Feldman was very clear in his testimony about the implications and the consequences of this. As a result, the 11 members who are voting for this have to take responsibility for the implications and the consequences of what I consider to be irresponsible action.
We are also not correcting the fact that under this clause, clause 18, the punitive special charge is levied even before any money might come to a company. We know from testimony two weeks ago from departmental officials that this is the case. We know it's the case, and yet irresponsibly, 11 of the 12 members are moving forward.
These are irresponsible actions, Mr. Chair. These are actions that are not befitting responsible parliamentarians. We know the consequences, we've been informed of the consequences, and yet rather than taking action, we are simply saying, let's railroad this bill through.
Mr. Chair, this is absolutely inappropriate. We know now that in clause 6, in clause 12, in clause 18, by this committee's decision, by virtue of 11 of the 12 members railroading it through, we are seeing the implications and consequences of what this means to the softwood industry. It should surprise all Canadians to know what is being rammed through today.
Now, Mr. Chair, I would like to share an e-mail with you that just came in from the first vice-president of the United Steel Workers in Maple Ridge, British Columbia. He says the softwood deal will lead to more layoffs, as it makes it more profitable for companies like Interfor to export logs to the States, where it can produce lumber without the penalties the softwood deal imposes.
2 p.m.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Leon Benoit
Thank you, Mr. Julian; your time is up.
Unless someone else wants to speak on the clause, we will go to recorded division on clause 18 as amended.
Was there not an amendment?
Yes, it's as amended; that is correct. It's a recorded division. We're voting on the clause as amended.
2 p.m.
An hon. member
Thank you for the clarification.
2 p.m.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Leon Benoit
(Clause 18 as amended agreed to: yeas 9; nays 1) [see Minutes of Proceedings]
2 p.m.
NDP
Peter Julian NDP Burnaby—New Westminster, BC
I'd like to move that we suspend our deliberations for 55 minutes.
2 p.m.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Leon Benoit
We'll go to a vote.
Those in favour of supporting Mr. Julian's motion please signify.
Oh, do you want to speak to it?
Mr. Julian, go ahead.
2 p.m.
NDP
Peter Julian NDP Burnaby—New Westminster, BC
Thank you very much, Mr. Chair.
You suggested that we suspend for question period earlier. I think that makes good sense, because of the complexity of the work we are going through. It would make sense and it would be responsible to take a break. I certainly would love to see an actual adjournment of the committee, but if that's impossible, I think it makes sense to have a suspension. That way, those who choose to go to question period can, and coming back, of course, we will be able to resume our work until late tonight, or early tomorrow, or Wednesday, or whatever.
I don't think it's a particularly controversial motion. I, of course, am fine working here also—I've had my bathroom break—for six hours. I'm fine—I have splashed water on my face—but I expect most members of the committee would appreciate having a brief suspension.
2:05 p.m.
Conservative
2:05 p.m.
Some hon. members
Vote.
2:05 p.m.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Leon Benoit
Let's go to the vote then.
Do you want a recorded vote, Mr. Julian?
Okay. We'll have a recorded vote on this.
(Motion negatived: nays 10; yeas 1)
2:05 p.m.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Leon Benoit
Once again I would like to note for the record that Mr. Julian is hesitating a long time routinely before casting his vote. It's something that wouldn't show in the written transcript, but it is to be noted.
Yes, Mr. Eyking.
Mr. Eyking actually had the floor.