Justice Committee on Oct. 26th, 2010

[Derek Lee, Liberal, Scarborough—Rouge River, ON]

No, I want the record to be pretty clear that we considered this. We want the whole world to know that licence plates are not intended to be included in this, so I'd prefer to have a vote, because members think it's unnecessary to have the amendment.

So let's call the vote.

[The Chair, Conservative, Ed Fast]

Okay, we'll call the question on the amendment to clause 4. This is amendment LIB-1.

(Amendment negatived)

(Clauses 4 to 13 inclusive agreed to)

[The Chair, Conservative, Ed Fast]

Shall the short title carry?

We have somebody here. We're going to have a discussion on it at this time, all right?

Ms. Jennings.

[Marlene Jennings, Liberal, Notre-Dame-de-Grâce—Lachine, QC]

I'm mindful of the reminder you gave to all members of the committee at our last clause-by-clause consideration of Bill C-22, I believe it was, at which the majority members on the committee defeated the short title because the amendment amending the short title was deemed inadmissible.

I do have a concern about this short title. I do not believe the English version of the short title accurately and appropriately expresses the French version of the short title.

In French, the short title is Loi visant à contrer le vol d’automobiles et le crime contre les biens. But,

in English, the short title says this act may be cited as the Tackling Auto Theft and Property Crime Act. I do not believe that in any way accurately translates or represents this bill, whereas the French short title does.

So I'm asking if the government is at all open to perhaps modifying the English clause so that it more accurately represents the French short title, which in fact does represent accurately the bill itself, whereas I do not believe the English short title does.

Is there any openness to try to find an English short title that more accurately represents the actual body of the bill, the objective of the bill, in the way that the French title does? Because the French title does it very well.

[Bob Dechert, Conservative, Mississauga—Erindale, ON]

We have no instructions on that. In fact, Ms. Jennings, if there had been an amendment earlier we could have had direction on it.

[The Chair, Conservative, Ed Fast]

I'm advised that any change that would simply ensure the English and French titles are the same would be a technical amendment, which would be acceptable.

[Marlene Jennings, Liberal, Notre-Dame-de-Grâce—Lachine, QC]

Okay. In that case, I would propose the following amendment regarding the short title, clause 1: that clause 1 read, “This Act may be cited as the Addressing Auto Theft and Property Crime Act.”

That's for the English version only.

[Marc Lemay, Bloc, Abitibi—Témiscamingue, QC]

Repeat that slowly, Madam.

[Marlene Jennings, Liberal, Notre-Dame-de-Grâce—Lachine, QC]

Okay: “This Act may be cited as the Addressing Auto Theft and Property Crime Act.”

One word would change. We would change the word “Tackling” to “Addressing”.

[The Chair, Conservative, Ed Fast]

You've made that amendment as a motion?

[Marlene Jennings, Liberal, Notre-Dame-de-Grâce—Lachine, QC]

Yes, I propose that amendment.

[The Chair, Conservative, Ed Fast]

Monsieur Ménard.

[Serge Ménard, Bloc, Marc-Aurèle-Fortin, QC]

Luckily, I have with me the Merriam-Webster English Dictionary. Under “tackle”, they mention football, but they also define it as “to attach or secure with” and as “to seize, take hold of or grapple, especially with the intention of stopping or subduing, (b) to seize and throw down or stop”. That is for football. It seems to me that that is what we want to do.

[The Chair, Conservative, Ed Fast]

Mr. Woodworth.

[Stephen Woodworth, Conservative, Kitchener Centre, ON]

I've done a quick search, and I'm looking at it differently in the translation.

“Loi visant à contrer”

seems to be law aimed at countering. That's the way I read it in French.

“Loi visant à contrer le vol d'automobiles et le crime contre les biens”

is law aimed at countering automobile theft and property crimes. So if you want to use “countering” instead of “tackling“, I guess you can go with that French translation. I don't recall what word Madam Jennings used...addressing.

[Marlene Jennings, Liberal, Notre-Dame-de-Grâce—Lachine, QC]

If you want to do a friendly amendment...countering.

[Stephen Woodworth, Conservative, Kitchener Centre, ON]

I'm just saying that “addressing” doesn't seem to be quite the same.

[The Chair, Conservative, Ed Fast]

Right now we have a motion on the table. Is that a friendly amendment being suggested to the amendment?

[Stephen Woodworth, Conservative, Kitchener Centre, ON]

I'm not making it a friendly amendment. Just to be clear, my point is that “addressing” doesn't seem to fit the bill.

[Marlene Jennings, Liberal, Notre-Dame-de-Grâce—Lachine, QC]

Then I would amend my amendment by removing “tackling” and inserting “countering”.

[The Chair, Conservative, Ed Fast]

I believe you can only do that with the consent of the members.

[Marlene Jennings, Liberal, Notre-Dame-de-Grâce—Lachine, QC]

I know I won't get consent.

[The Chair, Conservative, Ed Fast]

Do we have consent to change that?

[Some hon. members]

No.

[Marlene Jennings, Liberal, Notre-Dame-de-Grâce—Lachine, QC]

Then may I ask that the vote be called on my amendment?