Evidence of meeting #25 for Justice and Human Rights in the 41st Parliament, 1st 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

Joanne Klineberg  Senior Counsel, Criminal Law Policy Section, Department of Justice
Catherine Kane  Director General and Senior General Counsel, Criminal Law Policy Section, Department of Justice
Lucie Tardif-Carpentier  Legislative Clerk

12:15 p.m.

Conservative

The Chair Conservative Dave MacKenzie

It could be done when we come back, right?

12:15 p.m.

Conservative

Brian Jean Conservative Fort McMurray—Athabasca, AB

Interpretation is different from acceptance. We're dealing with the English version. If the interpretation is not satisfactory to Ms. Boivin, later it can be dealt with.

12:15 p.m.

Conservative

The Chair Conservative Dave MacKenzie

You mean back here.

12:15 p.m.

NDP

Jack Harris NDP St. John's East, NL

I think we should fix it now. We're at clause-by-clause study for a reason. If we don't have an adequate understanding at this stage, then we have to deal with it here. We've seen some unhappy experiences in the last short while regarding amendments at report stage.

March 8th, 2012 / 12:15 p.m.

Director General and Senior General Counsel, Criminal Law Policy Section, Department of Justice

Catherine Kane

Alternatively, we could attempt to make contact with our drafters now, if this is stood down, and see if we could get a reply shortly.

12:15 p.m.

NDP

Jack Harris NDP St. John's East, NL

I have another suggestion.

12:15 p.m.

Conservative

The Chair Conservative Dave MacKenzie

Okay.

12:15 p.m.

NDP

Jack Harris NDP St. John's East, NL

There's been some discussion among the—

12:15 p.m.

NDP

Françoise Boivin NDP Gatineau, QC

Francophones.

12:15 p.m.

NDP

Jack Harris NDP St. John's East, NL

—francophone group here. Mr. Seeback's suggestion as to how “any relationship” might be interpreted and Mr. Jean's comments that the word “rapports” is a little broader than the way “relationship” might be understood lead to the conclusion that in fact the wording is acceptable.

12:15 p.m.

An hon. member

Perfect.

12:15 p.m.

NDP

Françoise Boivin NDP Gatineau, QC

With the explanation we heard, it's pretty all right.

12:15 p.m.

Conservative

The Chair Conservative Dave MacKenzie

Go ahead, Mr. Cotler.

12:15 p.m.

Liberal

Irwin Cotler Liberal Mount Royal, QC

Mr. Chairman, listening to the discussion about wanting to keep the word “relationship” and hearing some of the other comments, I was going to say that one might want to consider a new paragraph, which would read, “any history of interaction or communication between the parties to the incident”.

That way you would keep what you have now, with respect to “relationship” in proposed paragraph 34(2)(f), and you would just add a new proposed subparagraph, 34(2)(g)(i), which would provide a broadening element for that which one might want to include.

12:20 p.m.

NDP

Jack Harris NDP St. John's East, NL

Can we take that as an amendment to the amendment, Chair? Is that possible?

12:20 p.m.

A voice

You'd have to withdraw—

12:20 p.m.

NDP

Jack Harris NDP St. John's East, NL

I'd suggest withdraw, but nobody would consent to it.

12:20 p.m.

An hon. member

I would consent.

12:20 p.m.

Conservative

The Chair Conservative Dave MacKenzie

Just a minute. Whoa. Let's do this through the chair.

The legislative clerk tells me that, properly, if you wish to withdraw it, we can have consent to withdraw it. Then you need to move a new amendment.

12:20 p.m.

NDP

Jack Harris NDP St. John's East, NL

A new amendment?

12:20 p.m.

Conservative

The Chair Conservative Dave MacKenzie

It has to be, yes. You can't do what you're trying to do.

If you wish to withdraw it, we'll ask for consent to withdraw it, and then—

12:20 p.m.

An hon. member

We consent.

12:20 p.m.

Conservative

The Chair Conservative Dave MacKenzie

You give consent to withdraw?

12:20 p.m.

Some hon. members

Agreed.

12:20 p.m.

Conservative

The Chair Conservative Dave MacKenzie

(Amendment withdrawn [See Minutes of Proceedings])