Evidence of meeting #33 for Public Safety and National Security in the 39th 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

Roger Préfontaine  Clerk of the Committee, Standing Committee on Public Safety and National Security

3:35 p.m.

Conservative

The Chair Conservative Garry Breitkreuz

Members, let's reconvene.

Mr. Ménard, you may introduce your motion. Go ahead whenever you're ready.

3:35 p.m.

Bloc

Serge Ménard Bloc Marc-Aurèle-Fortin, QC

Mr. Chairman, in accordance with standing order 122, I move the following motion:

That the Standing Committee on Public Safety and National Security consider and report to the House of Commons of the security issues raised by the relationship that the former Minister of Foreign Affairs had with a person with ties to organized crime, by inviting witnesses to appear, including: Prime Minister Steven Harper, Maxime Bernier, Julie Couillard, the Privy Council officials responsible for appointments and the RCMP officials responsible for security screenings, the Minister of Public Safety and Michel Juneau-Katsuya.

This is a recent matter which has developed very quickly, but which led to the resignation of the Minister of Foreign Affairs. It is therefore a very serious issue. There is no doubt that there was a breach of security. Thus, it is important for us to understand the scope and limits of that breach as quickly as possible.

That is why I am asking that the committee proceed with this investigation quickly.

3:35 p.m.

Conservative

The Chair Conservative Garry Breitkreuz

Thank you.

I have one person who has indicated they want to comment.

Ms. Thi Lac, please.

3:35 p.m.

Bloc

Ève-Mary Thaï Thi Lac Bloc Saint-Hyacinthe—Bagot, QC

Thank you, Mr. Chairman.

I agree with my colleague, Mr. Ménard. However, I would like to amend his motion by adding the following: "and that the study begin on Monday, June 9."

3:35 p.m.

Conservative

The Chair Conservative Garry Breitkreuz

We have an amendment here to suspend our study of tasers and all the business before the committee and to instead do this examination.

Ms. Priddy.

3:35 p.m.

NDP

Penny Priddy NDP Surrey North, BC

Does the amendment not take precedence?

3:35 p.m.

Conservative

The Chair Conservative Garry Breitkreuz

Yes.

3:35 p.m.

NDP

Penny Priddy NDP Surrey North, BC

Mine is not on the amendment. It's on.... Or does the amended...?

3:35 p.m.

Conservative

The Chair Conservative Garry Breitkreuz

We vote on the amendment first. If you want to speak generally, you may.

3:35 p.m.

NDP

Penny Priddy NDP Surrey North, BC

So we don't have to vote on the movement of the date before we can move to the motion, or move to speaking to—

3:35 p.m.

Conservative

The Chair Conservative Garry Breitkreuz

Does anybody want to speak to the amendment?

Mr. Dosanjh.

3:35 p.m.

Liberal

Ujjal Dosanjh Liberal Vancouver South, BC

I'm just wondering whether the member would add a friendly amendment to the amendment. That would be to add “by inviting witnesses to appear before the committee, including”, and then all the witnesses who are mentioned.

There might be other witnesses we might want to hear from, and we should not be limiting ourselves.

3:35 p.m.

Conservative

The Chair Conservative Garry Breitkreuz

That's another amendment, so maybe you just want to rephrase that. How does that go again?

3:35 p.m.

Bloc

Serge Ménard Bloc Marc-Aurèle-Fortin, QC

Mr. Chairman, that is not an amendment, but would be a translation error. The French text does contain the word "notamment", and I pointed out earlier that that word had not been translated.

3:35 p.m.

Conservative

The Chair Conservative Garry Breitkreuz

Okay. So the translation is not correct.

3:35 p.m.

Liberal

Ujjal Dosanjh Liberal Vancouver South, BC

It should be corrected.

3:35 p.m.

Conservative

The Chair Conservative Garry Breitkreuz

We're going to go with the French motion, then, which mentions “including”. So your suggestion is not necessary.

3:35 p.m.

Liberal

Ujjal Dosanjh Liberal Vancouver South, BC

I'm satisfied.

3:35 p.m.

Conservative

The Chair Conservative Garry Breitkreuz

Mr. Cullen is next on my list.

3:35 p.m.

Liberal

Roy Cullen Liberal Etobicoke North, ON

Actually, that was my same point, that we shouldn't be limiting it to just the people listed. So that deals with that.

3:35 p.m.

Conservative

The Chair Conservative Garry Breitkreuz

If there's no more discussion, we can vote.

3:35 p.m.

Conservative

Dave MacKenzie Conservative Oxford, ON

Mr. Chair, if we're going to talk about timing, the clerk has a table or a schedule of what the committee had already set.

3:35 p.m.

Conservative

The Chair Conservative Garry Breitkreuz

Do you want me to distribute this?

3:35 p.m.

Conservative

Dave MacKenzie Conservative Oxford, ON

I think we should, because I think people should know what will happen.

3:35 p.m.

Conservative

The Chair Conservative Garry Breitkreuz

This schedule starts next week. Today we were going to deal with the drafting instructions for the taser study, and then Wednesday....

I wish to inform the committee that our witnesses for the next meeting have all been confirmed, the six witnesses from the various first nations. That may help in your decision here.

Also, the clerk informs me that the people from the Ontario Flue-Cured Tobacco Growers' Marketing Board have been confirmed. They were to come next Monday.

Mr. MacKenzie.