Public Safety Committee on Dec. 6th, 2016

Evidence of meeting #48 for Public Safety and National Security in the 42nd Parliament, 1st Session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was information.

A recording is available from Parliament.

On the agenda

Bill C-22

MPs speaking

Nathaniel Erskine-Smith

Nicola Di Iorio

Also speaking

Nancy Miles Senior Legal Counsel, Privy Council Office

Allen Sutherland Assistant Secretary, Machinery of Government, Privy Council Office

Heather Sheehy Director of Operations, Machinery of Government, Privy Council Office

John Davies Director General, National Security Policy, Department of Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness

4:40 p.m.

Liberal

The Chair Liberal Rob Oliphant

I will ask our officials if they could help us.

4:40 p.m.

Director of Operations, Machinery of Government, Privy Council Office

Heather Sheehy

I don't know the answer to that question. Can you give me one minute? I'm going to confer.

4:40 p.m.

Conservative

Tony Clement Conservative Parry Sound—Muskoka, ON

Take all the time you need, days, weeks, or months.

4:40 p.m.

Liberal

The Chair Liberal Rob Oliphant

Mr. Sutherland.

December 6th, 2016 / 4:40 p.m.

Assistant Secretary, Machinery of Government, Privy Council Office

Allen Sutherland

This oath was based on something the previous government did, Bill C-81. I don't know what the common practice is.

4:40 p.m.

Liberal

The Chair Liberal Rob Oliphant

Bill C-81 was yours.

4:40 p.m.

Conservative

Tony Clement Conservative Parry Sound—Muskoka, ON

I know, but I don't go around memorizing bill numbers.

4:40 p.m.

Assistant Secretary, Machinery of Government, Privy Council Office

Allen Sutherland

It was way back. Sorry. It was several governments back. I apologize, Mr. Clement.

4:45 p.m.

Liberal

The Chair Liberal Rob Oliphant

It was a bill written in the Martin government, and this was taken from that bill.

4:45 p.m.

Assistant Secretary, Machinery of Government, Privy Council Office

Allen Sutherland

Yes.

4:45 p.m.

Liberal

The Chair Liberal Rob Oliphant

Okay.

4:45 p.m.

Conservative

Tony Clement Conservative Parry Sound—Muskoka, ON

I would like to add reference to the monarch to this solemn oath.

4:45 p.m.

Liberal

The Chair Liberal Rob Oliphant

You would like to amend it?

4:45 p.m.

Conservative

Tony Clement Conservative Parry Sound—Muskoka, ON

Sure, by adding the Queen, the monarch, or whatever the style is.

4:45 p.m.

Liberal

The Chair Liberal Rob Oliphant

It would be, “I will be faithful and bear true loyalty to Canada”—

4:45 p.m.

Green

Elizabeth May Green Saanich—Gulf Islands, BC

—“Her Majesty, her heirs, and successors”.

4:45 p.m.

Liberal

The Chair Liberal Rob Oliphant

—“to Her Majesty, her heirs, and successors”.

I think it's “to its people, and to Her Majesty”—

4:45 p.m.

Conservative

Tony Clement Conservative Parry Sound—Muskoka, ON

Right.

4:45 p.m.

Liberal

The Chair Liberal Rob Oliphant

—“and her heirs and successors”, after the word “people”.

4:45 p.m.

Conservative

Tony Clement Conservative Parry Sound—Muskoka, ON

What are you guys going to do over there?

4:45 p.m.

Liberal

Nicola Di Iorio Liberal Saint-Léonard—Saint-Michel, QC

Vote against it.

4:45 p.m.

Conservative

Dianne Lynn Watts Conservative South Surrey—White Rock, BC

Vote against the monarch. It says “Majesty” throughout the whole document.

4:45 p.m.

Liberal

The Chair Liberal Rob Oliphant

Do we have an amendment with respect to adding the sovereign?

4:45 p.m.

NDP

Matthew Dubé NDP Beloeil—Chambly, QC

Mr. Chair, can I clarify what part of the bill that is?

4:45 p.m.

Liberal

The Chair Liberal Rob Oliphant

This is on page 17 of the bill, which is the oath or solemn affirmation.

On the second line after “bear true loyalty to Canada and to its people,” it would add “and to Her Majesty, her heirs, and successors”.