Agriculture Committee on Feb. 25th, 2020

[The Chair, Liberal, Pat Finnigan]

I didn't understand.

[Yves Perron, Bloc, Berthier—Maskinongé, QC]

The first step would be to read this study, which will speed up the process. You'll all be happy because it would take less than six sessions. However, the work has to be done and recommendations have to be made, because this file has not moved.

[The Chair, Liberal, Pat Finnigan]

Mr. Blois, you have the floor.

[Kody Blois, Liberal, Kings—Hants, NS]

Given the fact that this has already been studied at HUMA, I think we should all have the chance to see the recommendations, because that could change the language. I haven't had the chance to read them, and it seems, perhaps, that some of my Conservative colleagues were referencing them.

I agree with Mr. Perron. This is an issue that's relevant in Kings—Hants, my riding, as well, but it might change how I propose an amendment, depending on what I've read from the HUMA committee.

Can we all agree? I guess it's Mr. Perron's decision to agree, but let's go back and take a look at that. Let's see what the findings and the conclusions were. That could inform a motion that we put forward.

That's what my preference would be, if Mr. Perron agrees.

[The Chair, Liberal, Pat Finnigan]

Mr. Perron, I leave it to your discretion to do one of the proposed things. As I said earlier, we are not rejecting your motion, but it gives us the chance to adjourn the debate and resume it later. Nevertheless, it is your right to ask for a vote.

[Yves Perron, Bloc, Berthier—Maskinongé, QC]

It's not that I don't want to, but is that part of the study? I have no problem with that, if there have been studies elsewhere. Of course, we're all intelligent people who want to be effective, and we're going to look at it. I do not see a contradiction. If I feel that the committee will defeat my motion, I will suspend the vote. My intuition is good.

[The Chair, Liberal, Pat Finnigan]

Mr. Lehoux, it's your turn.

[Richard Lehoux, Conservative, Beauce, QC]

Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Mr. Perron, colleagues and Mr. Chair, I agree that we should examine the recommendations. I will be the first, Mr. Perron, to rally to your position if I am not satisfied with them. I have not read the recommendations and I cannot say whether they are relevant or not. They could possibly, as Mr. Blois said, cause us to amend the motion.

[Yves Perron, Bloc, Berthier—Maskinongé, QC]

Maybe I'm the one who doesn't understand the mechanism. If we suspend the vote and each of us reads the other report, we will still have to pass a motion to deal with it. That is why I do not understand why we are voting. Can someone explain to me what the difference is between voting now and voting later?

[The Chair, Liberal, Pat Finnigan]

The motion does not say that we are going to look at the other study.

[Yves Perron, Bloc, Berthier—Maskinongé, QC]

In that case, let's suspend the vote.

How did you say it, earlier?

[The Chair, Liberal, Pat Finnigan]

We are suspending the debate, and we can resume it at any time.

[Yves Perron, Bloc, Berthier—Maskinongé, QC]

Let us suspend debate, but let us look at the report.

[The Chair, Liberal, Pat Finnigan]

Does everyone agree to suspend the debate?

[Yves Perron, Bloc, Berthier—Maskinongé, QC]

Can we get the report from the human resources committee?

[The Chair, Liberal, Pat Finnigan]

It's online.

[Yves Perron, Bloc, Berthier—Maskinongé, QC]

All right.

[The Chair, Liberal, Pat Finnigan]

Are we all in agreement to suspend? Okay.

Mr. Lehoux, we're listening.

[Richard Lehoux, Conservative, Beauce, QC]

What is important is that we read the study. I do not want to come back to this in six months. If we find something interesting in the study, or if it does not hold up or we cannot take anything from it, we can put the file back on the agenda sooner. No one doubts that the labour issue as it relates to immigration is important in all regions.

[The Chair, Liberal, Pat Finnigan]

We can do it anytime. The notice of motion has already been given.

Will somebody move that we adjourn debate?

[Lianne Rood, Conservative, Lambton—Kent—Middlesex, ON]

I do.

[The Chair, Liberal, Pat Finnigan]

We have consensus to adjourn debate.

Is there anything else?

Do we want to look at the calendar and try to set that? There are a lot of things that are going to happen, including the supplementary estimates and the drafting of the report.

Ms. Rood.

[Lianne Rood, Conservative, Lambton—Kent—Middlesex, ON]

If we have the supplementary estimates coming up, we'd like to request the minister to appear before the committee to discuss them, please.

[The Chair, Liberal, Pat Finnigan]

Monsieur Drouin.

[Francis Drouin, Liberal, Glengarry—Prescott—Russell, ON]

I have great news for Ms. Rood.