I call the meeting to order.
Welcome to meeting number 70 of the Standing Committee on Agriculture and Agri-Food.
Thank you for your patience, colleagues, during the few minutes that we had some technical difficulties. Thank you to our team for getting us up and online.
We had more substitutions earlier on, but our regular members have come back.
I will welcome Ms. Khalid, who is here for Mr. Turnbull.
Welcome back to the committee. It's always great to have you.
Colleagues, pursuant to the order of reference of Wednesday, May 17, 2023, the committee is meeting to proceed with the clause-by-clause consideration of Bill C-280, an act to amend the Bankruptcy and Insolvency Act and the Companies' Creditors Arrangement Act (deemed trust – perishable fruits and vegetables).
To help us with the clause-by-clause study of Bill C-280, I would like to welcome our witnesses.
From the Department of Agriculture and Agri-Food we have Mr. Tom Rosser.
Welcome back. You're no stranger, of course.
From the Department of Industry, we have Samir Chhabra, director general, marketplace framework policy branch; and Paul Morrison, special adviser, corporate, insolvency and competition directorate.
Thank you, gentlemen, for joining us here in the room.
I'd like to provide the members of the committee with some instructions and a few comments on how the committee will proceed with the clause-by-clause.
As the name indicates, this is an examination of all the clauses in the order in which they appear in the bill, except for the short title, which will be considered at the end. I will call each clause successively, and each clause is subject to debate and a vote.
If there are amendments to the clause in question, I will recognize the member proposing it, who may explain it. The amendment will then be open for debate. When no further members wish to intervene, the amendment will be voted on. Amendments will be considered in the order in which they appear in the bill and in the package each member received from the clerk. Members should note that new amendments must be submitted in writing to the clerk of the committee.
The chair will go slowly to allow all members to follow the proceedings properly—slowly but efficiently.
Amendments have been given an alphanumeric number at the top right corner to indicate which party submitted them. There is no need for a seconder to move an amendment. Once moved, you will need unanimous consent to withdraw it.
During debate on an amendment, members are permitted to move subamendments. These subamendments must be submitted in writing. They do not require the approval of the mover of the amendment. Only one subamendment may be considered at a time, and that subamendment cannot be amended. When a subamendment is moved to an amendment, it is voted on first. Then another subamendment may be moved or the main amendment may be considered and voted on.
A lot of you have been around Parliament for a while and know the procedure. I'm sorry if that was repetitive; it's just for the benefit of the group.
Once every clause has been voted on, the committee will consider and vote on the short title, the title and the bill itself. If amendments are adopted, an order to reprint the bill may be required so that the House has a proper copy for use at report stage. Finally, the committee will have to order the chair to report the bill to the House. That report will contain only the text of any adopted amendments as well as an indication of any deleted clauses.
There you go. It's a lot of procedure, folks.
Pursuant to Standing Order 75(1), consideration of clause 1, the short title, is postponed.
(On clause 2)
On clause 2, as I understand it—I have my agenda here; I think it's been shared—we have G-1, which is the first amendment to be called.
I'll look to you, Mr. Drouin, if you'd like to explain G-1 to us.
