Bill C-11 Committee on Feb. 14th, 2012

[The Chair, NDP, Glenn Thibeault]

It reads as follows: That the committee begin clause-by-clause consideration of the bill no later than Wednesday, March 14, 2012; that debate be limited to a maximum of five minutes per party, per clause, and five minutes per party per amendment; and that if clause-by-clause consideration is not completed, that it may go beyond 9:00 a.m. on Thursday, March 29, 2012. The chair shall interrupt debate and put the question on all remaining clauses and amendments as well as all other questions necessary to dispose of the stage of this bill forthwith and successively without further debate and shall report the bill back to the House at the earliest opportunity.

Go ahead, Mr. Angus.

[Charlie Angus, NDP, Timmins—James Bay, ON]

Yes, I'd like to amend that.

I'm not going to argue about March 29, because the committee could actually vote to go all night if it wanted. If we are getting caught up in clauses, we can debate all night. That has been done in committee, so I would like to move an amendment. I move that the motion be amended by replacing the words “five minutes” with the words “fifteen minutes”.

The rest of it we will accept.

[The Chair, NDP, Glenn Thibeault]

Mr. Angus, we have to vote on the original amendment first, and from there we can bring forward your amendment.

[Charlie Angus, NDP, Timmins—James Bay, ON]

I have a question, though. If we vote on five minutes, then mine becomes redundant, because it will already be the agreement of the committee.

[The Chair, NDP, Glenn Thibeault]

There was already a similar amendment that we voted on.

We'll clarify. Just one second, Mr. Angus.

Okay, for clarification, after talking to the clerks, I can tell you that we must vote on the amendment as presented by Monsieur Dionne Labelle. Once that is done, other amendments can be presented, but as it stands right now, we are still discussing the amendment brought forward by Monsieur Dionne Labelle.

Is there any discussion on that amendment?

Seeing none, I will then call the question on the amendment.

(Amendment negatived)

[Mike Lake, Conservative, Edmonton—Mill Woods—Beaumont, AB]

On a point of order, all five members of the NDP had their hands up. I'm not sure who is not here anymore.

[The Chair, NDP, Glenn Thibeault]

I appreciate the point of order. Thank you, Mr. Lake, for that. However, the clerk is well aware of the four members who are voting.

[Geoff Regan, Liberal, Halifax West, NS]

Just ignore Mr. Cash.

[The Chair, NDP, Glenn Thibeault]

Okay, we are back to the discussion of the original motion, as presented by Mr. Lake.

Is there any further discussion?

Go ahead, Mr. Angus.

[Charlie Angus, NDP, Timmins—James Bay, ON]

I will move my amendment, which is that the motion be amended by replacing the words “five minutes” with the words “fifteen minutes”.

As I said earlier, I don't think that will throw us off their timeline, because if they want, they can extend the hours of committee work. However, it will allow us, on certain substantive clauses, to make sure we have a full discussion. For lesser clauses we'll probably just move through at a quicker pace, but it should be 15 minutes per party per clause and 15 minutes per party per amendment.

[The Chair, NDP, Glenn Thibeault]

Is there any discussion?

On the amendment, go ahead, Monsieur Dionne Labelle.

[Pierre Dionne Labelle, NDP, Rivière-du-Nord, QC]

It seems to me that if the Conservatives have the slightest interest in the job of Parliament, if they show good will and work to incorporate amendments into the bill, then they must give us enough time to do the job.

[The Chair, NDP, Glenn Thibeault]

Okay, Monsieur Dionne Labelle. Thank you.

Is there any other discussion?

Go ahead, Mr. Angus.

[Charlie Angus, NDP, Timmins—James Bay, ON]

Can we have a recorded vote?

[The Chair, NDP, Glenn Thibeault]

Sure. It will be a recorded vote.

Is everyone clear on the amendment?

(Amendment negatived: nays 7; yeas 5)

(Motion agreed to)

Mr. Lake, you have another motion.

[Mike Lake, Conservative, Edmonton—Mill Woods—Beaumont, AB]

Yes, I do. It is as follows:

That amendments to Bill C-11 be submitted to the clerk of the committee 24 hours prior to clause-by-clause consideration and distributed to members in both official languages.

[The Chair, NDP, Glenn Thibeault]

All right. Is there any discussion?

(Motion agreed to)

Go ahead, Mr. Lake.

[Mike Lake, Conservative, Edmonton—Mill Woods—Beaumont, AB]

I think that does it for our motions. Other members may have routine motions they want to pass, but I would ask the clerk maybe just to ensure we've passed every routine motion we need to pass to actually be able to function as a committee.

[The Chair, NDP, Glenn Thibeault]

Okay.

Go ahead, Mr. Regan.

[Geoff Regan, Liberal, Halifax West, NS]

Mr. Chairman, I move that all meetings of the committee be televised if possible.

[The Chair, NDP, Glenn Thibeault]

Okay. That motion is out there.

I will suspend for one second. Then I'm going to let the clerk explain some of the inner workings of that motion.

[The Clerk of the Committee, Ms. Christine Holke David]

In terms of televised committee meetings, I just wanted to inform members that I can do my best to book a room that can televise meetings. Certain rooms are allocated to that effect, but only two meetings can be televised at the same time.

I will do my best, obviously, but it would be subject to room availability.

[Geoff Regan, Liberal, Halifax West, NS]

The motion's still okay then, I think.

[The Chair, NDP, Glenn Thibeault]

The motion is still okay.

Is there further discussion on the motion?

(Motion agreed to)

Mr. Regan is next, and then Mr. Del Mastro.

[Geoff Regan, Liberal, Halifax West, NS]

I have one more, and maybe this goes without saying, in view of the last one. Mr. Chairman, I move that all meetings of this committee be held in public.