Bill C-2 (39th Parliament, 1st Session) Committee on June 8th, 2006

[Pat Martin, NDP, Winnipeg Centre, MB]

It's not so much that as a point of clarification. I was trying to write down the line conflicts.

Is it my understanding that amendment L-2 is in line conflict with L-1.2?

[The Chair, Conservative, David Tilson]

Yes. So we have to choose between L-1.2 or BQ-9.

Okay, let's try some speakers and see how that goes. But we have to have a motion.

I have a suggestion that's been given to me. We're going to group amendments L-1, BQ-8, BQ-9, L-1.2, L-1.3, and L-1.4. We're going to debate all those right now, and then the vote on each of those amendments would be separate. How does that sound?

So let's have a debate on all of those right now--except everyone is looking at me with blank looks on their faces.

Monsieur Sauvageau.

[Benoît Sauvageau, Bloc, Repentigny, QC]

I'd like to have clarification of amendment L-1.1, which concerns a secret ballot. I'm going to express our position as simply as possible. First, we don't want the Commissioner necessarily to be a former judge. Second, we're opposed to a secret ballot.

I've just summarized our position on amendments L-1.1, L-1.2, L-1.3 and L-1.8.

Do you want to know why?

[The Chair, Conservative, David Tilson]

I'm just the chairman.

Mr. Lukiwski.

[Tom Lukiwski, Conservative, Regina—Lumsden—Lake Centre, SK]

Just on a point of clarification, unless I'm missing something, Mr. Chair, are amendments BQ-9 and L-1.1 not identical?

[The Chair, Conservative, David Tilson]

Yes, they are, sir.

[Tom Lukiwski, Conservative, Regina—Lumsden—Lake Centre, SK]

So why do we have to vote on both of them? One first, and then the other one's redundant.

[Brian Murphy, Liberal, Moncton—Riverview—Dieppe, NB]

We're getting rid of secret ballots.

[Tom Lukiwski, Conservative, Regina—Lumsden—Lake Centre, SK]

Right, exactly. So we should vote on amendment BQ-9, because L-1.1 is the same as BQ-9.

[The Chair, Conservative, David Tilson]

So we take off amendment L-1.1.

Ms. Jennings.

[Marlene Jennings, Liberal, Notre-Dame-de-Grâce—Lachine, QC]

The amendments I've put through, L-1.2, which is found on page 43.3; L-1.3, found on page 43.5; and L-1.4, found on page 43.7, are all consequential to the recommendations of Mr. Walsh.

Now, I would just like to point out that amendments L-1.2 and L-1.3 touch the exact same line and propose replacing line 29 on page 46 of Bill C-2 with different wording. To facilitate, although it may end up complicating, I will withdraw L-1.2, because I prefer the wording of L-1.3.

That leaves one less to deal with.

[The Chair, Conservative, David Tilson]

Well, thank you. The chair feels a lot better about that.

[Marlene Jennings, Liberal, Notre-Dame-de-Grâce—Lachine, QC]

I thought you would, Chair.

Now, the objective of these amendments is to bring clarity to the particular section that they propose to amend, and as I said, it's consequential to Mr. Walsh's recommendations to this committee.

I will leave it at that for now.

[The Chair, Conservative, David Tilson]

Okay, we're making a little progress.

Is there any further debate on these amendments I've referred to? We're going to vote on L-1, right? L-1.2 and NDP-1.4, which Ms. Jennings has just withdrawn, are the same.

[Pat Martin, NDP, Winnipeg Centre, MB]

Yes. I had it on my 1.4 to withdraw, but I didn't know we were there yet. I withdraw amendment 1.4.

[The Chair, Conservative, David Tilson]

We seem to be there. So you're prepared to withdraw that?

[Pat Martin, NDP, Winnipeg Centre, MB]

I intended to withdraw NDP-1.4.

[The Chair, Conservative, David Tilson]

Thank you.

Monsieur Sauvageau, go ahead, please.

[Benoît Sauvageau, Bloc, Repentigny, QC]

Based on the staff's judicious professional advice, I'd like to make a suggestion that would simplify everything. I submit it to you quite humbly. If we voted to know who's in favour of a secret ballot and who's against, then you could sort out all your amendments.

[The Chair, Conservative, David Tilson]

Mr. Owen, I need your help. Your amendment is in conflict with everyone else's, so you're going to have to solve this.

[Stephen Owen, Liberal, Vancouver Quadra, BC]

I would put the question on L-1, because I think it deals with a lot of these issues. But I do take the point that we should deal with the secret ballot issue, because we probably all have a similar view on that since we've been advised pretty clearly that it's unconstitutional.

[The Chair, Conservative, David Tilson]

Before we get to that, we're going to go to Mr. Moore and then Mr. Poilievre.

[Rob Moore, Conservative, Fundy Royal, NB]

Can we hear what our expert panel has to say about some of these? They may have something to add.

[The Chair, Conservative, David Tilson]

Sure.

Mr. Wild, go ahead, please.

[Joe Wild]

Mr. Stringham, I believe, would like to perhaps make a couple of points about L-1.3 and L-1.4.