Evidence of meeting #25 for Bill C-2 (39th Parliament, 1st Session) in the 39th Parliament, 1st Session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was information.
4:25 p.m.
Conservative
4:25 p.m.
Bloc
Benoît Sauvageau Bloc Repentigny, QC
I will conclude with this.
We would have liked to amend this at the Standing Committee on Access to Information, Privacy and Ethics. As a matter of fact, I am not allowed to speak about that committee, and members of that committee voted against any possibility to amend this legislation.
I partially agree with Mr. Poilievre that under the Access to Information Act, the chief electoral officer will not have to disclose certain informations and that, when this bill is given royal assent, we will continue to keep facts secret.
Thank you very much.
4:25 p.m.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative David Tilson
I think we appear to have come to the end of this. We're going to vote on amendment G-41.1.
(Amendment agreed to)
(Clause 147 as amended agreed to on division)
(On clause 146)
4:25 p.m.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative David Tilson
We've somehow missed clause 146. We're going to vote on clause 146. This was amended, I think.
Madam Jennings, do you have a point of order?
4:25 p.m.
Liberal
Marlene Jennings Liberal Notre-Dame-de-Grâce—Lachine, QC
Which amendment was adopted to amend clause 146?
4:25 p.m.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative David Tilson
Okay, are we ready? Is there debate?
(Clause 146 as amended agreed to)
(On clause 148)
4:25 p.m.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative David Tilson
We now move to clause 148, which is on page 128. We have Liberal amendment L-18.
Mr. Owen, Ms. Jennings.
4:25 p.m.
Liberal
Stephen Owen Liberal Vancouver Quadra, BC
Well, I'll move it in a moment, if you'll give me a moment.
4:25 p.m.
Conservative
4:25 p.m.
Liberal
Stephen Owen Liberal Vancouver Quadra, BC
I'm not going to debate it until I move it.
Okay, I move it.
4:25 p.m.
Conservative
4:25 p.m.
Liberal
Stephen Owen Liberal Vancouver Quadra, BC
I think what this purports to do or intends to do, Mr. Chair, is ensure that the competitive positions and the financial interests of government institutions are protected. You'll see that we have amended the clause from lines 10 to 16 and lines 24 to 26 to ensure that the injury test is properly reflected.
4:25 p.m.
NDP
Pat Martin NDP Winnipeg Centre, MB
I would simply add that this is something we asked for and we feel strongly about. We're pleased to see that Mr. Owen put this motion forward. It gives greater clarity to those who may be apprehensive about undertaking this initiative. If there are competitive positions within a government institution, or other financial interests, I guess would be the other term used, people don't have to be apprehensive that the Access to Information Act may reveal that, to the injury of the government institution. The same applies to commercially sensitive material, for example, Canada Post's commercial courier wing, etc. They all raised concerns that they don't want that information getting to their competition.
We will support Mr. Owen's amendment.
4:30 p.m.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative David Tilson
Then we'll vote on it.
(Amendment agreed to [See Minutes of Proceedings])
(Clause 148 as amended agreed to on division)
(Clause 149 agreed to on division)
4:30 p.m.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative David Tilson
Proposed clause 149.1 is a New Democratic amendment, NDP-15. It is on page 129.
Mr. Martin, could you move that, please?
4:30 p.m.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative David Tilson
We will move to clause 150. On page 129.1, we have amendment NDP-15.1.
Mr. Martin.
4:30 p.m.
NDP
Pat Martin NDP Winnipeg Centre, MB
I'd like to move amendment NDP-15.1., that Bill C-2 in clause 150 be amended by deleting lines 13 to 20 on page 114.
As we can see, this says, “The head of the National Arts Centre”, etc., and the effect of it will be the ability of the National Arts Centre to refuse to disclose certain information. We would like to remove all reference to that because we have further amendments dealing with the National Arts Centre.
