Evidence of meeting #1 for Bill C-2 (39th Parliament, 2nd Session) in the 39th Parliament, 2nd Session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was hours.
A recording is available from Parliament.
Bloc
Réal Ménard Bloc Hochelaga, QC
We have an amendment. In the next-to-last section, after “clause-by-clause consideration”, we would like to add: “except that additional amendments may be made during the session in progress”. Everyone understands that, when we get to clause-by-clause consideration and amendments are proposed, it is quite possible for us to have sudden flashes of inspiration, since the material we are working on is right in front of us. We do not want to prevent spontaneous amendments from being made during a meeting of the committee.
Bloc
Réal Ménard Bloc Hochelaga, QC
After “clause by clause consideration”, we would add: “except that additional amendments may be made during the session in progress”. I can pass it to the clerk if she likes. Were you able to write that down? Would you like me to repeat it? OK, “except that additional amendments may be made during the session in progress”.
Conservative
Bloc
Carole Freeman Bloc Châteauguay—Saint-Constant, QC
No, that is fine. That is the point I wanted to make.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Rick Dykstra
Are there no more questions on the amendment?
(Amendment agreed to)
Conservative
NDP
Joe Comartin NDP Windsor—Tecumseh, ON
I would like to change the 48 hours to 24 hours. Given the shortage of time that we're going to have to deal with this, especially if we do get into some of the other former bills, we may not have enough time with 48 hours, so I'd want to move it to 24 hours.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Rick Dykstra
Comments or questions? Is Mr. Comartin's amendment agreed to?
(Amendment agreed to)
(Motion as amended agreed to)
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Rick Dykstra
Prior to commenting on the subcommittee on agenda and procedure, I just note that we have worked through most of the work and effort here. Whether or not we actually need a subcommittee or a steering committee may be something we may not want to pursue at this time, but I certainly turn to the floor for a motion to start.
Mr. Comartin and then Mr. Lee.
NDP
Joe Comartin NDP Windsor—Tecumseh, ON
My inclination is to say that we don't need a subcommittee. The two major issues the committee will have to deal with are scheduling and the witnesses. But, Mr. Chair, I'd like to have an understanding that we would meet on Thursday afternoon for at least a one-hour meeting to finalize the witness list.
Liberal
Derek Lee Liberal Scarborough—Rouge River, ON
No one is going to move that motion. Monsieur Ménard is not going to move that.
Liberal
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Rick Dykstra
--if I don't have a motion from anyone, obviously we're not going to deal with it and we're going to go back to a list of witnesses.
Mr. Ménard.
Bloc
Réal Ménard Bloc Hochelaga, QC
The fact that an agenda and procedure sub-committee is not involved always scares me for two reasons. First, the idea of a group of twelve people discussing the witness list...
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Rick Dykstra
We don't have a motion on the table right now, so unless you'd like.... You're going to propose a motion. All right.
Bloc
Réal Ménard Bloc Hochelaga, QC
I am making a motion for two reasons. The Chair can decide, but we do not have to meet as frequently as we did at the Committee on Justice. But I think that it is useful to discuss witnesses at the agenda and procedure sub-committee. I would be concerned if I heard that we planned on having that discussion at the full committee.
Mr. Comartin will recall that finalizing the witness list required a good discussion at the agenda and procedure sub-committee. Of course, your predecessor did not have your intellectual agility, Mr. Chair. But it is still a fact that it is not always easy to agree on a list of witnesses. I think it would be useful to have the discussion at a sub-committee on agenda and procedure.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Rick Dykstra
If you have moved a motion that we have a subcommittee, and if there is agreement on that, we will have one. If there is not agreement on that, we will not have a subcommittee.
Are there any comments on the motion moved by Monsieur Ménard?
Is it agreed?