Evidence of meeting #2 for Bill C-30 (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 witnesses.
A recording is available from Parliament.
5:40 p.m.
A voice
Hear, hear.
5:40 p.m.
Conservative
Jeff Watson Conservative Essex, ON
So some flexibility.... My kids are resilient. I think they'll certainly understand that Dad wants to do something for them in the long term. So I think this is a good amendment. I hope we can call the question on this soon enough and get on with doing the business of the country. That's the real importance here.
5:40 p.m.
Liberal
John Godfrey Liberal Don Valley West, ON
We're trying to reconcile the long and the short and make sure there is an end point.
If we say that the amendments have to be brought to the House no later than April 2, understanding that they could go in before that, that allows two weeks for the proper preparation of the amendments. We'll probably be done before then, but we'll have allowed ourselves that flexibility. Then we'll have an absolute certainty that it will be a two-month process.
5:40 p.m.
Conservative
Fabian Manning Conservative Avalon, NL
On a point of order, Mr. Chair, the House is not sitting in the first two weeks of April.
5:40 p.m.
Liberal
John Godfrey Liberal Don Valley West, ON
All right, so we'll make it no later than March 30. It may be done before then--before the end of the fiscal year.
5:40 p.m.
Bloc
Bernard Bigras Bloc Rosemont—La Petite-Patrie, QC
Mr. Chairman, as I myself have a nine-year-old daughter whom I love very much, I can say that I understand my colleagues' perspective. They have a compelling argument. We are not about to start publicly negotiating our children's break weeks.
I see the 30th as a good compromise. It would be an extra four days, but we can be flexible on this. It is a far cry from the number of months the Liberals seemed to suggest a few hours ago. I think we should be able to come to some agreement here.
5:40 p.m.
Bloc
Bernard Bigras Bloc Rosemont—La Petite-Patrie, QC
I would not make any motions I was not sure would pass.
5:40 p.m.
Conservative
5:40 p.m.
Liberal
John Godfrey Liberal Don Valley West, ON
I would certainly take it as a friendly amendment if we say that we will start clause-by-clause on March 19 and report back no later than March 30.
Does this amendment suit you?
5:40 p.m.
Bloc
Bernard Bigras Bloc Rosemont—La Petite-Patrie, QC
Yes, I think that would be acceptable.
I never thought today's negotiations would go this far.
5:45 p.m.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Laurie Hawn
Monsieur Bigras, are you withdrawing your amendment and accepting that as a friendly amendment?
5:45 p.m.
Conservative
5:45 p.m.
The Clerk
The motion reads:
That the committee hear witnesses until March 2; that the two-week break be used to formulate amendments; and that the committee begin clause-by-clause consideration during the week of March 19, in order to report back to the House no later than March 30.
5:45 p.m.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Laurie Hawn
The question is on the main motion as amended by the friendly amendment.
(Motion as amended agreed to: yeas 11; nays 1)
5:45 p.m.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Laurie Hawn
That wasn't so tough, was it?
Now we need to decide on which days we want to sit.
Mr. Warawa.
5:45 p.m.
Conservative
Mark Warawa Conservative Langley, BC
Mr. Cullen has brought up the issue of a steering committee a number of times during this meeting. I would be open to that. I think it would be a better use of our time.
The two issues are when do we schedule meetings, and who should we have as witnesses? I think a steering committee would be much more efficient, made up of one member from each party, with you as the chair. I would appreciate hearing comments from Mr. Cullen, because he's the one who brought it up initially.
5:45 p.m.
Conservative
Mark Warawa Conservative Langley, BC
As I say, Mr. Cullen brought it up, so I'd like to hear from him. Maybe he'd like to make a motion.
5:45 p.m.
NDP
Nathan Cullen NDP Skeena—Bulkley Valley, BC
There's a need, despite delays, to accomplish something at this process. The use of a subcommittee can be very effective in setting out calendars and timelines and, with the help of the clerk, settle on the witnesses in a priority fashion.
In that subcommittee we can also establish appropriate themes for the types of discussions we need to have. It's in everyone's orders of the day that we have a motion for a subcommittee.