Canadian Heritage Committee on March 30th, 2015

[Dan Harris, NDP, Scarborough Southwest, ON]

Yes, this actually comes as quite a surprise. If more time was going to be needed to study this, I wish it had come to committee a little faster, because second reading was passed on November 5. We're already at the end of March, so it took four months to get here, and there are two months left on the calendar, and we're going to add another month onto this.

If veterans affairs wants to have a look at it, they can invite me to the committee. I'm more than happy to hear from folks about their concerns with respect to the bill. Certainly I'm glad that some members of the government have been getting some feedback. I would encourage them to have those people contact me in my office to discuss it and I think we can seek to get through that in a timely manner.

But, as my colleague said, if it is reported back on June 11, we're going to be right in the middle of a budget.

[The Chair, Conservative, Gord Brown]

Mr. Harris, I didn't want to cut you off...you were to get to answer a question on this.

I'm going to move to Mr. Young.

[Terence Young, Conservative, Oakville, ON]

Thank you, Chair.

I just want to say for the record that I would like to invite representation, probably the presidents from my branch 486 in Oakville and branch 114 in Oakville, to hear from them, because to me they're the most important group to hear from. It's very important to me and I think that's important to the committee as well.

Thank you.

[The Chair, Conservative, Gord Brown]

Mr. Valeriote.

[Frank Valeriote, Liberal, Guelph, ON]

Thank you, Mr. Chair.

That would seem to suggest that it could be done, and likely in a sooner period of time. I am wondering if he would consider 15 days rather than a 30-day extension, as a friendly amendment?

[The Chair, Conservative, Gord Brown]

The standing order is that it be a 30-sitting day extension.

[Rick Dykstra, Conservative, St. Catharines, ON]

I'm happy to work within the timeframe. I just don't know what the actual physical motion is that you're supposed to put forward. I don't know if you can do one that's only 15 days.

[The Chair, Conservative, Gord Brown]

Mr. Valeriote and Mr. Dykstra, the standing order says that you would get a 30-day extension, but that doesn't mean that the committee can't move it faster. I know that we can have a few minutes of committee business. We can schedule to hear from our witnesses probably as early as the 23rd.

Ms. Sitsabaiesan.

[Rathika Sitsabaiesan, NDP, Scarborough—Rouge River, ON]

Thank you.

We heard a lot of commentary that people were concerned we may not have the time to push it through third reading and then eventually through the Senate and receive royal assent. If our committee is going to be—I don't want to say the delay in the process—the delay in the process, I wonder if the committee is willing to sit extra evening sittings or longer sittings, or whatever it might be, to make sure that we hear from the witnesses who want to appear.

Can we do the proper study of this bill that is being requested by members from legions, or from wherever across the country, to hear from those witnesses and actually do the work, but do it relatively quickly, so that it can go through the process that it needs to in this House and in the other House also?

[The Chair, Conservative, Gord Brown]

If we vote on the motion, then we can do a few minutes of committee business, and I think we could do that as early as the 23rd.

[Rathika Sitsabaiesan, NDP, Scarborough—Rouge River, ON]

That would be perfect.

[The Chair, Conservative, Gord Brown]

We'll go ahead and vote on this.

Those in favour of the motion?

Those opposed?

[Rathika Sitsabaiesan, NDP, Scarborough—Rouge River, ON]

Recorded vote, please.

[The Chair, Conservative, Gord Brown]

We've already called the vote.

[Rathika Sitsabaiesan, NDP, Scarborough—Rouge River, ON]

Sorry, I forgot what it's called.

[The Chair, Conservative, Gord Brown]

Those opposed?

(Motion agreed to)

We have a few minutes here just to do some committee business.

I have one piece that we need to bring forward.

Sorry, we have to go in camera to go into committee business. We're going to briefly suspend for a minute.

[Proceedings continue in camera]