Canadian Heritage Committee on Nov. 1st, 2018

[Pierre Nantel, NDP, Longueuil—Saint-Hubert, QC]

Great.

So, I'm wondering if it would be appropriate to propose a subamendment here. Basically, it's the same idea as the one mentioned this morning. It's why I'm talking about a subamendment. It would involve adding the following to the text: “and in accordance with the United Nations Declaration …” Again, I think that adding this clarification would be a major gain. It would also be safe conduct that would allow the bill to better reflect future situations and respect the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples.

[The Chair, Liberal, Julie Dabrusin]

I will check whether our legislative clerk managed to properly note the wording. In the meantime, we'll continue the discussion.

Mr. Deltell, you have the floor.

[Gérard Deltell, Conservative, Louis-Saint-Laurent, QC]

Mr. Boissonnault could surely help us to understand certain aspects of his proposal.

For example, in point (a), the amendment seeks to amend the French version of the bill by replacing lines 17 to 18 on page 1 with the following:

tenir la restitution de restes humains ou de biens culturels autochtones, peu importe où ils se trouvent, aux peuples autoch-

[Randy Boissonnault]

Which line?

[The Chair, Liberal, Julie Dabrusin]

The line ending with “autoch-”. It should read “autochtones”.

[Gérard Deltell, Conservative, Louis-Saint-Laurent, QC]

There you go. It's simply a matter of drafting.

[Randy Boissonnault]

Which line is it?

[Gérard Deltell, Conservative, Louis-Saint-Laurent, QC]

In the French version of the amendment, it's on the seventh line, and at the end of it, the following is in quotation marks:

tenir la restitution de restes humains ou de biens culturels autochtones, peu importe où ils se trouvent, aux peuples autoch-

[Randy Boissonnault]

If the idea is to replace “autoch–” with “autochtones”, we support that. It makes sense. We don't want a word to be cut in half in the text. Sometimes there's a hyphen, and you forget the whole word.

[The Chair, Liberal, Julie Dabrusin]

All right, but that's another subamendment.

Let me keep track of the subamendments, please, because they're coming fast and furious here.

[Randy Boissonnault]

Madam Chair, as for the NDP proposal, I know that Mr. Saganash is quite familiar with how acts and bills are written, given his experience as a lawyer. For my part, I have been involved in the study of Bill C-75 for some months now, and I know that amendments can change the text considerably. We find it redundant to add again here the reference to the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples. Since it is indicated at the beginning, it has an impact on the whole process. The reference to this statement and to the particular section you mentioned therefore applies to all the provisions of this bill without exception. We therefore consider this to be redundant. That is why we cannot support this proposal.

[The Chair, Liberal, Julie Dabrusin]

Okay.

Go ahead, Mr. Shields.

[Martin Shields, Conservative, Bow River, AB]

Thank you, Madam Chair.

I agree with the amendments you did make in cleaning it up and adding that in, because we heard that from the witnesses very clearly. That makes sense, and I agree with your second point that it's already been passed and in there. It's redundant to put it in again.

[Randy Boissonnault]

We've considered M. Deltell's motion a friendly motion to make sure the word “autochtone” is there in its entirety.

[The Chair, Liberal, Julie Dabrusin]

All right.

Go ahead, Mr. Deltell.

[Gérard Deltell, Conservative, Louis-Saint-Laurent, QC]

Madam Chair, you will recognize that I'm very friendly today.

[Randy Boissonnault]

We'll record Mr. Deltell's good days in the official record.

[Gérard Deltell, Conservative, Louis-Saint-Laurent, QC]

It's not just one, but two.

[The Chair, Liberal, Julie Dabrusin]

There may be a reason.

[Gérard Deltell, Conservative, Louis-Saint-Laurent, QC]

In point (c), it is proposed that the bill be amended by replacing line 5 on page 2, but there are some little bits missing.

[Randy Boissonnault]

I think it's the word “judiciaires”. The start of the word isn't there.

[Gérard Deltell, Conservative, Louis-Saint-Laurent, QC]

Actually, it's missing lots of sentences.

[Randy Boissonnault]

Mr. Deltell, would you like to add the word “judiciaires” in the same subamendment?

[Gérard Deltell, Conservative, Louis-Saint-Laurent, QC]

Actually, it's more than that. I'm absolutely certain that, when the text was being cut and pasted, the mouse didn't follow.

[Randy Boissonnault]

Yes.