Thank you, Madam Chair.
I'd like to thank my fellow member for putting forward this amendment, but I wonder about something. We've been studying the bill for a few weeks now and heard from many witnesses. Initially, our goal was to make National Indigenous Peoples Day a holiday. Although I understand what my fellow member is trying to do, I'm shocked that he proposed this amendment today, at the end of our study.
The proposed amendment deals with something that representatives of the Inuit community and the Native Women's Association were not consulted on. That's what they said when Mr. Vandal asked them about it.
We are committed to the truth and reconciliation process, which, I would remind you was started by the Conservative government I was a part of at the time. One of the cornerstones of the process is consultation.
The amendment being proposed changes the purpose of the bill, to make National Indigenous Peoples Day a holiday. In fact, the measure would amend the bill to, instead, create a federal holiday called the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation. What I wonder is whether that is in line with what the member who introduced the bill was trying to achieve, so I'm a bit troubled.
First of all, I'd like to know whether the amendment is in order. Second of all, how is it that the government is bringing something like this forward at the last minute, completely dismissing all the work the committee has done for months?