Canadian Heritage Committee on Feb. 5th, 2019

[Randy Boissonnault]

Thank you, Madam Chair.

I'd also like to thank my fellow member Mr. Anandasangaree for that clarification.

I think it will be clear, from the record, that when I asked Ms. Jolibois whether she preferred the term “celebration” or “commemoration”, she answered “commemoration” and said that the emphasis had to be on the Truth and Reconciliation Commission. That was my inspiration for proposing this evolution of the bill, let's call it, as opposed to an amendment, Mr. Nantel. No one is pulling a rabbit out of a hat. This evolution reflects what witnesses wanted.

[The Chair, Liberal, Julie Dabrusin]

Mr. Nantel, you may go ahead.

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

I'm going to make things crystal clear.

As I said, the NDP will support Liberal amendments 1, 2, 3 and 4. As for Liberal amendment 0.1, enough fooling around. The matter of the telephone call is at issue. This morning, Ms. Georgina Jolibois received a text about this amendment. Ladies and gentlemen, all I can say is come on. You thought you would do this on top of the rest, merely letting us know in passing. That's a bit over the top.

I suggest you put down that neon sign you're holding. My fellow member received word of it this morning and was astounded. I move that Liberal amendment 0.1 be withdrawn. We agree on everything else. I'm not the one making up what people's positions are. That is the position of my colleague Georgina Jolibois. I would remind everyone that this is her private member's bill. We are in agreement on Liberal amendments 1, 2, 3 and 4, but I move that Liberal amendment 0.1 be withdrawn.

Thank you.

[The Chair, Liberal, Julie Dabrusin]

Seeing no further debate on amendment LIB-0.1, I call the question.

[Randy Boissonnault]

Madam Chair, would it be possible to take a short break?

[The Chair, Liberal, Julie Dabrusin]

Yes.

[The Chair, Liberal, Julie Dabrusin]

We are now resuming after a short break.

Did anyone want to say something?

Go ahead, Mr. Nantel.

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

Thank you, Madam Chair.

I'm very glad to say that we've talked. That's very important. It's a matter of principle that Mr. Boissonnault, on behalf of the government, telephone Georgina Jolibois to explain that, because things moved so quickly this morning, she wasn't made aware of the amendment until this morning. In exchange for that call, a sign of courtesy and respect, we are even going to support Liberal amendment 0.1.

Thank you.

[The Chair, Liberal, Julie Dabrusin]

Mr. Boissonnault, you may go ahead.

[Randy Boissonnault]

In light of Mr. Nantel's comment and our commitment to this bill, we, on the government side, are going to discuss the funding and promotion for the day with our fellow members.

[The Chair, Liberal, Julie Dabrusin]

Did you have something to say, Mr. Blaney?

[Steven Blaney]

Yes, Madam Chair.

I'd like to follow up on the parliamentary secretary's comments to the effect that Ms. Jolibois was open to the idea of marking the commemoration aspect, in response to the Truth and Reconciliation Commission's call to action 80. However, these adjustments were made quite hastily. I want to stress that we believe in doing things properly. We heard from witnesses about how significant these events are. I appreciate the importance Mr. Boissonnault attaches to education, but there was some confusion as to the date of the holiday. The key stakeholders weren't consulted. We heard from members of the indigenous, Inuit and Métis communities.

For that reason, even though we've always been in favour of the principle behind the bill, we can't support a last-minute amendment. Consequently, we will abstain from the vote on this last-minute change altering the purpose of the bill.

[The Chair, Liberal, Julie Dabrusin]

All right, let's have the vote on LIB-0.1.

(Amendment agreed to [See Minutes of Proceedings])

(On clause 1)

That brings us to clause 1 and LIB-1. I need to let you know that the vote on LIB-1 applies to LIB-2, LIB-3 and LIB-4, because they're all consequential.

Is there any discussion on LIB-1? Seeing none, we will vote on LIB-1, knowing that this will take with it LIB-2, LIB-3 and LIB-4 as consequential amendments.

(Amendment agreed to [See Minutes of Proceedings])

(Clause 1 as amended agreed to)

(Clauses 2 and 3 as amended agreed to)

This brings us to CPC-1, which proposes a new clause, clause 4.

Has CPC-1 been moved? Someone has to move CPC-1 if we're going to discuss it.

Mr. Blaney is moving it.

All right, is there any discussion on CPC-1?

Mr. Vandal.

[Dan Vandal, Liberal, Saint Boniface—Saint Vital, MB]

It seems to me that, with the adoption of clauses 1, 2 and 3, CPC-1 is redundant. We've already chosen a date.

[Steven Blaney]

You're right.

[The Chair, Liberal, Julie Dabrusin]

That is an excellent point. It is redundant and non-votable, so we will move along.

I just want to check one more thing. Because that was a new clause, clause 4, now we have no clause 4. Okay.

I can move to the title, which has been amended by LIB-4.

Shall the title as amended carry?

[Some hon. members]

Agreed.

[The Chair, Liberal, Julie Dabrusin]

Shall the bill as amended carry?

[Some hon. members]

Agreed.

[The Chair, Liberal, Julie Dabrusin]

Shall the chair report the bill as amended to the House?

[Some hon. members]

Agreed.

[The Chair, Liberal, Julie Dabrusin]

Shall the committee order a reprint of the bill as amended for the use of the House at report stage?

[Some hon. members]

Agreed.

[The Chair, Liberal, Julie Dabrusin]

Wonderful. That means we're done.

Thank you very much, and thank you to all the officials for coming to help us today.

The meeting is adjourned.