Evidence of meeting #149 for Canadian Heritage in the 42nd Parliament, 1st Session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was line.
A video is available from Parliament.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Julie Dabrusin
As a clarification, according to our legislative clerk, rather than doing the full list, this vote will apply to LIB-1. I will advise you on the future ones if they are essentially the same, and hopefully that will make it easier for people as we go through.
Liberal
Gordie Hogg Liberal South Surrey—White Rock, BC
Yes. The intent is that clause 5 be amended after line 16 on page 5 with the following:
facilitate meaningful opportunities for Indigenous governments and other Indigenous governing bodies and Indigenous organizations to collaborate in policy development related to the implementation of this Act;
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Julie Dabrusin
The LIB-1.1 amendment that I have is basically just a change that adds “and territories” to lines 14 to 16 on page 5. All in favour?
(Amendment agreed to [See Minutes of Proceedings])
We are now at LIB-1.2, Mr. Hogg. That's the one you just read to us.
Kamloops—Thompson—Cariboo, CPC
I'm going to reiterate, because it's been a while and I don't want people to think we're impractical, that on principle we will not be supporting anything that was table-dropped today, unless it's very straightforward. Sometimes things have ramifications you don't understand.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Julie Dabrusin
With that note taken into account, we will vote on LIB-1.2.
(Amendment agreed to)
We can now withdraw LIB-1.3, because that wording has already been taken, which is very exciting because I can now get to the part where I can ask, shall clause 5 carry as amended?
(Clause 5 as amended agreed to on division)
(On clause 6)
We are moving to clause 6, and that brings us to NDP-6.
I have a note here that if NDP-6 is adopted, CPC-1.1 cannot be moved due to a line conflict.
Monsieur Nantel.
NDP
Pierre Nantel NDP Longueuil—Saint-Hubert, QC
Thank you.
Here is the amendment:
That Bill C-91, in clause 6, be amended by replacing line 22 on page 5, with the following:
6 The Government of Canada affirms that the rights
In English it's quite simple:
The Government of Canada affirms that the rights.
You may want to see “confirms” instead of “affirms”, but I think the essence is the same.
Liberal
Gary Anandasangaree Liberal Scarborough—Rouge Park, ON
Essentially, Madam Chair, it doesn't necessarily add anything to the bill as it is right now. It essentially says “affirms” twice, so we're affirming an affirmation of the section 35 right. It appears to be redundant.
NDP
Pierre Nantel NDP Longueuil—Saint-Hubert, QC
Yes, just for fun.
We are at page 5 and approximately line 21,“Recognition by Government of Canada”. It reads as follows:
The Government of Canada recognizes that the rights of Indigenous peoples recognized and affirmed by section 35 of the Constitution Act, 1982 include rights related to Indigenous languages.
Having the words “recognized and affirmed” twice is not a drama by any means, but Romeo and I understand your point, and we'll let it go.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Julie Dabrusin
Mr. Nantel, we have bells.
We are downstairs. Does anybody want to finish NDP-6 before we go up? I don't know how much time we have.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Julie Dabrusin
Very well.
Do you want to go and come back?
All right. We do not have unanimous consent, so we will be back after the vote.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Julie Dabrusin
We're going to start again. Welcome back.
We had started talking about NDP-6, which is an amendment to clause 6, line 27, page 5 in French and line 22, page 5 in English.
Was there anybody who wanted to discuss NDP-6?
We had begun to discuss it, but then the bells began to ring.
NDP
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Julie Dabrusin
You made comments about this amendment. I want to know if anyone else has anything to say about it.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Julie Dabrusin
Since no one else wishes to speak, we will now vote on amendment NDP-6.
(Amendment negatived)
We'll continue with CPC-1.1. Who's moving this one?
Ms. McLeod.
Kamloops—Thompson—Cariboo, CPC
Thank you.
From one of our witnesses and also from the requests we put in for some legal analysis, we heard, first of all, that it's highly unusual to reaffirm a right embedded in a legislation. An amendment that you will see later will move it to the preamble.
There was also some discussion about whether it was legal and appropriate in terms of the jurisdictional issues with the provinces, the indigenous peoples and Canada. When we proposed legislation in the former government, I know that the Liberals were always concerned not to overstep constitutional boundaries. There were enough red flags and there was no comfortable response, so I think we would be best to acknowledge section 35 rights, but certainly to talk about, language rights in the preamble.