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.
8:05 p.m.
Liberal
Gordie Hogg Liberal South Surrey—White Rock, BC
Yes. It's that line 21 on page 7 be amended by adding the following:
The Minister may establish a committee to provide the Minister with advice on the appointment of the Commissioner.
This is to deal with the issue we discussed earlier with respect to ensuring that the commissioner does have authority to receive advice and therefore our expectation that it would be an indigenous person.
8:05 p.m.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Julie Dabrusin
Is there any discussion on LIB-6.2? Seeing none, shall it carry?
(Amendment agreed to)
8:05 p.m.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Julie Dabrusin
There are no amendments to clause 14 that I have seen, so shall clause 14 carry?
(Clause 14 agreed to on division)
(On clause 15)
We are now at clause 15. We have LIB-7 and LIB-7.1. If LIB-7 is adopted, LIB-7.1 cannot be moved due to a line conflict.
Mr. Hogg.
8:05 p.m.
Liberal
Gordie Hogg Liberal South Surrey—White Rock, BC
This is simply the same change of the word “diverse” to “variety”.
(Amendment agreed to [See Minutes of Proceedings])
(Clause 15 as amended agreed to on division)
(On clause 16)
8:05 p.m.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Julie Dabrusin
That brings us to clause 16 and LIB-8. If it's adopted, LIB-8.1 cannot be moved due to a line conflict.
Mr. Hogg.
8:05 p.m.
Liberal
Gordie Hogg Liberal South Surrey—White Rock, BC
I'm moving LIB-8.1, which asks that this be amended by replacing lines 2 to 4 on page 8 with the following: “the Minister has consulted with a variety of Indigenous governments and...Indigenous...bodies and a variety of Indigenous organizations...”.
8:10 p.m.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Julie Dabrusin
Is there any discussion? Seeing none, all in favour?
(Amendment agreed to [See Minutes of Proceedings])
LIB-8.2 is next, Mr. Hogg.
March 18th, 2019 / 8:10 p.m.
Liberal
Gordie Hogg Liberal South Surrey—White Rock, BC
It's that clause 16 be amended by adding after line 6 on page 8 the following:
Before making recommendations under subsection (1), the Minister must seek comments in order to ensure that the Governor in Council appoints persons who have the ability to represent the interests of First Nations, the Inuit, and the Métis.
Again, it's reinforcing the statement made earlier.
8:10 p.m.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Julie Dabrusin
Seeing no discussion, all in favour?
(Amendment agreed to)
(Clause 16 as amended agreed to on division)
8:10 p.m.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Julie Dabrusin
I see no amendments proposed for clause 17. Shall clause 17 carry?
(Clause 17 agreed to on division)
(On clause 18)
8:10 p.m.
NDP
Pierre Nantel NDP Longueuil—Saint-Hubert, QC
We're proposing the following amendment on page 8, lines 9 to 11:
18 The Commissioner and directors are to be appointed to hold office on a full-time basis.
8:10 p.m.
Liberal
Gary Anandasangaree Liberal Scarborough—Rouge Park, ON
As read, Madam Chair, this really does allow for the flexibility of doing it part time or full time. We believe the flexibility is important. At this point in the process at this stage of the bill, we believe that flexibility is important in order to get the expertise, to get someone who may be engaged in something else concurrently, and we may not be able to get the most qualified person to fill that role. Therefore, essentially, I think the flexibility is what's contemplated in the bill.
8:10 p.m.
NDP
Pierre Nantel NDP Longueuil—Saint-Hubert, QC
Mr. Anandasangaree, we keep hearing about the urgency of the situation with regard to many languages. This urgent situation certainly warrants putting a number of people to work. Designating a full-time position would reassure the entire community.
I understand that you're looking for flexibility. However, people are afraid that we're moving too fast and that it will become a watered down version of what was wanted. A full-time position isn't much to ask for. It would be very surprising if, before the end of the renewal exercise for this legislation, we don't need someone on a full-time basis.
8:10 p.m.
Liberal
Gordie Hogg Liberal South Surrey—White Rock, BC
I concur with the argument just made by Mr. Nantel, despite there being a wonderful argument to the contrary put forward here. I believe that it is worth having it full time and being able to establish that type of consistency in the program.
8:10 p.m.
Kamloops—Thompson—Cariboo, CPC
Here I agree with Mr. Anandasangaree in terms of the flexibility. You might have the perfect candidate who says they can only do 30 hours a week or that they need to have some time off. It's not precluding full-time work, and certainly the goal would be full-time work, but I would hate to see an ideal candidate disqualified because of the legislation if they could work only 32 hours a week and not 37. I think that would be very foolish of us.
8:10 p.m.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Julie Dabrusin
Seeing no further debate, all in favour of NDP-12?
(Amendment agreed to [See Minutes of Proceedings])
Shall clause 18 as amended carry?
(Clause 18 as amended agreed to on division)
8:10 p.m.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Julie Dabrusin
Now, this is a very exciting part, because there are no amendments proposed to clauses 19 to 22. If you are okay with my grouping them, I would ask if clauses 19 to 22 should carry.
(Clauses 19 to 22 inclusive agreed to on division)
(On clause 23)
8:15 p.m.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Julie Dabrusin
This brings us to amendment PV-4.
We are joined by Ms. May once again.
8:15 p.m.
Green
Elizabeth May Green Saanich—Gulf Islands, BC
Thank you. I apologize for the absence. I was also doing adjournment proceedings this evening. The fun never stops, Madam Chair.
This amendment is derived from the evidence of Wanda Wilson, President of the Saskatchewan Indigenous Cultural Centre. What I'm attempting to do with the amendment to clause 23, line 3 on page 9, is to replace the language that we currently find in order to strengthen the notion of reclaiming and revitalizing, and also so that the office of the commissioner will include such efforts through research and assessments. That's why there's an addition to subclause 23(b) to:
support the efforts of Indigenous peoples, including in their research and assessments, to re-
Then the clause would continue as it did before.