Canadian Heritage Committee on Feb. 23rd, 2017

[Julie Dabrusin, Liberal, Toronto—Danforth, ON]

My understanding of what's just happened is that we need unanimous consent to proceed. We don't need a motion to do the reverse. What we need is unanimous consent to proceed. If we don't have unanimous consent, then it gets pushed over to another meeting. Why don't we just ask if we have unanimous consent?

[John Brassard, Conservative, Barrie—Innisfil, ON]

David, do you want to explain it?

[David Anderson, Conservative, Cypress Hills—Grasslands, SK]

Before you request that, to be fair to our other colleagues, if they have not had the opportunity to respond the way that your routine motions suggest they need to, I think the best thing to do is postpone it until whenever the next meeting is. To me it seems that you have to abide by your own routine motions. I'm not prepared, unless I'm assured that everyone's had that opportunity, to agree to go ahead.

I don't think we need a motion to do this specifically. I guess we just need a motion to adjourn, if that's what we're going to do.

[The Vice-Chair, NDP, Pierre Nantel]

Thank you, Mr. Anderson.

Ms. Dabrusin, you have the floor.

[Julie Dabrusin, Liberal, Toronto—Danforth, ON]

Is it fair to say that you're registering that you do not consent? That's all we need. If we all consent, we can go ahead. If you're registering that you do not consent, that's what brings it—

[John Brassard, Conservative, Barrie—Innisfil, ON]

I think that given the concerns Mr. Anderson has brought up, we don't consent. It's as simple as that. We have to make sure that all the other members are aware of what's coming.

[The Vice-Chair, NDP, Pierre Nantel]

Thank you, Mr. Brassard.

Given the discussion, I'm going to ask for advice.

Mr. Clerk, do you have to resend the notice for the next meeting the committee is available? That would give more than 48 hours. Although we can put everything on hold right now, everyone has to be notified that the bill will receive clause-by-clause consideration at the next meeting.

Can you do that?

[The Clerk]

If we don't do it today, the chair will have to tell me when it will be done. Regardless, since the next meeting is at least 48 hours away, I will contact the independent members as soon as I receive instruction from the chair.

[The Vice-Chair, NDP, Pierre Nantel]

Are you referring to the acting chair, in other words, me, or the actual chair?

[The Clerk]

I am referring to Ms. Fry.

As soon as the meeting is adjourned, she will have to tell me when it will happen.

[The Vice-Chair, NDP, Pierre Nantel]

Mr. Brassard, you may go ahead.

[John Brassard, Conservative, Barrie—Innisfil, ON]

Thank you.

I want to make it very clear, I want to put it on the record, that we're not trying to stall this clause-by-clause consideration. The rules were in place. The chair of the committee, the normal chair of the committee, is fully aware of what those rules are. We expect the rules to be followed, and that's why we're in this position.

To be frank, I would place the blame on the chair for instructing the clerk to send this out at 12:06 this afternoon, knowing full well what the rules were and what rules were agreed to unanimously by this committee, as far as I understand, on May 3, 2016.

Thank you.

[The Vice-Chair, NDP, Pierre Nantel]

Thank you, Mr. Brassard.

Mr. O'Regan, you may go ahead.

[Seamus O'Regan, Liberal, St. John's South—Mount Pearl, NL]

Mr. Chair, when we do clause-by-clause study, it's not in camera, right?

I think it would be great if Mrs. McNeill could attend the clause-by-clause review, as she's worked so hard for this and written so many letters.

Mrs. McNeill, maybe you can come back.

[Wilma McNeill]

When?

[Seamus O'Regan, Liberal, St. John's South—Mount Pearl, NL]

We are about to let you know, Madame.

[The Vice-Chair, NDP, Pierre Nantel]

I am going to turn the floor over to the clerk so that we can suggest Tuesday, March 7 as a tentative date to Ms. McNeill.

[The Clerk]

If the committee wishes to settle on that date and have it appear in the Minutes of Proceedings, a motion needs to be brought forward and adopted.

[The Vice-Chair, NDP, Pierre Nantel]

Very well. Otherwise, we leave it up to the chair, whom you are still in contact with even though she is not in Ottawa.

[Michel Picard, Liberal, Montarville, QC]

We will therefore move the motion for March 7.

[The Vice-Chair, NDP, Pierre Nantel]

We can do that.

Is the committee in agreement on proceeding that way?

[Some hon. members]

Agreed.

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

Very good.

Who is moving the motion, then?

[Michel Picard, Liberal, Montarville, QC]

I can do it.

[The Vice-Chair, NDP, Pierre Nantel]

Would you like me to take care of the wording?