Evidence of meeting #53 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 meetings.

A recording is available from Parliament.

On the agenda

MPs speaking

Also speaking

Clerk of the Committee  Mr. Andrew Bartholomew Chaplin

5 p.m.

Some hon. members

Oh, oh!

April 4th, 2017 / 5 p.m.

Conservative

Kevin Waugh Conservative Saskatoon—Grasswood, SK

That's what we always do on this side.

The amendment, then, would look like this, if you don't mind.

5 p.m.

Liberal

The Chair Liberal Hedy Fry

I think we're taking three minutes for people to chat.

5:10 p.m.

Liberal

The Chair Liberal Hedy Fry

Are we ready to resume the meeting?

We have an amendment from Mr. Anderson on the table.

Mr. Anderson, would you read the amendment? Or the clerk can read it. I understand that you spoke to the clerk about it.

5:10 p.m.

Conservative

David Anderson Conservative Cypress Hills—Grasslands, SK

Absolutely, if he would like.

5:10 p.m.

Liberal

The Chair Liberal Hedy Fry

Then we will discuss and debate it, if there is any debate on the amendment. Then we will vote on the amendment, and then we will vote on the motion as amended.

Andrew.

5:10 p.m.

The Clerk of the Committee Mr. Andrew Bartholomew Chaplin

Mr. Anderson has moved that the motion be amended by deleting these words:

that the Committee devote a maximum of 10 meetings to the study, using extended hours as necessary

Shall I read it out?

5:10 p.m.

Liberal

The Chair Liberal Hedy Fry

How it would read if adopted? Yes, thank you, Andrew.

5:10 p.m.

The Clerk

I will dispense with the reading of the resolution of the House. This would read that:

The Committee commence a study as requested in paragraph (c) of the motion referenced above; that the Committee schedule witnesses to appear such that it would complete gathering necessary evidence and give instructions to the Committee analysts to draft a report with the objective of reporting back to the House its findings and recommendations.

5:10 p.m.

Liberal

The Chair Liberal Hedy Fry

Mr. Nantel.

5:10 p.m.

NDP

Pierre Nantel NDP Longueuil—Saint-Hubert, QC

As I see it—

5:10 p.m.

Liberal

The Chair Liberal Hedy Fry

On the amendment, please. We're only discussing the amendment.

5:10 p.m.

NDP

Pierre Nantel NDP Longueuil—Saint-Hubert, QC

Oh yes, absolutely, on the amendment.

The amendment is problematic because it removes the only parameter: time. What can we realistically accomplish given the schedule? It set a time limit, without which, we'll be looking at another endless study. We could hear from 300 witnesses if we so wished.

What parameter do we use, then? We have to replace the deadline with another parameter. If not time, then what? That is my question for the member who put forward the motion.

5:10 p.m.

Liberal

The Chair Liberal Hedy Fry

Yes, you make a point, Mr. Nantel.

Mr. Vandal, you have to speak to the amendment.

5:10 p.m.

Liberal

Dan Vandal Liberal Saint Boniface—Saint Vital, MB

To the amendment, I will first of all address the comments of Monsieur Nantel.

We still have 240 calendar days from the adoption of the motion. That gives us until November.

5:10 p.m.

NDP

Pierre Nantel NDP Longueuil—Saint-Hubert, QC

Right.

5:10 p.m.

Liberal

Dan Vandal Liberal Saint Boniface—Saint Vital, MB

I think it's a reasonable amendment. We will accept it.

5:10 p.m.

Liberal

The Chair Liberal Hedy Fry

Is there any further discussion?

I will call the vote on the amendment. Mr. Nantel's opposition is duly noted.

(Amendment agreed to)

Now we will vote on the amended motion. Do you need me to read the amended motion again? We voted yes to the amendment.

5:10 p.m.

Conservative

David Anderson Conservative Cypress Hills—Grasslands, SK

Can we still discuss the motion?

5:10 p.m.

Liberal

The Chair Liberal Hedy Fry

Well, we can discuss—

5:10 p.m.

Conservative

David Anderson Conservative Cypress Hills—Grasslands, SK

Before we vote, we can still have a—

5:10 p.m.

Liberal

The Chair Liberal Hedy Fry

We can still have a discussion if you have other things to ask about the motion, but—

5:10 p.m.

Conservative

David Anderson Conservative Cypress Hills—Grasslands, SK

The amendment has passed.

5:10 p.m.

Liberal

The Chair Liberal Hedy Fry

The amendment has passed, yes.

5:10 p.m.

Conservative

David Anderson Conservative Cypress Hills—Grasslands, SK

Okay. I wanted to make a point on the motion itself, because we're talking about scoping it and those kinds of things. This is actually not an order of the House. It's not a government demand that the committee do its thing. If you look at item (c) at the beginning, you'll see that it talks about requesting that the standing committee.... It does not direct the standing committee that this is what we have to do.

When it comes to doing our scoping, I think we need to sit down and, if we're going to do a good study, take a look at which parts of this the committee is going to be capable of doing. It's a request. It's not an order that we have to do each and every one.