Evidence of meeting #1 for Canadian Heritage in the 43rd Parliament, 1st Session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was chair.
A recording is available from Parliament.
3:55 p.m.
Liberal
February 19th, 2020 / 3:55 p.m.
Liberal
Tim Louis Liberal Kitchener—Conestoga, ON
Regarding independent members and clause-by-clause, I move:
That, in relation to Orders of Reference from the House respecting Bills,
(a) the clerk of committee shall, upon the committee receiving such an Order of Reference, write to each Member who is not a member of a caucus represented on the committee to invite those Members to file with the clerk of the committee, in both official languages, any amendments to the Bill, which is the subject of the said Order, which they would suggest that the committee consider;
(b) suggested amendments filed, pursuant to paragraph (a), at least 48 hours prior to the start of clause-by-clause consideration of the Bill to which the amendments relate shall be deemed to be proposed during the said consideration, provided that the committee may, by motion, vary this deadline in respect of a given Bill; and
(c) during the clause-by-clause consideration of a Bill, the Chair shall allow a Member who filed suggested amendments, pursuant to paragraph (a), an opportunity to make brief representations in support of them.
3:55 p.m.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Scott Simms
Are there any further discussions?
(Motion agreed to)
Colleagues, are there any more routine motions you'd like to deal with at this time?
Seeing none, I move that we go to committee business.
Before we go to committee business, may I just interject here for one quick moment? You'll see in front of you, from the Library of Parliament, of which I'm a huge fan—being here for 16 years, I can attest to the fact that they do wonderful work—this research paper, “The Work of the Heritage Committee”.
We also have the French version, entitled “Travaux du comité du Patrimoine canadien”.
It is something we should all look at, especially if you're new. They do a great job with this. Please go ahead and ask them any questions you may have.
I just wanted to mention that because these are wonderful little things that can give us a good overview before we actually start into the business.
That being said, would there be anything else someone would like to raise regarding committee business?
Mr. Blaney.
3:55 p.m.
Conservative
Steven Blaney Conservative Bellechasse—Les Etchemins—Lévis, QC
Thank you, Mr. Chair.
I am pleased to see that the committee is now set up. I would like to take this opportunity to thank the analysts for the report they produced during the last session, entitled “Shifting Paradigms”. During the summer, I received many positive comments on the recommendations in the report, which were unanimous, as I recall.
However, as I was saying before the meeting, it would seem that we have not given the government the opportunity to respond to the report. It contains recommendations that were approved by the government of the time, a government that is still in power. I don’t know whether that is an oversight. I just wanted to inform you that I am going to introduce a motion to give the government an opportunity to respond to the report, which was by consensus and which has received a lot of support.
In addition, and you can tell me whether this is necessary or not, I intend to present a motion to invite the authors of the report submitted by Janet Yale and entitled “Canada's Communications Future: Time to Act”. We would then have the opportunity to hear them present the report to us.
I bring this to your attention. We can debate it later, if necessary.
4 p.m.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Scott Simms
Just for clarification, then, there are two motions that you want to bring.
4 p.m.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Scott Simms
One is regarding the report and the other is regarding the recent Yale report and the witnesses involved in that report.
4 p.m.
Conservative
Steven Blaney Conservative Bellechasse—Les Etchemins—Lévis, QC
Exactly, Mr. Chair.
Actually, on this one, I would seek unanimous consent to table that motion today. It's to invite the author of the report to come in front of us and present her conclusions.
4 p.m.
Liberal
4 p.m.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Scott Simms
You don't need unanimous consent for that.
Is there any discussion?
Ms. Dabrusin.
4 p.m.
Liberal
Julie Dabrusin Liberal Toronto—Danforth, ON
I've had the opportunity to speak to Mr. Blaney before this meeting. There's a date referred to within that motion as a hard deadline, but that hasn't been run by the people who are seeking to call the witnesses.
I would propose a friendly amendment, I believe, to make it “at the earliest convenience” of the witnesses sought in that motion.
4 p.m.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Scott Simms
Before I go to Mr. Housefather, can I ask Mr. Blaney to read the text of the motion, please?
4 p.m.
Conservative
Steven Blaney Conservative Bellechasse—Les Etchemins—Lévis, QC
I will read it with the proposed amendment, Mr. Chair. It would say that the committee invite the broadcasting and telecommunications legislative review panel to present the report “Canada’s communications future: Time to act” to members of the committee at the earliest convenience.
That reflects the amendment.
4 p.m.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Scott Simms
Before we get into any amendments, I'll go to Mr. Housefather, who wants to comment.
4 p.m.
Liberal
Anthony Housefather Liberal Mount Royal, QC
Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
First of all, since Mr. Blaney accepted the amendment and he read that as part of the motion, I don't think we have to deal with an amendment. It's part of the principal motion now.
Just for clarification, Mr. Blaney mentioned that he would need unanimous consent. I'm not sure he would need unanimous consent to put forward this motion. I believe this falls under committee business, and this motion could just come forward. I wanted to seek clarification as to whether or not that's true.
4 p.m.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Scott Simms
Yes. That's correct.
You just read your motion as you want it to be voted on, without any amendment. Is that how you want it?
4 p.m.
Conservative
Steven Blaney Conservative Bellechasse—Les Etchemins—Lévis, QC
It's with the amendment “at the earliest convenience”, to take into account the availability of the witness.
4 p.m.
The Clerk
Just to clarify, the wording of the amendment is “at the first opportunity, at the convenience of the witnesses” instead of the date suggested in the motion?
4 p.m.
Conservative
Steven Blaney Conservative Bellechasse—Les Etchemins—Lévis, QC
Exactly.
I am not in the habit of sweating the small stuff, as one might say.
Thank you.
4 p.m.
Liberal
4 p.m.
Conservative
Kevin Waugh Conservative Saskatoon—Grasswood, SK
Thank you, Mr. Chair.
Do we need to say in this...? There were many hands in this Yale report. Is the one we want to bring in Ms. Janet Yale? Do we have to be specific about who we want?
I'm just throwing that out here.
4 p.m.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Scott Simms
My experience tells me that you don't have to, only because if we pass the motion and do the study, then we can have a discussion about who will be the witnesses, and propose witnesses after that. You can if you wish, but I don't think it's really necessary.
Monsieur Champoux.
4 p.m.
Bloc
Martin Champoux Bloc Drummond, QC
I would like it to specify that we would like a francophone representative and an anglophone representative to be present. The report has two excellent spokespeople. Ms. Simard is one but there are perhaps others. Whatever the case, it would be appropriate for a francophone representative of the group to be present.
4 p.m.
Liberal
Anthony Housefather Liberal Mount Royal, QC
I completely agree that we should also invite Ms. Simard.
As far as I am concerned, Mr. Chair, no study is being proposed. It is just a meeting to which we are inviting the group. The motion should specify that people should speak to the report. We would like Ms. Yale and Ms. Simard to come and testify together, if possible. This is a friendly amendment.