Canadian Heritage Committee on March 26th, 2021

[Alain Rayes, Conservative, Richmond—Arthabaska, QC]

Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Ms. Dabrusin did indicate that this is an important bill. I don't think anyone here doubts that, but there are several important bills and we have several tasks to do as part of our duties. I have no problem with our taking the time. However, we have not reached this pass because of the work of the committee, which has been extremely flexible in agreeing to do a preliminary study. Some have said that the bill was delayed in the House of Commons by the Conservatives, but nothing was delayed, as we had already started a preliminary study in committee and agreed to tip everything over here.

It was the Liberals who shut down the House of Commons by proroguing Parliament and took five years to introduce the bill. I don't think a week or two makes any difference at this point in time in dealing with legislation that is going to be around for another 30 years. Frankly, I think it requires a lot of resources and a lot of work for parliamentarians. On our side, we're fine with adding meetings if necessary, but not with extending the length of each meeting.

As soon as the last intervenors have spoken, I would like to call for the vote, Mr. Chair, because it is now 3:45 p.m. I insist on it, because I think we've talked about it a lot already. Ms. Dabrusin has brought this up several times.

[The Chair, Liberal, Scott Simms]

That's duly noted, but I see hands up.

Monsieur Champoux.

[Martin Champoux, Bloc, Drummond, QC]

I will add my opinion to the debate. I concur.

Indeed, I think we have all been very diligent in dealing with the bill and have been flexible. There were some unnecessary delays. For example, there was a vote on a Friday afternoon that was absolutely not essential and delayed our work in such a way that we had to use another meeting to receive witnesses.

In short, I think we have all put in our share of effort. I've already stated my opposition to adding meeting hours on Fridays, for reasons that are unique to everyone. Many of us have travel commitments and others have constituency obligations. I want to say to Ms. Dabrusin that I also have responsibilities to my constituents who require their MP to be in their riding. For me, Friday afternoons are also for that, when I am not on the Hill.

I think we are capable of being flexible and adding meetings, but, again, I do not agree with extending the hours on Friday afternoons.

[The Chair, Liberal, Scott Simms]

Ms. Dabrusin.

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

I'm happy for us to go to a vote. My point is, and has been all along, that we are MPs who have committed to do this work.

I hadn't set out a specific time where the extra hours would be put in—that is at the discretion of the chair—or all of the work that has to happen at the back end to make sure it's fair on staff.

Once again, we have a job to do do. We've committed to this job, and that's why we're here. I can see no reason why a committee would actually oppose putting in the work it needs to do to get it done, but if that's how people want to vote, that's up to them. They can be put on the record as not wanting to do the extra work to move this along expeditiously.

[The Chair, Liberal, Scott Simms]

Ms. Bessette.

[Lyne Bessette, Liberal, Brome—Missisquoi, QC]

Thank you, Mr. Chair.

I would like to make a brief comment. A few of our recent meetings have run over time and ended at almost 4 o'clock. If we were to add an hour to the meeting, then the meeting would run from 12:30 p.m. to 3:30 p.m., which would mean that we would end 30 minutes earlier than today's meeting. So I'm trying to figure out why we couldn't have that extra hour.

[The Chair, Liberal, Scott Simms]

Mr. Champoux.

[Martin Champoux, Bloc, Drummond, QC]

I want to be very careful about how I interpret Ms. Dabrusin's comments about our views and the fact that they will be recorded in the minutes of our meetings. I hope I misunderstood her intent, and I'll leave it at that.

[The Chair, Liberal, Scott Simms]

Mr. Rayes.

[Alain Rayes, Conservative, Richmond—Arthabaska, QC]

Mr. Chair, I would like to echo what Mr. Champoux said.

I am offended by Ms. Dabrusin's comments, which suggest that by voting against her motion, we would filibuster the bill. This is deplorable. The Liberals have adopted a number of tactics in this regard, which I have experienced and which I have shared with the minister. One of the things they are suggesting is that the Conservatives have delayed the bill. On the contrary, we see the flexibility that all members of this committee have shown in adapting procedures and expediting work in the preliminary study of the bill so as not to delay the debate.

Members have the privilege of speaking in the House on this bill. Quite frankly, I find Ms. Dabrusin's comments to be verging on a line that she should not cross. Her implication that our votes will be recorded and that it will be possible to know who wants to work on Bill C-10 borders on a threat.

I am sincerely offended and hope we misinterpreted her comments.

[The Chair, Liberal, Scott Simms]

Ms. McPherson.

[Heather McPherson, NDP, Edmonton Strathcona, AB]

I want to get some clarification on something that was mentioned by Ms. Bessette.

We still don't have clarity within this motion. This motion does not provide clarity regarding the amount of time we are talking about. I would like some clarification. She said an hour. That is what I've been told before, but that is not within the motion. Are we talking about one hour?

I understand what you said, Mr. Clerk—that this is for you to decide—but what that time constraint looks like is very material to whether or not we can support the motion.

[The Chair, Liberal, Scott Simms]

Mr. Rayes.

[Alain Rayes, Conservative, Richmond—Arthabaska, QC]

Mr. Chair, I call for the vote.

[The Chair, Liberal, Scott Simms]

I don't see any hands up.

Seeing an end to that debate, we're going to go to a vote. Normally I would ask for dissension, but I'm assuming there is some.

(Motion agreed to: yeas 6; nays 5)

There is something I would suggest. We've gone way over time, so I won't get into it too much, but suffice it to say that one of the obvious choices would be to extend the Friday from two hours to three hours, as was pointed out earlier by Madame Bessette. I would agree with her. That's one of the options that I think we can say yes to immediately. For the other options that are before us, whether they are other days or an extension of Monday, which I understand will be difficult, we'll have to report back.

The direction I need from the committee on this issue is this: Do we do this “offline”, as the expression goes, or do we want to do this in a subcommittee setting? Do you want to handle this outside of the confines of an actual subcommittee meeting? Am I clear on that?

Okay. I'll pick that up with members and with the clerk, Aimée. We'll discuss what we're looking for, but I will say at the beginning that we can extend Friday from two hours to three hours. I'm pretty sure we can do that, granted the whips are okay with that as well.

That being said, I just have one final item to bring up. As you know, as of Monday, we're looking at the Facebook issue. We're having witnesses in to talk about Facebook. I just wanted to say, first of all, thank you to Mr. Rayes, who will be taking over as chair. I will be in Newfoundland under quarantine rules, where my internet signal is not strong at all. I think it would be best for the running of the committee for Mr. Rayes to take over, and I thank him again.

One thing, however, that they may bring up during that meeting is that Facebook has provided a background document to distribute to members of the committee. However, you will not have it at that meeting because we have to send it to the Translation Bureau to be checked. Just for the record, they did send it in both languages, but, as you know, because of the motion we adopted with Monsieur Champoux, we have to send it to translation to be vetted. That won't be completed until Tuesday, the day after.

I'm looking for Aimée just to nod to make sure I'm correct in that. I am correct. Okay.

I just thought they may reference the background document, but you won't have it on Monday. You will have it on Tuesday. That is the only thing in addition that I had to bring up.

Mr. Dong.

[Han Dong, Liberal, Don Valley North, ON]

I was just going to wish everyone a great weekend. I think it was perhaps a little too early, but I want to thank everyone for their support on the motion.

[The Chair, Liberal, Scott Simms]

That's duly noted, Mr. Dong.

Seeing nothing else, I wish everyone happy holidays over the next two weeks. We'll see you on Monday.

The meeting is adjourned.