Canadian Heritage Committee on Dec. 5th, 2023

[The Chair, Liberal, Hedy Fry]

You suggested that, and Ms. Thomas said to leave the motion exactly as it is.

[Michael Coteau, Liberal, Don Valley East, ON]

Can I make an amendment, then?

[The Chair, Liberal, Hedy Fry]

If you're making a subamendment, please do so. Can you read it out, please?

[Martin Champoux, Bloc, Drummond, QC]

On a point of order, Madam Chair.

[The Chair, Liberal, Hedy Fry]

I'm sorry, Martin.

[Martin Champoux, Bloc, Drummond, QC]

I'm really confused about the decision you're making.

You've invited committee members to vote. The clerk read the text, which included the proposed amendment.

I'm not opposed to Mr. Coteau's idea. I think is a good proposal, but Ms. Thomas has rejected it. You called for a vote and the clerk has read the amended motion.

[The Chair, Liberal, Hedy Fry]

Is it the unanimous will of the committee to just go ahead and vote?

[Martin Champoux, Bloc, Drummond, QC]

I'm putting the question, Madam Chair. According to the Standing Orders, I believe that once the question has been put, there may be no further debate on the motion.

[The Chair, Liberal, Hedy Fry]

Yes. That's in the Standing Orders, yes.

The vote was called. Mr. Coteau had made this point before the vote was called. He is now making the point after the vote has been called.

The vote stands. We shall call the vote now. The clerk was reading out the motion only so that we could vote. I had called the vote.

[Michael Coteau, Liberal, Don Valley East, ON]

On a point of order, Madam Chair, it was very clear that you allowed me to read my subamendment to the motion. You allowed me to do that, and I started to do it. I finished saying what I said. You asked if it was written down. We were at that point. You allowed me to propose a subamendment.

I don't understand why we're going backwards now to another point in this meeting process. If that's the case, I would like to know how we got to a point where I was allowed to propose the subamendment. You asked me to read it, and now we're back to, “It wasn't allowed.” I don't understand that.

[The Chair, Liberal, Hedy Fry]

The clerk is ruling, because she is keeping tabs on what is going on. She's ruling that, in fact, we had called for the vote before you made your subamendment. Therefore, I should allow for the vote to occur. Those are the rules, according to the clerk.

We should go to the vote.

[Michael Coteau, Liberal, Don Valley East, ON]

I think the clerk is trying to say something.

[The Chair, Liberal, Hedy Fry]

Go ahead, Geneviève.

[The Clerk]

I don't have anything to add.

[The Chair, Liberal, Hedy Fry]

She's already spoken to me and said we should go to the vote.

Thank you.

I will call the vote now.

Are you going to challenge the chair, Mr. Coteau?

[Michael Coteau, Liberal, Don Valley East, ON]

I won't challenge the chair.

[The Chair, Liberal, Hedy Fry]

Let's go to the vote, please.

[Michael Coteau, Liberal, Don Valley East, ON]

Can I ask whether we can suspend for one minute?

[Rachael Thomas, Conservative, Lethbridge, AB]

You have to go to the vote.

[The Chair, Liberal, Hedy Fry]

The vote is to be taken.

Let's call the vote, please.

Go ahead.

[Michael Coteau, Liberal, Don Valley East, ON]

Can I ask that the amendment be read one more time? I think that's my right. Isn't it?

[Rachael Thomas, Conservative, Lethbridge, AB]

It's already been read.

[Michael Coteau, Liberal, Don Valley East, ON]

I don't see it in writing anywhere.

[The Chair, Liberal, Hedy Fry]

I will read it.

Look at the second paragraph in the motion:

That the committee prioritize this motion over all other current and future studies and other committee business, so that the committee devote its first meeting at the return from the holiday recess to it and that the committee report to the House that given these job cuts, it would be inappropriate for the CBC to grant bonuses to executive members.

That's what we're voting on. Please call the vote.

(Amendment agreed to: yeas 6; nays 5)

We should go on to the amended motion.

I am not going to read it again, because you know what it is.

Mr. Champoux.

[Martin Champoux, Bloc, Drummond, QC]

Madam Chair, we've had a chance to discuss amendments to the motion. I honestly thought that Mr. Coteau's proposal to add this to the items we wanted to discuss with Ms. Tait was a good one. However, since a vote was requested, we had to follow the procedure. We did the right thing.

It could have been worded better, but the intention is there. That's why I voted for Ms. Thomas's motion. We can send a message to the House of Commons that, even though we haven't yet met with Ms. Tait, it's clear to all members of this committee, who represent all the parties recognized in the House of Commons, that it would be inappropriate for bonuses to be granted to the officials of CBC/Radio-Canada. The message may not be drafted in the way Mr. Coteau and I would have liked, but it is nevertheless appropriate.

Madam Chair, we have discussed the motion and amendments at length. Everyone understands it and knows what it's about. So I request a vote, please.