Canadian Heritage Committee on June 1st, 2022

[The Chair, Liberal, Hedy Fry]

Mr. Julian responded.

No, I thought Mrs. Thomas was speaking to the motion.

[Dean Allison, Conservative, Niagara West, ON]

It was a point of order. He actually interrupted MP Thomas.

[The Chair, Liberal, Hedy Fry]

I don't know that he interrupted her. He was answering her question. Anyway, I rule thus.

Go ahead, Mrs. Thomas. Do you think that clarified his motion, or do you need further clarification?

[Rachael Thomas, Conservative, Lethbridge, AB]

Madam Chair, all I heard was a point of order. I didn't actually hear from you any clarification to my question. I am seeking it from the chair. I'm seeking clarification on this motion. My understanding is that this motion says our amendments are due by 4:30 p.m. Friday and that amendments thereafter can only be submitted with unanimous consent.

Madam Chair, I am asking you to clarify whether this is, in fact, the case, and I am also asking for this motion to be distributed in writing so that we have it in front of us.

[The Chair, Liberal, Hedy Fry]

Thank you.

I'm clarifying that is indeed what Mr. Julian said, and he clarified it again in response to your original question.

Mr. Julian, do you have this in writing? Can you quickly put it in writing, so that we can send it to the committee?

[Peter Julian, NDP, New Westminster—Burnaby, BC]

It's a procedural and not a substantive motion, Madam Chair. Mrs. Thomas knows that. If she wants me to write it up. It's very simple. It's 4 p.m. on Friday, with late amendments accepted by unanimous consent. However, I will write that up, unless the Conservatives want friendly amendments, in which case that may change the motion.

I think it's best to hear from the Conservatives on whether they want any modifications or friendly amendments to what I've just proposed.

[The Chair, Liberal, Hedy Fry]

Could we ask Mr. Méla, who is here as the legislative clerk, to comment on this?

[Philippe Méla, Legislative Clerk]

Thank you, Madam Chair.

I want to ask a question of Mr. Julian regarding the necessity of UC in providing new amendments once the deadline has passed. The usual practice is that it would be possible to provide amendments without UC. That is my question here.

[Peter Julian, NDP, New Westminster—Burnaby, BC]

If that is what the Conservatives are looking for, then that would certainly be something I would consider.

[Dean Allison, Conservative, Niagara West, ON]

Madam Chair, it's Dan Albas again. I do apologize, because I'm not a regular member of the committee. I'm used to having the chair in a different place, so it's difficult to look at you for guidance.

I wanted to find out exactly...because we did have a motion placed by Mr. Julian. I'm still waiting to get a copy of it, because I only caught the front end of it and not the latter end. My understanding is that there is a unanimous consent component of it. I'd like to look at that, because I'd like to see if we could entertain an amendment to that. I'm having trouble tracking the debate.

Maybe you could suspend for two minutes while we have it written up, and we can have it sent out to everyone in both official languages. It's a bit odd when we have someone making a motion and then suddenly saying, “I'm open for friendly amendments”, when we don't actually have a copy of what the original one was. Maybe it's just my lack of understanding of what Mr. Julian said, or lack of attention.

I apologize for that, Madam Chair, but I certainly want to be a contributing substitute while I'm here.

[The Chair, Liberal, Hedy Fry]

Thank you.

Quite often on this committee, Mr. Albas, people have put forward amendments on the floor, because we're on the particular topic, without a written amendment in both languages required. This is how this committee has worked, with good faith and goodwill over the times. Mr Julian is reflecting that.

Mr. Julian, instead of our having these little interruptions, perhaps you can write that motion down and then it will be open for debate and amendments or subamendments.

[Peter Julian, NDP, New Westminster—Burnaby, BC]

Thank you, Madam Chair.

We can certainly do that, but if the Conservatives.... It's pretty straightforward, and I know we have many experienced parliamentarians around the table. It's 4 p.m. on Friday—I suggested that late amendments would be accepted by unanimous consent, but I'm very open to any suggestions the Conservatives have particularly, or other members of this committee, so that we can get a resolution on this.

[The Chair, Liberal, Hedy Fry]

Mr. Julian, as you heard from Mr. Méla, it is not necessary to have unanimous consent for motions coming off the floor during clause-by-clause.

I would like you to repeat your motion. It is a short motion. I don't believe that anyone needs it in writing.

Will you please repeat it and be succinct, Mr. Julian, and repeat it in French, please, for those in the room who do not speak English as their first language?

[Peter Julian, NDP, New Westminster—Burnaby, BC]

Thank you Madam Chair.

I'm going to simplify it even more. I will try to guess what a Conservative amendment would be, and I will simplify it and simply move that the deadline to submit amendments for the committee's consideration of clause-by-clause be 4 p.m. on Friday.

[The Chair, Liberal, Hedy Fry]

Thank you.

[Peter Julian, NDP, New Westminster—Burnaby, BC]

I move that the deadline for submitting amendments for the clause-by-clause consideration of Bill C‑11 be 4 p.m. this coming Friday.

[The Chair, Liberal, Hedy Fry]

Next week, Friday, Mr. Julian...? That's now become very unclear.

[Peter Julian, NDP, New Westminster—Burnaby, BC]

This Friday.

[The Chair, Liberal, Hedy Fry]

It's this coming Friday. Thank you.

Now we have a motion on the floor.

Would you like to repeat that in French, please, Mr. Julian, for those who do not speak English as their first language?

[Peter Julian, NDP, New Westminster—Burnaby, BC]

Thank you very much, Madam Chair.

I have just done that, but will do it again.

I move that the deadline for submitting amendments for the clause-by-clause consideration of Bill C‑11 be 4 p.m. this coming Friday.

[The Chair, Liberal, Hedy Fry]

Thank you for the motion.

We now have—

[Peter Julian, NDP, New Westminster—Burnaby, BC]

It was suggested that I indicate that this is daylight saving time. So that is 4 p.m., daylight saving time, or Ottawa time.

[The Chair, Liberal, Hedy Fry]

Thank you.

Therefore, we are open now to debate the motion.

Is there any debate? Is there any opposition to the motion?

[The Clerk]

I have a speaking list of Mr. Waugh, Mr. Albas, Mr. Housefather, Ms. Thomas and Mr. Small.

[The Chair, Liberal, Hedy Fry]

Thank you.

Mr. Waugh, you may begin.