Evidence of meeting #30 for Canadian Heritage in the 44th Parliament, 1st Session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was chair.
A video is available from Parliament.
5:25 p.m.
Conservative
Rachael Thomas Conservative Lethbridge, AB
Oh, thank you.
I'm sorry. I want to return to something you said.
I am not allowed to talk about my motivation for this amendment, but I would be permitted to read from the phone book if I wanted to? That is correct?
5:25 p.m.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Hedy Fry
Ms. Thomas, you know that is something you can do when you filibuster, but you are not on topic right now.
We are supposed to debate your amendment to the motion that is still on the floor, Ms. Thomas. There is a motion on the floor that you are amending.
5:25 p.m.
Conservative
Rachael Thomas Conservative Lethbridge, AB
Yes, there is a motion on the floor that I am amending. I am asking for additional time before amendments to Bill C-11 are due at the committee.
It's hard to know when the start of clause-by-clause is going to begin. That would have to be a further conversation by this committee, which again would take place at another time, because part of of the decision about when clause-by-clause would begin would be for us to determine if we have heard from enough witnesses, or would desire to hear from a few more.
Again, there would be appetite on this side of the table at least to give time to a few more, to be able to hear from other Canadians who are going to be impacted by Bill C‑11 and have not yet had an opportunity to add their voice.
In front of me, I have a list of a total of 119 witnesses who were put forward to be considered by the committee. Of those, there are actually more than 50 who have not yet had an opportunity to come to speak. If we were to decide to move clause-by-clause back a bit and to hear from those witnesses, then whenever we decide to set that date for clause-by-clause consideration to commence, we would have to have our amendments in three days prior to that.
That's my proposal. That's what's on the table right now for this committee to consider. I'd love to have a conversation on that. I guess whether or not there would be appetite at this table for giving a little more time for those amendments to be drafted so that we can thoroughly review the testimony that has been submitted in writing as well as the testimony that has been granted here in person from those who have—
5:25 p.m.
Liberal
Chris Bittle Liberal St. Catharines, ON
Just for clarification, the minister is only here for a few more minutes. This filibuster is now—
5:25 p.m.
Conservative
Rachael Thomas Conservative Lethbridge, AB
There's no point of clarification. This is not a point of order. This is debate—
5:25 p.m.
Liberal
Chris Bittle Liberal St. Catharines, ON
—into its second hour, and I think we should hear from the minister.
5:25 p.m.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Hedy Fry
Mr. Bittle, that is not a point of order.
The order of this meeting is to continue this debate. There was a question of adjourning the debate. The committee moved with a majority to continue the debate. So that is what as chair I have to do. The order of the day is to continue this debate on the amendment.
Ms. Thomas, when I actually stop speaking—
5:30 p.m.
Liberal
5:30 p.m.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Hedy Fry
I have no idea. Is there a problem with the sound? Everyone can hear the chair all right.
Who is the person who said they couldn't hear me? Are they in the room or virtual?
June 2nd, 2022 / 5:30 p.m.
Liberal
Michael Coteau Liberal Don Valley East, ON
I can't hear anyone. I'm going to sign out and [Technical difficulty—Editor].
5:30 p.m.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Hedy Fry
Fine, Mr. Coteau, you may do that.
Ms. Thomas, when I have finished speaking, and I have finished, you may begin. You still have the floor.
5:30 p.m.
Conservative
Rachael Thomas Conservative Lethbridge, AB
Thank you, Madam Chair.
Madam Chair, those of us on this side of the table had every intent of hearing from the minister today, and we do have every intent on being reasonable about when amendments are due. That has been our position throughout this week as this topic of conversation has come forward. However, there seems to be a desire at this table to prolong, to keep delaying an opportunity to hear from witnesses, in particular today to hear from the minister who has graciously given us his time to speak to Bill C-11. Now it looks like we will not have that opportunity, because a motion has been brought forward to the floor. Even though I moved that we suspend or adjourn debate, that motion was voted down by the members opposite. So, instead, they're insisting that we continue to have this debate on the motion that was brought forward earlier concerning amendments—
5:30 p.m.
Rachel Thomas
It's debate.
5:30 p.m.
Liberal
Chris Bittle Liberal St. Catharines, ON
The vote will take a minute, and we can get going to hear the minister.
5:30 p.m.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Hedy Fry
—that is not a point of order.
The question was asked as to whether this debate should be adjourned to allow the minister to speak. The majority of this committee voted to continue with the debate. I am so sorry.
I apologize profusely to the minister, but I have to do what the committee dictates that I do.
A point of order is that right now what we're doing is continuing to debate, Mr. Bittle.
Thank you.
5:30 p.m.
Conservative
Rachael Thomas Conservative Lethbridge, AB
Madam Chair, it's interesting to me that, today, in the House of Commons, the government House leader said during question period that the parliamentary secretary should not interfere in committee business, and that's exactly what we see Mr. Bittle doing here over and over and over again. The hypocrisy is thick—