Evidence of meeting #54 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 amendment.
A recording is available from Parliament.
2:50 p.m.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Hedy Fry
Mrs. Thomas, did you have something to say on the amendment that's on the floor?
2:50 p.m.
Conservative
2:50 p.m.
Conservative
Rachael Thomas Conservative Lethbridge, AB
Thank you.
To allow the members of this committee to use their bully tactics to accuse me of doing something other than seeking legal counsel is 100% inappropriate. As legislators, it is our responsibility to ask important questions that Canadians would wish to have the answers to.
2:50 p.m.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Hedy Fry
Mrs. Thomas, will you please get to the point you're trying to make about your own amendment? Thank you.
2:50 p.m.
Conservative
Rachael Thomas Conservative Lethbridge, AB
Thank you.
I understand that this amendment has support around the table, and I'm thankful for that. I do wish to just have one final clarification made. I want to make certain that this amendment would narrow in the scope of the bill to be then inclusive of those news businesses that are in Canada.
2:50 p.m.
Associate Assistant Deputy Minister, Cultural Affairs, Department of Canadian Heritage
Thank you, Madam Chair.
Thank you for the question, Mrs. Thomas. The bill is intended to require bargaining with news businesses that operate in Canada. If you look at clause 27 and the eligibility criteria, for example, a “qualified Canadian journalism organization” under the Income Tax Act must be operated and controlled by Canadians. Then, with respect to paragraph 27(1)(b), you'll note the reference to “operates in Canada”.
Your amendment is consistent with the intention of the act that, again, in order to benefit, a news business has to operate here in Canada.
2:50 p.m.
Conservative
Rachael Thomas Conservative Lethbridge, AB
Thank you, Mr. Ripley. I appreciate the further clarification.
2:50 p.m.
Liberal
2:55 p.m.
Conservative
2:55 p.m.
NDP
Peter Julian NDP New Westminster—Burnaby, BC
On a point of order, Madam Chair, it is traditional that when we have unanimous consent, we adopt that. If what Mrs. Thomas is signalling is that she's decided to oppose the Conservative amendment that everybody else supports, that's different.
Is that what she is indicating to you—that she is now going to oppose this amendment that all members of the committee support?
2:55 p.m.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Hedy Fry
It's a very good point, Mr. Julian.
Is there any opposition to this amendment?
Hearing none, I say that the amendment has been carried unanimously.
(Amendment agreed to [See Minutes of Proceedings])
Thank you.
Now we go to CPC-2. Is that Mrs. Thomas?
I'm sorry. I don't know who is moving CPC-2.
November 18th, 2022 / 2:55 p.m.
Liberal
2:55 p.m.
Conservative
Rachael Thomas Conservative Lethbridge, AB
Madam Chair, in the motion, it is very clear that I moved this motion. I brought it forward and I am moving it.
2:55 p.m.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Hedy Fry
I'm sorry, Mrs. Thomas. Are you accusing me of saying that I did not know that? Are you accusing me of being duplicitous?
I did not and I do not see the name—
2:55 p.m.
Conservative
Rachael Thomas Conservative Lethbridge, AB
Madam Chair, I don't believe there was an accusation. There was simply a point of clarification, which is that my name is on this motion.
That is all I said. How you interpret that is up to you.
2:55 p.m.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Hedy Fry
Mrs. Thomas, please....
We now have amendment CPC-2. I will call the question on CPC-2, unless Mrs. Thomas, with her hand up, would like to speak to it.
Go ahead, Mrs. Thomas.
2:55 p.m.
Conservative
Rachael Thomas Conservative Lethbridge, AB
Madam Chair, I wonder if the committee would agree.... On other committees I have been a part of, it has been normal practice that the individual who has their name on the amendment—or at least the party, because that individual is not always present—is given an opportunity to speak to the amendment—
2:55 p.m.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Hedy Fry
I have asked for you to speak to your amendment, Mrs. Thomas. Will you please do that?
Thank you.
2:55 p.m.
Conservative
Rachael Thomas Conservative Lethbridge, AB
Madam Chair, I am curious if we would consider adopting that practice. That's for further clarity.
2:55 p.m.
Liberal
