Evidence of meeting #85 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 swimming.
A recording is available from Parliament.
1:10 p.m.
Conservative
The Vice-Chair Conservative Kevin Waugh
Okay, if I go to the proper speaking list, I only have one speaker left.
Mr. Shields.
1:10 p.m.
Conservative
Martin Shields Conservative Bow River, AB
Thank you, Mr. Chair.
The historical aspect is worth discussing. The passport is a document that the vast majority of Canadians carry. It is something that is important to Canadians, as it's a form of citizenship. Many in this room have been at citizenship ceremonies where people have to put up their hand to swear allegiance to being a Canadian citizen. That's been lessened significantly, which I have a problem with. A legal document of citizenship is a critical document about our country, about our history.
If anybody ever asks me a question, I'm going to be dragging up history in whatever I talk about.
It does represent, as a legal document, a significant part about what we are in this country, so to have a discussion about why it was changed and the rationale....
I have a number of maple leaf ties. I love maple leaves and their beautiful colours. They're fantastic. I have no objection to maple leaves at all, but the historical aspect of this particular document, as I said, carries a sign of our citizenship that we travel with, and it is really important and something worth considering, so the rationale for changing it and the rationale for knowing why it's being recognized in the work that's in it now, other than the legal aspect of it that you must have in a critical security document.... I totally understand that. It's critical security. The Canadian passport is one of the most valued in the world, one of the ones that are blackmailed and copied, because it is such a recognized document out there as part of an important nationality.
I believe we should take a look at this and understand why these changes are being made and why what was there is important to our heritage.
Thank you, Mr. Chair.
1:10 p.m.
Conservative
The Vice-Chair Conservative Kevin Waugh
Thank you, Mr. Shields.
Are there any other comments on this?
I guess I'll call for the vote. Nobody else has challenged me. There is no further debate on this.
Madam Clerk, could you call for the vote on the motion by Ms. Thomas?
1:10 p.m.
Conservative
Rachael Thomas Conservative Lethbridge, AB
I would ask that the motion be read into the record and that the vote be recorded.
1:10 p.m.
The Clerk
The motion that we are voting on is as follows:
That the committee immediately undertake a study regarding the recently announced changes to the Canadian passport; in particular the decision by the government to remove images that reflected Canadian culture and history; that the Minister of Heritage be invited to appear as part of this study; that this study consist of 3 meetings; that witness lists be due with 5 days of the adoption of this motion; and that the committee report its findings and recommendations to the House.
(Motion negatived: nays 7; yeas 3)
1:10 p.m.
Conservative
The Vice-Chair Conservative Kevin Waugh
The motion is defeated, and we're at 1:15.
Go ahead, Mr. Bittle.
1:10 p.m.
Liberal
1:10 p.m.
NDP
Bonita Zarrillo NDP Port Moody—Coquitlam, BC
I just want to get a quick vote on asking Mary-Sophie Harvey to committee before June 12.
1:10 p.m.
Conservative
The Vice-Chair Conservative Kevin Waugh
I can't. It's 1:15, and it's the hard stop by the staff. We've exceeded our time by 15 minutes.
Thank you, Mr. Bittle.
The committee is adjourned.
