Evidence of meeting #8 for Declaration of Emergency in the 44th Parliament, 1st Session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was documents.
A video is available from Parliament.
Bloc
NDP
The Joint Chair NDP Matthew Green
I'm going to say something that might not always go on the record, but I will concede to the infinite wisdom of the Senate on this one, and we'll fight that fight when we get there, I suppose.
The Joint Chair Bloc Rhéal Fortin
Thank you, Mr. Green.
Have we exhausted that subject? Are we ready to vote on Mr. Virani's amendment?
I would remind you that this amendment is to strike from paragraphs (d) and (e) of Mr. Motz's motion the words “including the analysis relied upon by the Minister of Justice in discharging his responsibilities under section 4.1 of the Department of Justice Act”.
Are we unanimous on the amendment or do we need to hold a vote?
Liberal
Arif Virani Liberal Parkdale—High Park, ON
Mr. Chair, I have heard the concerns of committee members.
I'm persuaded, and I've heard enough that people understand the notion of solicitor-client privilege and they appreciate that redactions are likely inevitable in this context. They just don't want to presuppose it, so I think my point has been made. What I'm proposing to do is to withdraw my suggested amendments to paragraphs (d) and (e).
Liberal
Bloc
The Joint Chair Bloc Rhéal Fortin
Yes, we're going to get to them right afterward. Now, given that the amendment was already before the committee, it needs unanimous consent to be withdrawn.
Does everyone agree to Mr. Virani withdrawing his proposed amendment?
Bloc
Bloc
The Joint Chair Bloc Rhéal Fortin
We will now move on to the next amendment that Mr. Virani would like to propose.
Liberal
Arif Virani Liberal Parkdale—High Park, ON
Please forgive my grocery list, as they say.
Monsieur Fortin, I would group the next amendments. There are three, and they relate to this notion of documents being deposited. It is my position that the documents should be deposited with the committee as opposed to references to the law clerk and parliamentary counsel of the Senate and the law clerk and parliamentary counsel of the House, and any other legal counsel that may be appointed.
This language is tracked within three different sections, so my proposal, and I think we can deal with this all—
Bloc
The Joint Chair Bloc Rhéal Fortin
Just a minute, Mr. Virani.
Mr. White, do you have a point of order or do you want to speak to the amendment?
Senator, Ontario, CSG
If I may, Mr. Chair, just for clarity, why wouldn't we start with (a), see if there are any amendments and then, if not, move to (b)?
What's going to happen, I'm afraid, is that we'll spend three hours bouncing back and forth, chopping up.... If we can get an agreement, I think we can get through this in the next hour.
Bloc
Liberal
Arif Virani Liberal Parkdale—High Park, ON
I believe Senator White doesn't like my grocery list, but that's fine. He has a more organized list.
That's perfectly fine, Senator White.
Liberal
Bloc
Liberal
Conservative
Glen Motz Conservative Medicine Hat—Cardston—Warner, AB
On this point, is there really a need to go back to (a)? We're already down to (f). Between (a) and (f), we're already there.
Senator, Ontario, CSG
He has a grocery list. Let's go to (a) and see who's okay with that. That's all.
Bloc
The Joint Chair Bloc Rhéal Fortin
So we're going to proceed by that method.
Are there any comments or proposed amendments on paragraph (a) of Mr. Motz's motion?
Does everyone agree to it?