Evidence of meeting #1 for Economic Relationship between Canada and the United States in the 43rd Parliament, 2nd Session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was chair.
A recording is available from Parliament.
The Clerk
Mr. Chair, I can do that, but it will take a moment.
I just want to make sure what the intent of this motion is. Is it to make it the responsibility of the clerk to translate all motions and amendments, or would it be the responsibility of the members?
NDP
Daniel Blaikie NDP Elmwood—Transcona, MB
As per the first motion we passed, shouldn't it go to the Translation Bureau?
Liberal
The Clerk
Mr. Chair, I can only speak to the committees I am the clerk of. We do not have this motion. The practice is that debate is free flowing, especially for amendments from the floor.
If members have them in writing in both official languages beforehand, then it's definitely useful, but the clerk is not a certified translator, and I would feel somewhat uncomfortable being put in that position.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Raj Saini
Can we have a vote on the amendment then?
Mr. Housefather, I'm sorry. I didn't see you.
Liberal
Anthony Housefather Liberal Mount Royal, QC
Mr. Chair, I think Mr. Blaikie was making a point when he was saying that the clerk should do this and send it out, to show how difficult this would actually be and how this is not customary.
I don't think Mr. Savard-Tremblay is allowed to amend his own motion. I don't really care one way or the other. I don't think this makes sense.
I will vote against the amendment and then against the motion if you make us vote twice.
Bloc
Simon-Pierre Savard-Tremblay Bloc Saint-Hyacinthe—Bagot, QC
In that case, may I ask my honourable colleague how he would like to amend it so that he finds it acceptable?
Liberal
Anthony Housefather Liberal Mount Royal, QC
I've been a member of Parliament for five years now. I chaired a committee in the previous Parliament, and I've never seen an issue with this.
Remember that we still have interpretation services. Usually when a motion is moved in committee, the interpreters translate it orally. If a member asks for clarifications, a bilingual member or the clerk will translate it. I've never seen any notice in writing provided during committee debates. This would require the clerk to interrupt the meeting to write an email in both languages to the members. I've never seen this and I don't think that it's necessary.
Mr. Savard-Tremblay, I can assure you that, if there's an issue regarding a motion or an amendment in the committee, I'll help you find a solution. However, I must tell you that, as a member of Parliament, I've never seen this before.
Perhaps we could wait and see how things go. Afterwards, if there's an issue, you can tell us and we'll find a solution.
Bloc
Simon-Pierre Savard-Tremblay Bloc Saint-Hyacinthe—Bagot, QC
Of course, we'll all be keeping an eye on this. If there's an issue, we'll look at it.
My colleague told us that he has been here for five years and that he has chaired a committee. However, for just under a year now, we've had to deal with extremely special circumstances and technical issues with the Zoom platform.
If, by some miracle, we could meet again in person within a few months, we could amend this motion or even repeal it. We could do what you want with it. However, at this point, there are exceptional circumstances. These circumstances have led to real cases where the meaning of a motion has been distorted. It isn't too much to ask for this, even if only temporarily.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Raj Saini
I don't see anyone else's hand up, so are you asking for a vote on your amendment, Mr. Savard-Tremblay?
Conservative
Mark Strahl Conservative Chilliwack—Hope, BC
Madam Clerk, is that in order?
I saw you respond with a cue to Mr. Housefather's remark that an amendment to one's own motion was out of order.
I would like the chair to give us some guidance on that.
The Clerk
Thank you, Mr. Strahl.
My advice would be that it is inadmissible to amend your own motion, but, Mr. Chair, maybe if you seek the unanimous consent of the committee to have the vote on the motion as Mr. Savard-Tremblay has proposed it the second time with the word “vote”, then that would be acceptable to all.
Conservative
The Clerk
Thank you, Mr. Chair, I will proceed to a vote on the motion.
(Motion negatived [See Minutes of Proceedings])
Liberal
The Clerk
Mr. Chair, I leave it in the hands of the committee.
Mr. Blaikie has his hand up.
NDP
Daniel Blaikie NDP Elmwood—Transcona, MB
Mr. Chair, I wonder if this is the appropriate time to talk a little about the structure of the study, or if the idea was simply to establish the routine motions and move on from there.
If we are going to talk a little about the structure of the study, then I would have some remarks to offer, but if we're deferring that conversation, that is also fine by me.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Raj Saini
I think we'll be deferring that conversation, Mr. Blaikie.
Do we know when the next meeting is, Madam Clerk?
The Clerk
Mr. Chair, we do not.
At this point, the motion from the House allows the subcommittee to sit during sitting weeks, but the committee as a whole must sit during break weeks.