Evidence of meeting #62 for Environment and Sustainable Development in the 39th Parliament, 1st Session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was clerk.

A recording is available from Parliament.

On the agenda

MPs speaking

Also speaking

Clerk of the Committee  Mr. Justin Vaive

12:05 p.m.

Liberal

The Vice-Chair Liberal Geoff Regan

I think what you're telling us is that you would oppose this motion and that you might bring forward another one to say the 6th, in your view?

12:05 p.m.

NDP

Nathan Cullen NDP Skeena—Bulkley Valley, BC

Correct, if that's the proper process. Defeat this—

12:05 p.m.

Liberal

The Vice-Chair Liberal Geoff Regan

We first have to deal with this motion, but I can't bring it forward unless no one else wants to speak.

So, are there any other speakers on Mr. Bigras' motion, which you've indicated....

Is it receivable?

Mr. Bigras, since the government has not told the House that next Thursday would be an opposition day, which is the last opposition day of the session, your motion is in order. We all know what the situation is, but nothing has been formally announced in the House.

Does anyone else want to speak to this issue?

Mr. Godfrey.

12:05 p.m.

Liberal

John Godfrey Liberal Don Valley West, ON

Mr. Bigras, should we take a moment to think this over?

12:05 p.m.

Bloc

Bernard Bigras Bloc Rosemont—La Petite-Patrie, QC

Sure, we could take a five-minute break.

12:10 p.m.

Liberal

John Godfrey Liberal Don Valley West, ON

I would suggest we have a five-minute break, Chair, because I know that some people have to check back to make sure everybody's happy with what's being proposed here. So could we have a five-minute break?

12:10 p.m.

Liberal

The Vice-Chair Liberal Geoff Regan

Is that a motion?

12:10 p.m.

Liberal

John Godfrey Liberal Don Valley West, ON

It's a motion, or whatever. A suggestion.

12:10 p.m.

Liberal

The Vice-Chair Liberal Geoff Regan

Is it agreed that we adjourn for five minutes?

12:10 p.m.

An hon. member

Well, no, I think we have a motion on the floor.

12:10 p.m.

Liberal

John Godfrey Liberal Don Valley West, ON

Or we can talk. We can go either way. We can talk for five minutes and it will be riveting.

12:10 p.m.

Conservative

Mark Warawa Conservative Langley, BC

Call the question on the amendment, and if it doesn't pass, as Mr. Cullen said, then there can be an additional motion.

12:10 p.m.

Liberal

The Vice-Chair Liberal Geoff Regan

If Mr. Godfrey is moving a motion to suspend, that takes precedence over the motion. It's in order and it takes precedence, so that motion would have to be voted on first.

Are you moving a motion that we suspend for five minutes?

12:10 p.m.

Liberal

John Godfrey Liberal Don Valley West, ON

I'm moving a motion that we suspend for five minutes.

(Motion agreed to)

12:10 p.m.

Liberal

The Vice-Chair Liberal Geoff Regan

There will be a five-minute suspension.

12:15 p.m.

Liberal

The Vice-Chair Liberal Geoff Regan

The committee will come to order.

Are there further comments on the motion of Mr. Bigras? Is there further debate, colleagues, on the motion of Mr. Bigras?

Monsieur Bigras.

12:20 p.m.

Bloc

Bernard Bigras Bloc Rosemont—La Petite-Patrie, QC

Could you please repeat the motion we will vote on?

12:20 p.m.

Liberal

The Vice-Chair Liberal Geoff Regan

Yes, we will vote on your motion calling for us to sit on June 7.

12:20 p.m.

Bloc

Bernard Bigras Bloc Rosemont—La Petite-Patrie, QC

Could you repeat the motion as amended? Would you like me to read it to you?

That the Committee invite department officials from Environment Canada and Treasury Board Secretariat to appear at Committee on Thursday, June 7, 2007 to discuss the government's climate change spending for 2006-07 and anticipated spending for 2007-08.

Shall we vote on this motion?

12:20 p.m.

Liberal

The Vice-Chair Liberal Geoff Regan

No, because no one said that the motion you are amending also includes the main estimates.

12:20 p.m.

Bloc

Bernard Bigras Bloc Rosemont—La Petite-Patrie, QC

Mr. Chairman, that's why I asked you to clarify the motion. Perhaps Mr. McGuinty should clarify the motion he originally presented.

12:20 p.m.

Liberal

The Vice-Chair Liberal Geoff Regan

Monsieur Rodriguez.

May 31st, 2007 / 12:20 p.m.

Liberal

Pablo Rodriguez Liberal Honoré-Mercier, QC

We can make an amendment to remove the connection with the main estimates.

12:20 p.m.

Liberal

The Vice-Chair Liberal Geoff Regan

I suggest we vote on the subamendment, and then on the main amendment. Mr. McGuinty, or someone else, could then move the amendment on the main motion. However, if we want to avoid doing all that, the committee can unanimously agree to withdraw the part dealing the main estimates.

In other words, all that we'll have to go through otherwise.

First of all, there's no consent in any event, and the view of the clerk is that we should proceed first with the vote and then go back to the....

Monsieur Bigras.

12:20 p.m.

Bloc

Bernard Bigras Bloc Rosemont—La Petite-Patrie, QC

I want to be clear. I can ask for unanimous consent to adopt an amendment to change the date from June 5, 2007 to June 7, 2007. I therefore am asking for unanimous consent to amend the original motion so it reads June 7, 2007 instead of June 5, 2007.