Evidence of meeting #111 for Environment and Sustainable Development in the 44th Parliament, 1st Session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was province.
A video is available from Parliament.
Liberal
Adam van Koeverden Liberal Milton, ON
Thank you, Mr. Chair.
As was discussed in our commercial break, we agreed collectively there should be an in camera session as the second hour of this meeting, where fully unredacted sheets and everything that was requested be viewed collectively. That was agreed upon, but it's not reflected in the amendment as I'm viewing it, so I would propose a subamendment here.
I'm also concerned that we agreed the unredacted documents should be viewed in camera so that we can discuss them and analyze them, but then this amendment as proposed suggests that they should be sent out three days in advance and viewed by all parties. I personally don't want confidential documents to arrive in my inbox to be viewed by my staff. I prefer, frankly, to have confidential documents viewed in camera. That's what the point of an in camera meeting is. I think the very premise that we have an in camera session is that we can—together—review these unredacted documents.
I would like to propose a subamendment to ensure the unredacted documents are viewed only in the second hour of this meeting and that redacted documents go out three days prior, and that there just be some indication that the second hour of the meeting will be the section that's in camera.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Francis Scarpaleggia
Mr. Leslie.
I'm sorry. Just before we go to Mr. Leslie, do you have specific wording?
Liberal
Adam van Koeverden Liberal Milton, ON
I asked for this amendment during the commercial break. I didn't receive it until afterwards, so here we are, on the fly, with one minute left in the meeting, trying to subamend. What I'm asking for is that redacted documents be sent out in advance—
Liberal
Adam van Koeverden Liberal Milton, ON
—and unredacted documents be viewed in the second half of the meeting, which will be in camera.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Francis Scarpaleggia
I'm sorry. It's that redacted documents be sent out in advance—
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Francis Scarpaleggia
—and that unredacted documents be looked at in camera, in the meeting.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Francis Scarpaleggia
Mr. Leslie.
We're talking about your amendment. We're back to your amendment.
Conservative
Branden Leslie Conservative Portage—Lisgar, MB
Sure. I wish I had the references in front of me. The Speaker has been extremely clear in previous rulings that this committee can ask for the production of any documents and, with that, I would like to call for a vote on the amendment.
Conservative
Liberal
Liberal
Adam van Koeverden Liberal Milton, ON
It would be in good order if everybody was working together on this committee. However, that's not where we're at.
Bloc
Monique Pauzé Bloc Repentigny, QC
I have a translation, but it's not the official one.
I believe the wording of the motion means that the committee and its staff could consult the documents. However, nothing is said about receiving the documents. I would imagine that there would be a link available to consult them. We would thus be able to consult them. That's what I understand of the motion. It's not exactly what Mr. van Koeverden is worried about, I don't think.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Francis Scarpaleggia
You've raised a very interesting point, because it could mean that the documents would be in a particular location and that people would have to go there to consult them.
Is that what you wanted to say Ms. Pauzé?
Bloc
Monique Pauzé Bloc Repentigny, QC
The motion doesn't say that we have to receive the documents, but rather that we have to have access to them.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Francis Scarpaleggia
That's very interesting.
It's not an amendment. It doesn't specifically say that—
Conservative
