Evidence of meeting #48 for Access to Information, Privacy and Ethics in the 39th Parliament, 1st session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was amendment.
A recording is available from Parliament.
NDP
Pat Martin NDP Winnipeg Centre, MB
I had to stand up in the House of Commons and apologize to that government for calling them fascists for their treatment on denying a vote on the Canadian Wheat Board. This guy has consistently called me “Senator Joe”, as if I'm a Red-baiter Republican who frankly bore a lot more resemblance to his party than to any socialist party like the NDP.
So I want him to apologize for calling me McCarthy all the time.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Tom Wappel
I'm sorry, the questions of privilege are not entertainable. You can deal with this as you see fit, but that's an issue for the House.
Carole Lavallée.
Bloc
Carole Lavallée Bloc Saint-Bruno—Saint-Hubert, QC
I want to come back to what Mr. Van Kesteren said earlier, that he was prepared to hear from the witnesses. Yet, all that the Conservatives are doing now belies that fact. If they are prepared to hear from the witnesses, the Conservatives should stop talking and we should call the question. We would ask for nothing more than to have the witnesses come forward and testify.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Tom Wappel
I'm sorry, Madame Lavallée. I ruled Mr. Van Kesteren's motion out of order, so there's no discussion of Mr. Van Kesteren's motion or indeed his comments.
We're now going to proceed and I ask again, is there any relevant and non-repetitious debate on the amendment?
Call the question, please.
Conservative
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Tom Wappel
The question is on the amendment of Mr. Reid.
It's a tied vote. I have to vote. I'm going to vote against the amendment so that we can continue debate on the fourth report.
(Amendment defeated: nays 6; yeas 5)
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Tom Wappel
We are now talking about the fourth report. Are there any amendments to the fourth report?
Mr. Van Kesteren.
Conservative
Dave Van Kesteren Conservative Chatham-Kent—Essex, ON
Thank you, Mr. Chair.
Now, I'd like to continue.
Conservative
Dave Van Kesteren Conservative Chatham-Kent—Essex, ON
No, I'm going to read this thing. And it would then follow after “report”:
And that the witnesses' statements be taken in camera and that their statements remain confidential until the report is released.
And I've added to that, but I think that that's something we can talk about:
And that the committee has opportunity to examine the study before witness statements are released.
I say that in the spirit of cooperation.... Mr. Martin loves to champion his cause and get on his soapbox and talk about the fact that we are not allowing any secrecy. The very fact that we're debating this in the open is somewhat questionable. In light of that, and if they really want cooperation and if they feel that this is something that needs to be done, we agree, but if they would look at our legitimate concerns...and I believe we have legitimate concerns, I'm absolutely convinced and I know our side does, and I even believe that there are those opposite who would agree with that.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Tom Wappel
I'm going to have to stop you. I'm going to happily give you a debate on your motion. I want to make sure I have the motion correctly, though. You said that after the word “report”, you wanted to add “and the witnesses' statements”. Is that what you said?
Conservative
Dave Van Kesteren Conservative Chatham-Kent—Essex, ON
I'll read it again, Mr. Chair, and that this would follow the word “report” on the fourth report: “And that the witnesses' statements”--
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Tom Wappel
Can I stop you there? Could we have the word “evidence”, because the statements would be simply what they would say, but their evidence would be the totality of their answers to the questions, etc.
Conservative
Dave Van Kesteren Conservative Chatham-Kent—Essex, ON
Yes, “and that the witnesses' evidence be taken in camera, and that their statements remain confidential”--
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Tom Wappel
Well, we'll be consistent and say “and that the evidence would”...what?
Conservative
Dave Van Kesteren Conservative Chatham-Kent—Essex, ON
“...would remain confidential until the report is released”.
Conservative
Dave Van Kesteren Conservative Chatham-Kent—Essex, ON
No, I'm talking about the report we're expecting tomorrow.
Conservative
Dave Van Kesteren Conservative Chatham-Kent—Essex, ON
I want the committee to have an opportunity to examine it.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Tom Wappel
That's what you're saying, then--it's until the censored version of the report is made available to the committee members.