Evidence of meeting #32 for Access to Information, Privacy and Ethics in the 40th Parliament, 2nd Session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was subamendment.

A recording is available from Parliament.

On the agenda

MPs speaking

Also speaking

Elizabeth Denham  Assistant Privacy Commissioner , Office of the Privacy Commissioner of Canada
Carman Baggaley  Senior Policy Advisor, Legal Services, Policy and Parliamentary Affairs Branch, Office of the Privacy Commissioner of Canada
Daniel Caron  Legal Counsel, Legal Services, Policy and Parliamentary Affairs Branch, Office of the Privacy Commissioner of Canada

11:50 a.m.

Liberal

The Chair Liberal Paul Szabo

Okay. I'm going to put the question, then, on the amendment as amended by the Poilievre subamendment.

(Amendment agreed to: yeas 6; nays 4)

11:50 a.m.

Liberal

The Chair Liberal Paul Szabo

Now, colleagues, we have one last vote. It is on the motion as amended.

Does everybody understand what we're voting on?

11:50 a.m.

An hon. member

Understood.

11:50 a.m.

Liberal

The Chair Liberal Paul Szabo

Please call the roll.

Five yeas and five nays. I had anticipated that it was going to come down to this, colleagues.

I have to tell you, there are a number of elements of everything that has gone on and how this all came up that caused me some discomfort, most of which I think relates, however, to Mr. Siksay's reasoned argument that the commissioner has uncategorically stated that she will be looking at this matter, at least the matter of the original motion, and to make an indication that we would like to do something in parallel may very well be viewed as being judgmental in terms of her ability to do that job.

I think we might get some more information. It might be helpful. This matter can always come back to us again. But rather than simply stay the discussion, I'm going to vote no.

(Motion as amended negatived: nays 6; yeas 5)

11:55 a.m.

NDP

Bill Siksay NDP Burnaby—Douglas, BC

Mr. Chair, may I ask a question about your decision or raise a point of order on it?

Chair, the motion as amended included the direction to not engage the study until after the commissioner had reported.

11:55 a.m.

Liberal

The Chair Liberal Paul Szabo

This is debate.

I don't have to explain myself. But I can suggest to you that in the context of the original motion—that is the part, obviously—we changed it to broaden it up to other parties, other years, other persons, and way beyond. Ultimately, the committee and the members should take from this a lesson that motions should be very clear and carefully thought out. In this particular case, since we have really made some significant changes, I think it's a motion, even as amended, that the committee still is not very comfortable with and that I'm not comfortable with. So I'm voting no, with the full knowledge that any member of the committee can bring this back at any time with 48 hours' notice.

I hope that what has happened today, members, we'll take into account.

Thank you.

We're adjourned.