Chair, I have a new motion that I'd like to present to the committee. It's new, but it's also similar, if not identical, to what's been proposed in the past around this time. I'd like to read my proposed new motion to the committee, Chair.
I move that
(a) the Clerk of the Committee shall, upon the Committee receiving such an Order of Reference, write to each Member who is not a member of a caucus represented on the Committee to invite those Members to file, in a letter to the Chair of the Committee, in both official languages, any amendments to the Bill, which is the subject of the said Order, which they would suggest that the Committee consider;
(b) suggested amendments filed, pursuant to paragraph (a), at least 48 hours prior to the start of clause-by-clause consideration of the Bill to which the amendments relate shall be deemed to be proposed during the said consideration, provided that the Committee may, by motion, vary this deadline in respect of a given Bill;
(c) during the clause-by-clause consideration of a Bill, the Chair shall allow a Member who filed suggested amendments, pursuant to paragraph (a), an opportunity to make brief representations in support of them.
I'm sure everybody's familiar with the rationale behind this, but I'll share it with you. It makes bill consideration in the committee fairer. It allows everyone to have their say without holding up the clause-by-clause consideration of this committee, and it still allows parliamentarians not represented on our committee to participate in the legislative process. It allows us to really streamline the process when our committee reaches clause-by-clause stage.
I have a written copy in both official languages that I would like to give to the clerk now, please.