Evidence of meeting #189 for Finance in the 42nd Parliament, 1st Session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was chair.
A video is available from Parliament.
NDP
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Wayne Easter
CPC-3 is amending or deleting those lines that relate to the United Nations.
What's the impact of the deletion?
Director, Community Lands Development, Lands and Environmental Management, Lands and Economic Development, Department of Indian Affairs and Northern Development
I'm sorry. I misunderstood the question, Mr. Chair.
The impact of the deletion is that it would be quite harmful to the relationship that we've built with first nations under first nations land management. They see this as a hugely symbolic expression of their self-determination. They approached us in good faith to do this, and we've been able to put the wording into the Framework Agreement on First Nations Land Management. We would hope that the act largely mirrors that language.
NDP
Peter Julian NDP New Westminster—Burnaby, BC
Just so I understand.... What I have, and maybe there is a corrected version, is that Bill C-86, in clause 352, be amended by deleting lines 27 to 31on page 310.
NDP
Peter Julian NDP New Westminster—Burnaby, BC
I understand the legislative drafters were absolutely swamped. Is that indeed the correct amendment?
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Wayne Easter
Yes, that's the correct amendment—page 310, lines 27 to 31. The legislative clerk will point it out, Peter.
Director, Community Lands Development, Lands and Environmental Management, Lands and Economic Development, Department of Indian Affairs and Northern Development
Would you like me to read the language out?
Director, Community Lands Development, Lands and Environmental Management, Lands and Economic Development, Department of Indian Affairs and Northern Development
It says:
And whereas the Government of Canada is committed to implementing the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples;
It's part of their preambular statement.
Liberal
Kamloops—Thompson—Cariboo, CPC
Thank you, Mr. Chair.
This is not meant in any way to diminish the importance of moving forward. It's to acknowledge that even within the moving forward of Bill C-262, there is a lot of uncertainty in terms of what the implications will be in taking what was meant to be a declaration....
As you know, UN conventions are meant to be transposed into Canadian law. Declarations are to be guiding principles. As we move towards putting guiding principles in preambles, I understand from legislative drafters and others that we start to have significant implications that we, quite frankly, do not understand as of yet.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Wayne Easter
Is there any further discussion by any other members?
Mr. Fragiskatos.
London North Centre, Lib.
I think the officials were quite clear on the impact the deletion would have, the consequences. For that reason I can't support it.
(Amendment negatived [See Minutes of Proceedings])
(Clause 352 agreed to on division)
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Wayne Easter
There are no amendments from clauses 353 to 384, which is just before we get into the First Nations Fiscal Management Act. Are there any questions on those clauses for officials?
(Clauses 353 to 384 inclusive agreed to on division)
We are starting division 12, the First Nations Fiscal Management Act. There are no amendments from clauses 385 to 414, which concludes that division 12. Are there any questions to officials on any of those clauses?
(Clauses 385 to 414 inclusive agreed to on division)
Now we have division 13.
Thank you, officials. That concludes it for you. You are here for divisions 11 and 12.
Christopher Duschenes Director General, Economic Policy Development, Lands and Environmental Management, Department of Indian Affairs and Northern Development
We're also here for division 19.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Wayne Easter
We'll have to come back to that because we have to go through them in order.
We are at division 13, the Export and Import Permits Act.
(Clause 415 agreed to on division)
(Clauses 441 to 443 inclusive agreed to on division)
(On clause 444)
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Wayne Easter
On clause 444, we have CPC-4. Who's bringing that forward, Tom or Blake?
Conservative
Tom Kmiec Conservative Calgary Shepard, AB
On CPC-4, CPC-5, CPC-6, CPC-7 and CPC-8, we are going to withdraw all of those.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Wayne Easter
You're withdrawing all of them? Okay.
(Clauses 444 to 469 agreed to on division)
(On clause 470)
On clause 470, we have CPC-9.
Mr. Richards.
Blake Richards Banff—Airdrie, CPC
Thanks, Mr. Chair.
This one obviously is an interesting opportunity timing-wise. The human resources committee has actually been studying this particular subject matter after a unanimous motion passed in the House of Commons to look at this issue. It's about bereavement leave and the particular situation of parents who have lost a child. We have heard from a large number of witnesses at that committee, and there has been a very clear call for exactly this—the idea of a 12-week leave for parents after the passing of a child.
That's what this amendment would seek to do, to answer the calls of parents from all across this country who have experienced this tragic situation, and from those who are advocating for people experiencing that tragic situation. It's something that I think all members of Parliament—many of us—have been touched by in some way or know someone who has. We feel that pain and share that grief with them. There is an easy opportunity here for us to be able to help ease some of that burden, to ease some of that pain, and to lessen some of the extra suffering that government currently puts upon these families.
That's the idea behind the amendment here, and I certainly hope it will have the support of all members of the committee.
London North Centre, Lib.
Thank you, Mr. Chair.
I certainly sympathize a great deal with the spirit of the amendment, and I know the honourable member has worked on it for some time. I do have to say, though, that the proposed amendments would create duplication with the existing leave related to the death of a child as a result of a probable crime, which provides up to 104 weeks of unpaid leave after the day on which the death occurs. Moreover, an employee who experiences a perinatal death may be eligible for up to 17 weeks of medical leave if they are unable to work due to health reasons, including psychological trauma or stress resulting from the death.