Evidence of meeting #53 for Finance in the 43rd Parliament, 2nd Session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was chair.
A video is available from Parliament.
5:25 p.m.
Liberal
Julie Dzerowicz Liberal Davenport, ON
Thank you so much, Mr. Chair.
I want to thank Ms. Paquet for the explanation.
Could you tell us a bit more about the ruling from the Ontario Superior Court of Justice?
5:25 p.m.
Director, Special Projects, Democratic Institutions Secretariat, Privy Council Office
Sure. Thank you for the question.
The court decision was about the constitutionality of section 91. Even though there was an intent within the provision itself, imparting the intent to affect the outcome of elections, the court ruled that the knowledge requirement to know that the statement was false was not clear within the provision. The amendment would explicitly include that knowledge requirement.
5:25 p.m.
Liberal
Julie Dzerowicz Liberal Davenport, ON
Thank you. I have a follow-up, if it's okay, Mr. Chair.
Ms. Paquet, can you kindly refresh my memory on section 91?
5:25 p.m.
Director, Special Projects, Democratic Institutions Secretariat, Privy Council Office
Of course.
Section 91 prohibits specific types of false statements regarding candidates, prospective candidates, the leader of a political party or a public figure associated with a political party. It only applies during the election period. It's for a statement, for example, that one of those persons would have done something illegal, or a statement regarding citizenship, place of birth, education or professional qualifications, so factually verifiable information.
5:25 p.m.
Liberal
Julie Dzerowicz Liberal Davenport, ON
Thank you.
Can I have one more small question, a definition one?
5:25 p.m.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Wayne Easter
You can have one more small question, and then we'll go to Mr. Kelly.
Go ahead.
5:25 p.m.
Liberal
Julie Dzerowicz Liberal Davenport, ON
Thank you, Mr. Chair.
Could you just define for us what “knowledge requirement” means?
5:25 p.m.
Director, Special Projects, Democratic Institutions Secretariat, Privy Council Office
It would clarify that the individual making the statement needed to know that the statement was false.
5:30 p.m.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Wayne Easter
Does your explanation also relate to clause 363 so that we can deal with these two together?
5:30 p.m.
Director, Special Projects, Democratic Institutions Secretariat, Privy Council Office
Clause 363 is about the coming into force. It comes into force with royal assent.
5:30 p.m.
Conservative
Pat Kelly Conservative Calgary Rocky Ridge, AB
Mr. Chair, I quickly want to flag that there will not be consent to extend the meeting.
We're down to literally the last bit here. If we're not able to vote on these clauses by 5:30, we'd be prepared to adjourn the meeting so that other committees can meet.
5:30 p.m.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Wayne Easter
I'll have to find my notice, Pat, but the notice of meeting goes until eight o'clock, so it's not a question of—
5:30 p.m.
Conservative
5:30 p.m.
Conservative
Pat Kelly Conservative Calgary Rocky Ridge, AB
Okay, I guess I'm just encouraging...since we are down to the last bits here.
5:30 p.m.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Wayne Easter
The problem is that lately the rules for the people doing translation say that we have to give them 30 minutes.
There was an agreement, as I understood—maybe there's something I don't know—among the whips that we would go until eight o'clock tonight and that there would be a 30-minute suspension right now. The notice of meeting went out for meeting number 53 to be from 3:30 until 8:00.
I can't do anything about it. I'm sorry, but I can't impose on the agreements with the translators. I just can't.
5:30 p.m.
Conservative
5:30 p.m.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Wayne Easter
Go ahead, Ms. Jansen.
I'm sorry. I would love to finish, but I just can't.
5:30 p.m.
Conservative
Tamara Jansen Conservative Cloverdale—Langley City, BC
Do you have a guesstimate of how much time it will take us to finish?
5:30 p.m.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Wayne Easter
I don't know how long it will take on Elizabeth May's amendment, but I expect it will take us 15 or 20 minutes.
The translators are operating under an agreement that they have to have a 30-minute break right now. We ran into that the other night. I will have to suspend for 30 minutes and reconvene. I'm sorry about that, but there's just nothing I can do about it, in all honesty.
The meeting is suspended until 6:02 Ottawa time.
6 p.m.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Wayne Easter
We'll call the meeting to order once again.
We did have a discussion on clauses 362 and 363. Are there any questions on those discussions? I see none.
(Clauses 362 and 363 agreed to on division)
Shall schedule 1 carry? I see Mr. Fraser—
6 p.m.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Wayne Easter
Your amendment is on schedule 3, I believe, Elizabeth May, but I have Sean Fraser first, and then I have you, Ms. May.
Sean.
