Evidence of meeting #45 for Finance in the 45th Parliament, 1st session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was subamendment.
A video is available from Parliament.
Conservative
Conservative
Philip Lawrence Conservative Northumberland—Clarke, ON
No worries....
Of course, there's reporting that we asked for, including the assessment, administrative costs, service standards and internal audits. In the subamendment, we added, “any material changes to the methodology used to calculate assessment fees”. Often process can be the biggest cause of angst and challenge. Also, there's the old saying that goes, “If you torture the data long enough, it will confess to anything”. It's important that we have the methodology as to how these fees are being assessed.
Liberal
Ryan Turnbull Liberal Whitby, ON
I'll make a very brief intervention here. I'm trying to understand. The Conservatives are amending their amendment as if to appeal to government members to vote in favour of this, but, in fact, they haven't addressed the arguments we've made and have actually added things to be reported on. It doesn't change the arguments that we previously made as to why we're going to oppose this. We'll still be opposing.
Thanks for the attempt, Mr. Lawrence. I'm glad that you were very brief in your intervention so we can get on to the vote.
Conservative
Conservative
Philip Lawrence Conservative Northumberland—Clarke, ON
Chair, if we could have a recorded vote, that would be great.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Karina Gould
We'll have a recorded vote.
(Subamendment negatived: nays 6; yeas 4)
Going back to CPC-9, shall CPC-9 carry?
(Amendment negatived: nays 6; yeas 5)
(Clause 21 agreed to on division)
There are no amendments proposed to clauses 22 to 36. Is there unanimous consent to group them for the vote?
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Karina Gould
(Clauses 22 to 36 agreed to on division)
(On clause 37)
We have CPC-10. Who is going to do the honours?
Conservative
Pat Kelly Conservative Calgary Crowfoot, AB
Mr. Hallan put forth this amendment that Bill C-30, in clause 37, be amended by adding after line 13 on page 20 the following:
(3) Within 30 days after the end of each fiscal year, the Minister must prepare, in collaboration with the Association, a report that sets out an overview of any complaints received for which liability as referred to in subsection (1) could be invoked and any cases in which immunity from such liability was invoked.
(4) The Minister must cause the report to be tabled in each House of Parliament on any of the first 15 days on which that House is sitting after the report is completed.
I move that, and I think that Mr. Lawrence will—
Conservative
Philip Lawrence Conservative Northumberland—Clarke, ON
I will defer to Mr. Turnbull. This way I make sure that I hit your objections, so you'll be on side this time.
Liberal
Ryan Turnbull Liberal Whitby, ON
I appreciate that, Mr. Lawrence.
This amendment that's proposed is vague. It can't be implemented as drafted, unfortunately. It's also unclear what is meant by “complaints”, which is generally given a broad interpretation. In terms of the phrase liability “could be invoked”, an organization will or will not have liability. It doesn't really invoke liability, so that's problematic. Lastly, the vagueness puts the minister at risk of not fulfilling his or her legislative duties.
For these three reasons, we would oppose this amendment.
Conservative
Philip Lawrence Conservative Northumberland—Clarke, ON
As has been noted, we would like greater accountability and transparency. We are more than open to a subamendment by Mr. Turnbull, if he should choose. If he believes in accountability and transparency, we're willing to more than meet him halfway to allow for greater.... If he, for example, had a definition of “complaints”, we are all ears to hear that. Otherwise, I am blessed with the ability to count, and so would stand down at that point.
Conservative
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Karina Gould
We will have a recorded vote.
(Amendment negatived: nays 6; yeas 5)
(Clause 37 agreed to on division)
(On clause 38)
Who is introducing CPC-11?
Mr. Kelly.
Conservative
Pat Kelly Conservative Calgary Crowfoot, AB
We do have an amendment for this next one, for clause 38.
Our amendment for clause 38 is that Bill C-30, in clause 38, be amended by adding after line 3 on page 21 the following:
(5) Section 12 of the Act is amended by adding the following after subsection (2.3):
(2.31) Within 30 days after the end of each fiscal year, the Minister must prepare a report that sets out
(a) the number of seasonal workers in respect of whom the maximum number of weeks for which benefits may be paid in a benefit period was increased in that fiscal year;
(b) the regional distribution of those workers; and
(c) the impact on the labour market of the increased number of weeks of benefits.
(2.32) The Minister must cause the report to be tabled in each House of Parliament on any of the first 15 days on which that House is sitting after the report is completed.
That is our amendment.
We once again ask for transparency. We ask for data. We ask for democratic accountability by tabling it in Parliament so that parliamentarians can see the information.
With that, I'll see if the parliamentary secretary agrees with me.