Fisheries Committee on Nov. 2nd, 2020

[The Chair, Liberal, Ken McDonald]

Thank you, Mr. Calkins.

We'll go to Madame Gill now to respond to your question.

[Marilène Gill, Bloc, Manicouagan, QC]

The text proposed by the amendment would be inserted right after the first paragraph.

[The Chair, Liberal, Ken McDonald]

Thank you, Madame Gill. You answered that question.

Mr. Williamson, go ahead.

[John Williamson, Conservative, New Brunswick Southwest, NB]

Thank you.

Thank you very much, Mrs. Gill.

I view this as a friendly amendment. I think the placing of it in between is the correct place.

To my colleagues Mr. Morrissey and Mr. Beech, I'm pleased that the minister will be able to join us quickly. I think, therefore, that this motion will then receive all-party support, hopefully, so that we can hear from the minister in a timely fashion.

Mr. Beech, I can assure you that folks down east want to hear from the minister. That includes traditional fishers. It includes first nations. It includes provincial governments. She has been hiding out east, she's hiding in Parliament and she is not going to hide from this committee. We need to hear from the minister to set the parameters of the debate so that we can begin to have some direction and focus for us to study here.

Thank you, Mr. Chair.

[The Chair, Liberal, Ken McDonald]

Thank you, Mr. Williamson.

We'll now go to Mr. Johns.

[Gord Johns, NDP, Courtenay—Alberni, BC]

Thank you.

First, I do support the minister coming, and I support the department coming. I don't think that it needs to happen before next Friday. I absolutely don't agree that we should be suspending the study in the meantime. I think we should set a date, such as November 20, when we come back after a break week. Next week many of us are going to be committed to being in our ridings, standing with our veterans, honouring our veterans and people in our communities, as we should be.

Second, this study isn't meant to replace the nation-to-nation dialogue that's supposed to be happening right now. I'm hoping that's what the minister is doing, meeting with the nation, having that important dialogue, as she should be. This committee is looking at the Marshall decision and the implementation of it, but this is not to replace the important work that the minister is supposed to be doing with that nation. I don't think we're going to change how that discussion is going, and that should not be our job.

In fact, if that's what people on this committee think, then we're undermining the process that's happening, which is the proper process, and that is the minister having nation-to-nation dialogue.

I would support an amendment to both motions. One would be to extend this one to November 20. Then I'll be looking at moving a motion that we don't suspend this committee before the minister comes. We have important witnesses, like the ones today, whom we should be listening to. Instead, this motion was tabled in the middle of their testimony, which I think is totally disrespectful, and it is disrespectful to everybody who is listening to this whole study.

[The Chair, Liberal, Ken McDonald]

Mr. Johns, are you moving a subamendment?

[Gord Johns, NDP, Courtenay—Alberni, BC]

I'm asking Madame Gill if she will amend her date to November 20 so that we can give the department and the minister an opportunity to testify before this committee. Then I'll be moving another amendment after this amendment, to see if Mr. Calkins will not suspend the study and take that language out of his motion.

First I'm asking for a friendly amendment from Ms. Gill, that we look at November 20—

[Blaine Calkins, Conservative, Red Deer—Lacombe, AB]

I have a quick point of order, Mr. Chair.

Sorry, Gord, I don't mean to interrupt.

[The Chair, Liberal, Ken McDonald]

Yes, Mr. Calkins.

[Blaine Calkins, Conservative, Red Deer—Lacombe, AB]

I think you're confusing me with Mr. Williamson, who moved the motion.

[Gord Johns, NDP, Courtenay—Alberni, BC]

My apologies, Mr. Calkins. Absolutely.

[The Chair, Liberal, Ken McDonald]

Mr. Johns, it has to be considered a subamendment. You're moving a subamendment.

[Gord Johns, NDP, Courtenay—Alberni, BC]

I am moving a subamendment to Ms. Gill's amendment that we look at November 20 for department officials and the minister to appear before the committee.

[The Chair, Liberal, Ken McDonald]

Okay, we've all heard the subamendment by Mr. Johns.

I'll keep going down the speakers list, I guess, but we have to speak now to the subamendment.

Mr. Arnold.

[Mel Arnold, Conservative, North Okanagan—Shuswap, BC]

Thank you, Mr. Chair.

It's more of a point of order. I'd like to confirm that we're able to continue the meeting. I believe we're at our time, but I would like to be able to continue past our scheduled time to continue this debate.

[The Chair, Liberal, Ken McDonald]

I don't think we're allowed to adjourn the meeting until we deal with the amendments.

Now I'll go to Mr. Williamson.

Are you speaking to the subamendment?

[John Williamson, Conservative, New Brunswick Southwest, NB]

I put my hand down. I'm going to listen first and then talk later—imagine that.

Thanks.

[The Chair, Liberal, Ken McDonald]

Madame Gill.

[Marilène Gill, Bloc, Manicouagan, QC]

Thank you, Mr. Chair.

I want to comment on the subamendment proposed by Mr. Johns. I don't know if it is the right time for this, but I do not agree with changing the November 13 date. We have been told from the start that this is urgent, and now it is about respect for the witnesses. I would like to point out that we must also respect the reality of not just the Mi'Kmaq, but of the entire population of Nova Scotia and the Maritimes, where solutions must be found quickly. I absolutely disagree with the proposal to postpone the meeting ostensibly to November 20 because we cannot work next week, which is a break week. I would like to keep the date of November 13.

[The Chair, Liberal, Ken McDonald]

Thank you, Madame Gill.

Hearing nothing else, we'll go to a vote on Mr. Johns' subamendment first.

[Bobby Morrissey, Liberal, Egmont, PE]

Mr. Chair, on a point of order, could you clarify just what we're voting on? It's not clear to me.

[The Chair, Liberal, Ken McDonald]

Mr. Johns' subamendment is to have the minister appear before November 20.

Nancy, go ahead when you're ready, please.

[The Clerk]

Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Indeed, as you said, it is the subamendment from Mr. Johns that the minister be invited, but no later than November 20, and not the 13th, as in the amendment from Ms. Gill.

[Jaime Battiste, Liberal, Sydney—Victoria, NS]

As I understand, I'm voting on November 20 and that we're not stopping the study. If that is the case, then I support Mr. Johns' amendment.