Fisheries Committee on Jan. 20th, 2022

[Caroline Desbiens, Bloc, Beauport—Côte-de-Beaupré—Île d’Orléans—Charlevoix, QC]

I would be happy to do so, Mr. Chair.

My amendment concerns the third paragraph of the motion and proposes to add the following: “examining the Canadian Coast Guard's search and rescue capabilities and response rates, and studying both official languages.”

[The Chair, Liberal, Ken McDonald]

Thank you. I think we've all heard the amendment.

I have Mr. Morrissey.

[Bobby Morrissey, Liberal, Egmont, PE]

Mr. Chair, I need clarification, because now her wording is “and study both official languages”. This is not an official language study; it's a capability study of the Canadian Coast Guard, and we have to stay within that context.

In the wording, Madame, your wording is now clear: “and to study both official languages”. Could you explain where we're going?

[The Chair, Liberal, Ken McDonald]

Madame Desbiens, would you comment?

[Caroline Desbiens, Bloc, Beauport—Côte-de-Beaupré—Île d’Orléans—Charlevoix, QC]

I understand what my colleague is saying. The punctuation may need to be reviewed. It's about examining the response rate and the rescue capability, and doing so while studying the ability to provide this service in both official languages. The service is being studied, not the two official languages. If the motion were worded differently, we may get there. I didn't mention commas when I read the motion. Often, punctuation makes the motion clearer.

I can read it again. It's about examining the search and rescue capabilities and response rates of the Canadian Coast Guard, and studying the search and rescue and response capabilities in both official languages, by doing—

Can you give me a moment, Mr. Chair? I'll just—

[The Chair, Liberal, Ken McDonald]

That's no problem. We'll suspend for a minute so you can get your thoughts together and we will come right back.

[The Chair, Liberal, Ken McDonald]

We're back. Is that sufficient time, Madame Desbiens?

[Caroline Desbiens, Bloc, Beauport—Côte-de-Beaupré—Île d’Orléans—Charlevoix, QC]

We must remain optimistic, Mr. Chair. We'll get there.

[The Chair, Liberal, Ken McDonald]

Go ahead whenever you're ready.

[Caroline Desbiens, Bloc, Beauport—Côte-de-Beaupré—Île d’Orléans—Charlevoix, QC]

I'm moving an amendment to the third paragraph of the proposed motion.

[The Chair, Liberal, Ken McDonald]

You can't amend your own amendment. You can withdraw your amendment. You can ask for permission to withdraw your original amendment and introduce a new one. Is that what you want to do?

[Caroline Desbiens, Bloc, Beauport—Côte-de-Beaupré—Île d’Orléans—Charlevoix, QC]

If I withdraw my amendment, do I lose the opportunity to move something else?

[The Chair, Liberal, Ken McDonald]

No.

[Caroline Desbiens, Bloc, Beauport—Côte-de-Beaupré—Île d’Orléans—Charlevoix, QC]

Okay.

In that case, let me withdraw my amendment and move a new one.

Does everyone agree with this?

[The Chair, Liberal, Ken McDonald]

Now I will ask for the consent of the committee to allow you to withdraw your amendment and introduce a new one.

I see we all have thumbs-up. It's back to you, Madame Desbiens.

[Caroline Desbiens, Bloc, Beauport—Côte-de-Beaupré—Île d’Orléans—Charlevoix, QC]

I move an amendment that pertains to the third paragraph of the motion: “examining the Canadian Coast Guard's search and rescue capabilities and response rates, and studying the service capabilities in both official languages.”

[The Chair, Liberal, Ken McDonald]

We've all heard the amendment.

Mr. Hardie, you have your hand up.

[Ken Hardie, Liberal, Fleetwood—Port Kells, BC]

I do, Mr. Chair.

The amendment as just proposed would focus that whole examination on service in both official languages, but I believe the examination was meant to be much broader than that. I'm wondering. I have alternative wording. I'm doing some wordsmithing here. I don't know if it's appropriate that I introduce that now and suggest it perhaps as a friendly amendment to Ms. Desbiens.

[The Chair, Liberal, Ken McDonald]

No, it has to be a subamendment or you have to talk to the amendment as proposed.

[Ken Hardie, Liberal, Fleetwood—Port Kells, BC]

The amendment as proposed, as I say, could be taken as limiting the examination to only the language issue, but it's certainly meant to be much more than that.

[The Chair, Liberal, Ken McDonald]

Are you actually proposing a subamendment?

[Ken Hardie, Liberal, Fleetwood—Port Kells, BC]

I am, yes. You can decide for me if it's appropriate as a subamendment.

I would have that paragraph read as follows: “examining the Canadian Coast Guard's search and rescue capabilities, including service in both official languages and response rates”, etc.

[The Chair, Liberal, Ken McDonald]

Your subamendment is adding the word “including”.

[Ken Hardie, Liberal, Fleetwood—Port Kells, BC]

It would not include what Ms. Desbiens was proposing. Instead it would change the amendment to read as I indicated.

[The Chair, Liberal, Ken McDonald]

Now we're speaking to the subamendment.

Go ahead, Mr. Perkins.