Fisheries Committee on Jan. 20th, 2022

[Rick Perkins, Conservative, South Shore—St. Margarets, NS]

I was going to propose some clarifying language too. I wonder if I could do that without formally proposing it.

Speaking to Mr. Hardie's subamendment, I think it suggests that what we're trying to get at here is that it's about the search and rescue capabilities—that's the original part—as well as response times and the ability of the Coast Guard to respond to the mariner in the official language of their choice. I think that's what we're trying to get at. I think what we're getting hung up on is this issue of studying the official languages capacity overall in either the act or the Coast Guard. As I understood Ms. Desbiens' original thing, it was really about the ability to respond in the language that the mariner wants to communicate in, unless I have that wrong.

[The Chair, Liberal, Ken McDonald]

No, I think you have it right. I see Madame Desbiens is shaking her head to indicate that you have it right as well.

Right now we have a subamendment from Mr. Hardie, unless Mr. Hardie wants to withdraw it. Madame Desbiens would then withdraw her written motion as moved and include it as you've said, Mr. Perkins. I don't know, but right now, we have to deal with Mr. Hardie's subamendment.

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

I'm neither here nor there on it. I believe that the amendment I proposed simplifies everything. It includes the notion that the capabilities must include service in both official languages. That was the intent of the subamendment.

If people want to give me a thumbs-down on that, I'll withdraw it. How's that?

[The Chair, Liberal, Ken McDonald]

Okay.

Mr. Cormier has his hand up to speak to the subamendment.

[Serge Cormier, Liberal, Acadie—Bathurst, NB]

Mrs. Desbiens, I'll try to reassure you.

I think that Mr. Hardie's subamendment falls in line with what we want to do. As a French speaker, I want to make sure that services are provided in both official languages. I think that Mr. Hardie's subamendment accomplishes this. It's somewhat similar to your proposed amendment, Mrs. Desbiens, but it's more specific.

Through the amendment, we want to ensure that the services provided by the Coast Guard are available in both official languages. I think that this falls in line with what you said. I think that the two movers can agree on this. Personally, I think that Mr. Hardie's subamendment covers all this.

[The Chair, Liberal, Ken McDonald]

Mr. Morrissey, you have your hand up. Is it to speak to the subamendment?

[Bobby Morrissey, Liberal, Egmont, PE]

Yes.

I agree with Mr. Cormier. Mr. Hardie's subamendment addresses the issue that Mr. Perkins raised and deals with the issue that Madame Desbiens is raising. Clearly, it says it does not stray into other areas. It makes it clear that in looking at this aspect, the study would also examine the Coast Guard's capability to respond to the mariner in both languages. We do not need it to be any more complex than Mr. Hardie's subamendment addresses.

[The Chair, Liberal, Ken McDonald]

I'm not seeing any other discussion on the subamendment. Can we vote on it?

(Subamendment agreed to [See Minutes of Proceedings])

The subamendment as presented by Mr. Hardie is accepted. Now we're discussing the amended motion as a subamendment.

(Amendment as amended agreed to on division [See Minutes of Proceedings])

[Mike Kelloway, Liberal, Cape Breton—Canso, NS]

Mr. Chair, the clerk is trying to get your attention, I believe.

[The Chair, Liberal, Ken McDonald]

Yes, I'm trying to unmute.

Go ahead, Tina.

[The Clerk]

Thank you, Mr. Chair.

The committee has adopted the subamendment of Mr. Hardie. Procedurally, we moved to the amended amendment of Madame Desbiens, so at this time, we're missing the vote on the motion as amended.

[The Chair, Liberal, Ken McDonald]

Okay. I thought we voted twice. That's my mistake. Now we'll ask for—

Mr. Morrissey, you have your hand up.

[Bobby Morrissey, Liberal, Egmont, PE]

Could we read back the motion, with the amendment, that we will now be voting on? I'm not clear on it.

Could the clerk read back what we are voting on this time, please?

[The Clerk]

Mr. Chair, do you want me to read the motion in its entirety, or the paragraph that's being amended?

[The Chair, Liberal, Ken McDonald]

The paragraph that's being amended will be fine for everyone, I think.

[The Clerk]

The third paragraph in the motion of Mr. Perkins is:

examining the Canadian Coast Guard's search and rescue capabilities, including service in both official languages and response rates.

The rest of the motiont then continues.

[The Chair, Liberal, Ken McDonald]

Okay, so what happens to the amendment of Madame Desbiens that she added at the end? We didn't remove that. We just added an amendment from Mr. Hardie.

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

Mr. Chair, I believe I indicated that my subamendment would remove Madame Desbiens' wording and substitute what I had suggested. That passed. The paragraph in question has now been amended. That was accepted by the committee. I believe we are now on the main motion.

[The Chair, Liberal, Ken McDonald]

Okay. That's where we'll go with it, if everyone is in favour and if that's the proper thing to do.

Go ahead, Tina.

[The Clerk]

Thank you, Mr. Chair.

This is on the main motion as amended.

(Motion as amended agreed to: yeas 11; nays 0 [See Minutes of Proceedings])

[The Chair, Liberal, Ken McDonald]

Mr. Kelloway, you have your hand up, but you are on mute.

[Mike Kelloway, Liberal, Cape Breton—Canso, NS]

You'd think that after almost three years, I'd get used to taking the mute off and putting the mute on.

I'm looking to make a motion with respect to a study. Is it possible to do that now?

[The Chair, Liberal, Ken McDonald]

All right. You'll have to make it quick. We're supposed to have the last half hour for scheduling.

[Mike Kelloway, Liberal, Cape Breton—Canso, NS]

Very well.

The motion is as follows: "That pursuant to Standing Order 108(2), the committee undertake a study to examine the impact of climate change on our oceans and the role oceans can play in carbon sequestering; that the committee meet for no less than six meetings in relation to the study; that each party send a list of witnesses, by priority, including contact information, to the clerk of the committee; that the committee report its findings to the House; and that pursuant to Standing Order 109, the government table a comprehensive study.”

[The Chair, Liberal, Ken McDonald]

Mr. Kelloway, has this been sent to the clerk in both official languages and distributed?