Evidence of meeting #1 for Fisheries and Oceans in the 45th Parliament, 1st session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was arnold.
A recording is available from Parliament.
Bloc
Alexis Deschênes Bloc Gaspésie—Les Îles-de-la-Madeleine—Listuguj, QC
What is the unanimous consent for, exactly? Is it for that motion or to move into committee business?
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Patrick Weiler
Unanimous consent is being sought in relation to Mr. Arnold's motion.
Bloc
Alexis Deschênes Bloc Gaspésie—Les Îles-de-la-Madeleine—Listuguj, QC
I propose going into committee business, as was moved, to debate my motion, for which the opposition is proposing amendments, as well as that of my colleague and those of the party in power. Either we decide to give notice of those motions or we talk about them later. We shouldn't set one aside to deal with another.
Liberal
Serge Cormier Liberal Acadie—Bathurst, NB
Mr. Chair, I'd like to clarify something for Mr. Deschênes.
Our colleague Mr. Arnold moved a motion to invite the minister and the officials. Then, he proposed that we move into committee business so that we can approve the motion through a vote. What we are now proposing is to adopt the motion through unanimous consent, since we agree on the proposal.
Bloc
Alexis Deschênes Bloc Gaspésie—Les Îles-de-la-Madeleine—Listuguj, QC
What I understand is that my motion will simply be put on notice while the others will have already been debated. I'm worried about it getting to be a little too late in the process. If we're adopting substantive motions, let's do so for all the motions that have been proposed. If not, let's give notice of all the motions, and we'll come back to determine the order.
Liberal
Liberal
Serge Cormier Liberal Acadie—Bathurst, NB
Mr. Chair, I'd like to clarify something for Mr. Deschênes. Each member chooses to table a motion or simply give notice, so it was up to Mr. Deschênes to clarify whether he was giving notice of his motion or proposing it. Mr. Deschênes' intervention was considered a notice of motion, but Mr. Arnold proceeded differently. That may not be the case, but that's my understanding. Mr. Arnold's motion was different from Mr. Deschênes'. Mr. Deschênes gave notice of his motion, whereas Mr. Arnold moved his.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Patrick Weiler
Just to clarify, the one that was passed unanimously was not a notice of motion. The other ones were notices of motion.
Bloc
Alexis Deschênes Bloc Gaspésie—Les Îles-de-la-Madeleine—Listuguj, QC
In that case, I don't give my consent to adopt this motion.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Patrick Weiler
With that, there's a motion to go into committee business. That was put forward by Mr. Arnold. Do we have agreement around the table to go into committee business?
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Patrick Weiler
Okay. We'll go into committee business.
I have Mr. Morrissey and then Mr. Arnold.
Liberal
Liberal
Bobby Morrissey Liberal Egmont, PE
Then, Chair, I wish to move the following motion, which has been circulated. It's the return of the Fisheries Act to the committee.
I believe the clerk has the notice, Mr. Clerk, given that we're now in committee business.
Again, Clerk, this is a study that we began in the last Parliament. This would be moving for the committee to adopt the resumption of the study.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Patrick Weiler
Mr. Morrissey, you've moved this motion. Members should have this in their email, and of course we have a hard copy that's being circulated. I don't know if you want to say anything else to it at this time.
Liberal
Bobby Morrissey Liberal Egmont, PE
No. It speaks for itself, Mr. Chair. If the committee adopts it, it's moving the study of Fisheries Act back to the committee for continuing consideration.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Patrick Weiler
Thank you very much, Mr. Morrissey. With that, we can open it up for debate if any members would like to say anything to this motion.
Go ahead, Mr. Small.
Conservative
Clifford Small Conservative Central Newfoundland, NL
Thank you, Chair.
I'm wondering what Mr. Morrissey's thoughts are on the witnesses. Will we be opening up new invitations to new witnesses or going back to the original witness list?
Liberal
Bobby Morrissey Liberal Egmont, PE
Mr. Chair, as usual, that would be entirely up to the direction of the committee. When it is considering this, the committee can go in any direction it chooses with a majority decision at any time. If it's the wish of the committee to add more witnesses, that would be considered.
It is the Fisheries Act, as I stated. We had significant witness appearances on it, but it would be up to the majority of the committee when the bill comes back from the House, Mr. Chair.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Patrick Weiler
Thank you very much, Mr. Morrissey.
Is there anybody else who would like to weigh in on the debate?
Go ahead, Mr. Klassen.
Liberal
Ernie Klassen Liberal South Surrey—White Rock, BC
This is just for clarification, since there are some new members here and we weren't part of hearing any of the witnesses speaking.
I'm not sure how that impacts how we would be voting, for example, as we do not have all of the history in front of us at this point. Could we get some clarification on that?
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Patrick Weiler
Sure. I can mention that in the fall, we probably had four meetings on that. We had a number of meetings in the fall as a prestudy for the review of the Fisheries Act. A number of witnesses from across the country appeared as part of that.
We didn't finish that study. I forget how many meetings we still had to go. This would be a continuation of what was started in the fall, although because it's a new session after prorogation, we would have to start from the beginning.
Go ahead, Mr. Morrissey.
Liberal
Bobby Morrissey Liberal Egmont, PE
Chair, the committee could simply adopt by unanimity bringing forward the testimony and the witnesses who were already on the record. Am I correct?
I am, yes.
Then again, to go back to Mr. Small's question, as in any study, the committee can always choose to amend the witness list and extend it, or not, at the will of the committee majority at any time.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Patrick Weiler
Thank you, Mr. Morrissey.
Unless there's anybody else who would like to say anything about this, we can move to a vote.
(Motion agreed to [See Minutes of Proceedings])
Go ahead, Mr. Arnold.