Evidence of meeting #34 for Foreign Affairs and International Development in the 39th Parliament, 2nd Session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was reasonable.
A recording is available from Parliament.
5:35 p.m.
Liberal
Bob Rae Liberal Toronto Centre, ON
There are two issues. First, if we want to finish considering this, we could extend our time. I do want to get to this NAFTAgate thing. I want to talk about my motion at some point.
5:35 p.m.
Liberal
5:35 p.m.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Kevin Sorenson
We've accepted the amendment. Are we ready to vote for the motion as amended?
Okay, the motion is carried....
5:35 p.m.
NDP
Paul Dewar NDP Ottawa Centre, ON
No, no, Mr. Chair, just to be fair here, I think there was some confusion.
5:35 p.m.
Ottawa Centre, NDP
Yes.
I think there was a desire to amend that amended motion, simply to change the timeline, as you all know. And that's perfectly fine.
5:35 p.m.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Kevin Sorenson
All right, except this then becomes a debatable motion.
What's the amendment, then?
5:35 p.m.
Bloc
Vivian Barbot Bloc Papineau, QC
The amendment calls for us to report back before the end of the session.
5:35 p.m.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Kevin Sorenson
Madame Barbot has made the suggestion that we include “by the end of the session”.
5:35 p.m.
An hon. member
Which session?
5:35 p.m.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Kevin Sorenson
That's a very good point. The session may end in December. The session doesn't necessarily end in June.
5:35 p.m.
An hon. member
We could say “before the House rises for the summer”.
5:35 p.m.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Kevin Sorenson
That may not be reasonable, then, so that goes against the whole spirit of the--
5:35 p.m.
Bloc
Vivian Barbot Bloc Papineau, QC
Then the government should simply respond that this is not possible, Mr. Chairman. I don't understand. This committee always acts as if the government was present and answering our questions. We're not asking for an immediate answer. We pass the motions that we want to pass. The government can always argue that it is not prepared to provide a response at this time, or it can say nothing at all. That is precisely what it has been doing for the past year, as far as this matter is concerned. Don't tell me that this motion is out of order.
5:35 p.m.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Kevin Sorenson
Well, the point is that when we've just passed an amendment that says we'll provide a response in a reasonable time, and now we say that a reasonable time, by the way, is within two weeks—
5:35 p.m.
Bloc
Vivian Barbot Bloc Papineau, QC
Mr. Chairman, before we adopted the motion, Mr. Dewar clearly said that we would adopt it and amend it. That's what he said.
5:35 p.m.
Liberal
Bob Rae Liberal Toronto Centre, ON
This is crazy. We either vote it up or down. Let's just get on with it. It just doesn't make sense.
5:35 p.m.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Kevin Sorenson
That's the point. I think Mr. Emerson the other night was very clear that he is willing to come, and he wants to. And he will respond. There will be a response. The government has said that they will then go along with that.
I don't know what timeline the new minister has on this, but I can tell you, he was very clear that he was willing to do this, and he is. But now we're saying a reasonable time, for us, is two weeks. I think that's beyond—
I know you're saying it goes back a year.
5:35 p.m.
Liberal
5:35 p.m.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Kevin Sorenson
Well, no, but that's what you're saying.
I will now entertain the vote on the amendment. If you want to go with Madame Barbot's amendment, we will vote, but we will not be voting on the motion today. Our times are up. So we either have a vote on Madame Barbot's amendment, including “by the end of the session”, or we—
Mr. Goldring.
