Foreign Affairs Committee on Feb. 4th, 2021

[Michael Chong, Conservative, Wellington—Halton Hills, ON]

I have a point of order, Mr. Chair, just so that we're all on the same page.

My understanding is that you can't move a sub-subamendment.

[The Chair, Liberal, Sven Spengemann]

Let me just get the advice of the clerk on that, Mr. Chong.

[The Clerk of the Committee, Ms. Erica Pereira]

Thank you, Mr. Chair.

You can only have one subamendment at a time.

[The Chair, Liberal, Sven Spengemann]

Okay, I stand corrected.

Again, the two options are unanimous consent to replace Ms. McPherson's subamendment with Mr. Morantz's—but it does require UC—or a vote on the subamendment that Ms. McPherson proposed to the original motion.

[Rob Oliphant, Liberal, Don Valley West, ON]

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

I would say that we don't have unanimous consent because Ms. McPherson has not given it. Therefore, we are not able to deal with that, so I would ask the chair to move us into a concluding debate on the amendment that Ms. McPherson made. Then we can go afterwards.

It could be re-amended; it's just that you can't nest too many subamendments. You can revisit, but you can't do that—point made. I think we simply need to move on and go back to the amendment that Ms. McPherson made.

[The Chair, Liberal, Sven Spengemann]

Thank you very much, Mr. Oliphant.

Is it the committee's will to return to the discussion on the amendment?

I see that Mr. Genuis has his hand up.

Is it on that point?

[Garnett Genuis, Conservative, Sherwood Park—Fort Saskatchewan, AB]

I just have a very brief point. I don't want to hold this up. I agree with proceeding in that fashion.

I just want to say that we have to acknowledge that this is a very big deal. This is highly anti-Semitic material in educational materials that are being given to children in a conflict zone. Given the history, the idea that we would just take UNRWA's word for it.... At the very least, trust, but verify, right? We know what they said, and we can report what they said. I think that's the best way to proceed, but I think saying, “Oh, it's just a mistake,” misses the real significance and gravity of the implications of putting material like this in front of children. I think we're all supportive of the idea of engagement with the Palestinian people. When I was in the territories, I visited an UNRWA school, as well as a security lab funded by our previous government that facilitates security co-operation between the Palestinian Authority and the Israelis. There are opportunities to support engagement, but this is a very serious issue.

I'll leave it there. Thanks, Mr. Chair.

[The Chair, Liberal, Sven Spengemann]

Thank you, Mr. Genuis.

Can we then return to the discussion on Ms. McPherson's amendment? Are there any other points, or have we had a fulsome enough exchange of views to be able to vote on the amendment that she proposed?

[Marty Morantz, Conservative, Charleswood—St. James—Assiniboia—Headingley, MB]

I'm not sure how we would do this procedurally because I haven't been around long enough, so I'll take your word that we can't have sub-subamendments, but maybe it might be the word “claims” that's an issue. I'd be open, for example, to changing it to say “that UNRWA has stated was in error”. I think maybe the word “claims” could be interpreted to.... I can see how Ms. McPherson would be concerned that the word “claims” would bring into question the veracity of UNRWA's statement, so I'm just wondering if “stated was in error” would be satisfactory.

[The Chair, Liberal, Sven Spengemann]

Mr. Morantz, thank you for the idea. If that generates UC, then we could basically replace her amendment with that language and proceed with a vote on that, but it would have to draw unanimous consent from the committee.

We'll give Ms. McPherson that chance to respond in a minute, but can you just insert that into the entirety of the subamendment?

[Marty Morantz, Conservative, Charleswood—St. James—Assiniboia—Headingley, MB]

After the word “pandemic”, insert “which UNRWA has stated was in error”.

[The Chair, Liberal, Sven Spengemann]

What is the reaction from colleagues? Would that draw unanimous consent from the committee: to basically take that language and replace Ms. McPherson's amendment with it?

Ms. McPherson, do you want to comment on that?

[Heather McPherson, NDP, Edmonton Strathcona, AB]

I could live with it, but I would prefer my own, so I wouldn't give unanimous consent.

[The Chair, Liberal, Sven Spengemann]

Okay, this was just in the interest of time, colleagues.

I don't want to rush this. I think this is an important issue. We've had a fulsome exchange.

The next step, procedurally, would be to vote on Ms. McPherson's subamendment. Then there's always an opportunity to reinsert a further amendment after that.

Madam Clerk, if we could ask colleagues to hold thumbs up or down, we'll do a count.

[Stéphane Bergeron, Bloc, Montarville, QC]

Are we now voting on Ms. McPherson's amendment?

[The Chair, Liberal, Sven Spengemann]

Yes, exactly.

[The Clerk]

Mr. Chair, if it's okay with you, I'll proceed to a recorded vote, because that's what's indicated in the terms of the House motion.

[Rob Oliphant, Liberal, Don Valley West, ON]

Mr. Chair, I would like a recorded vote. This is too iffy.

[The Clerk]

The recorded vote is on the subamendment of Ms. McPherson.

(Subamendment agreed to: yeas 7; nays 4)

[The Chair, Liberal, Sven Spengemann]

That takes us back to the main motion.

[Marty Morantz, Conservative, Charleswood—St. James—Assiniboia—Headingley, MB]

Mr. Chair, I'd like to move a subamendment to the main motion.

[Michael Chong, Conservative, Wellington—Halton Hills, ON]

On a point of order, Mr. Chair, it doesn't carry us back to the main motion; it carries us back to the amendment.

[The Chair, Liberal, Sven Spengemann]

My apologies, Mr. Chong. That is correct.

Mr. Morantz.

[Marty Morantz, Conservative, Charleswood—St. James—Assiniboia—Headingley, MB]

I'd like to propose a subamendment to the main motion. After the word “pandemic”, add the words “UNRWA states was an error” between the word “pandemic” and the word “that”.

[The Chair, Liberal, Sven Spengemann]

Mr. Morantz, is this a subamendment to the main motion or to the amendment we just passed?