Government Operations Committee on June 20th, 2006

[The Chair, Liberal, Diane Marleau]

That's what we voted on, unfortunately.

[Chris Warkentin, Conservative, Peace River, AB]

I did read the “as amended” when I tabled it.

[The Chair, Liberal, Diane Marleau]

Mr. Bonin, we're discussing whether we will withdraw the whole thing, but we need unanimous consent to do that. If we don't have unanimous consent, then we're not going anywhere.

Monsieur Bonin.

[Raymond Bonin, Liberal, Nickel Belt, ON]

Madame Chair, if we are to reconsider this, and I agree that we should, at least I need to know the intent of Mr. Walkerton. Was the intent, Mr. Walkerton, to remove the 25-75 jobs? Was that your intent, to remove that?

[Chris Warkentin, Conservative, Peace River, AB]

It's Warkentin, not Walkerton where the water crisis happened. Ever since that happened I've been Walkerton, but it's Warkentin.

[Raymond Bonin, Liberal, Nickel Belt, ON]

Okay, Chris.

[Chris Warkentin, Conservative, Peace River, AB]

Moving on from that, it certainly wasn't my intent. Because of the parameters Public Works has put forward, I believe jobs follow real estate. My belief was that having a tangible asset on both sides of the river would do what was intended in the motion: it would ensure a Canadian presence on both sides of the river, certainly for national unity's sake. That's where my motion comes from.

[The Chair, Liberal, Diane Marleau]

Are you suggesting we reconsider the motion that was passed?

[Chris Warkentin, Conservative, Peace River, AB]

I'm happy to table this tomorrow.

[The Chair, Liberal, Diane Marleau]

We're not back here tomorrow. Are you saying we will reconsider the motion that was passed, which was your motion? And if so, can I ask if we have unanimous consent to do that, to reconsider the motion that was passed, because obviously it was not your intention?

[Mike Wallace, Conservative, Burlington, ON]

Point of order. The reconsideration is that there will be some time for negotiations and it will be brought back on Thursday?

[The Chair, Liberal, Diane Marleau]

No. You either reconsider the motion or it stays as is. We can't have it both ways.

[Chris Warkentin, Conservative, Peace River, AB]

I'll leave it as is for now, until we have the next meeting dates and discussions to further this.

[Marcel Proulx, Liberal, Hull—Aylmer, QC]

Madam Chair, am I right in understanding...? According to the Standing Orders, we have voted on his amendment; it passed. We are now discussing my amendment. If we vote, and if my amendment is carried, then Mr. Warkentin's amendment would automatically fall and be replaced by mine.

[The Chair, Liberal, Diane Marleau]

Please, we'll ask the clerk to explain, because I'm not sure that's the case.

[The Clerk]

Mr. Proulx's amendment says that following the word “commitment” in Madame Thibault's motion, we add all this.

[Mike Wallace, Conservative, Burlington, ON]

So it's a replacement of what's there. It's not really clear that it's a replacement.

[The Clerk]

Yes, it says “following the word 'commitment'”.

[An hon. member]

We can't support that.

[The Clerk]

Then you would have to change the word “jobs” in Mr. Proulx's. Do you understand?

[Marcel Proulx, Liberal, Hull—Aylmer, QC]

I'm still on a point of order, Madam Chair.

My amendment does not talk of real estate; my amendment talks of jobs. Therefore, I repeat, if we accept my amendment as it is worded, the amendment we did for Mr. Warkentin falls off the table because it's deleted and replaced by mine.

[The Chair, Liberal, Diane Marleau]

I wanted to be absolutely sure, and that's why I asked the clerk to explain it, because I wasn't absolutely sure that was the intention. If it is, that's fine by me.

We're back on debate.

Mr. Bonin, did you speak already?

[Raymond Bonin, Liberal, Nickel Belt, ON]

No, but let me be clear. You are accepting Mr. Proulx's amendment?

[The Chair, Liberal, Diane Marleau]

The clerk tells us that his amendment will in effect throw out the other amendment.

[Raymond Bonin, Liberal, Nickel Belt, ON]

I support the amendment. That's all I have to say.