Government Operations Committee on Dec. 16th, 2021

[The Chair, Conservative, Robert Gordon Kitchen]

Likewise for Mr. Jowhari. I see your hand's down, Mr. Jowhari.

We will wait until we get that amendment distributed. Just hold on, everyone, please.

[The Clerk]

Mr. Chair, the amendment has been distributed to the members. You may continue with the debate.

[The Chair, Conservative, Robert Gordon Kitchen]

Thank you.

I'll give people just a minute to read that.

Mr. Paul-Hus, perhaps you could just clarify where you would like that put in the motion, so we know exactly where it sits.

[The Clerk]

Mr. Chair, my understanding is that the text of Mr. Paul-Hus, which was distributed, would be added to the end of the motion.

Is that right, Mr. Paul‑Hus?

[Pierre Paul-Hus, Conservative, Charlesbourg—Haute-Saint-Charles, QC]

Yes, exactly.

[The Chair, Conservative, Robert Gordon Kitchen]

Thank you for that clarification.

I hope everyone has had a chance to read the amendment that's being proposed. We will have a discussion on it at this point in time.

Mr. Kusmierczyk.

[Irek Kusmierczyk, Liberal, Windsor—Tecumseh, ON]

I apologize. I have a comment on the motion, not on the amendment.

[The Chair, Conservative, Robert Gordon Kitchen]

Is there any further discussion on the amendment?

Mr. Housefather, you just raised your hand. Is that correct?

[Anthony Housefather, Liberal, Mount Royal, QC]

Yes, Mr. Chair.

I would like to have slightly more time to read it. It just arrived in my inbox.

[The Chair, Conservative, Robert Gordon Kitchen]

Okay. We will give you a minute or two then.

Everyone, we will hold off for a bit.

How are we doing, Mr. Housefather? Are you good?

[Anthony Housefather, Liberal, Mount Royal, QC]

Yes, Mr. Chair.

[The Chair, Conservative, Robert Gordon Kitchen]

For my own clarification, too, Mr. Paul-Hus, in your discussion of the amendment you were talking about the change from “come from Quebec and/or Canadian companies”.

Was that correct? Is it just changing that wording? I wanted to be clear that this was part of your amendment as well.

[The Clerk]

Mr. Chair, if I may, I had an opportunity to confer with Mr. Paul-Hus and clarified this.

He suggests removing the words “Quebec and/or” before the word “Canadian”, so it would read as “come from Canadian companies”. The same change would be made in the French.

Then he is proposing as well adding the text that was distributed to the members of the committee a few moments ago.

Thank you.

[The Chair, Conservative, Robert Gordon Kitchen]

Thank you, Mr. Clerk.

Again, I wanted that clarification so that everyone would understand this. Everyone, hopefully, heard the part that we would remove “Quebec and/or”. It would say “from Canadian companies” and then the added part you have all received.

With that said, Mr. Housefather, I see your hand is up.

[Anthony Housefather, Liberal, Mount Royal, QC]

Mr. Chair, in order to reach a consensus in the committee, we could say “Canadian companies, including those from Quebec” so that Quebec is referred to.

Obviously, Quebec companies are also Canadian. In English, we would say: “Canadian companies, including those from Quebec.” In French, we would say: “les entreprises canadiennes, y inclus celles du Québec.” I believe that this would be closer to what Ms. Vignola wanted and that it would allow for a consensus.

We could see what Mr. Paul‑Hus proposes.

Thank you.

[The Chair, Conservative, Robert Gordon Kitchen]

Thank you, Mr. Housefather.

I see Ms. Vignola's hand is up.

Mr. Paul-Hus, are you comfortable with what Mr. Housefather has said on that?

[Pierre Paul-Hus, Conservative, Charlesbourg—Haute-Saint-Charles, QC]

I think that the clerk wants to talk to you.

[The Clerk]

Mr. Chair, if I could intervene just to clarify—

[The Chair, Conservative, Robert Gordon Kitchen]

Does this have to be a subamendment?

[The Clerk]

I was asking if Mr. Housefather is effectively moving a subamendment and could I get the text of what he plans to move, or if he is asking for unanimous consent for Mr. Paul-Hus to amend his original amendment.

I just want to know what Mr. Housefather—

[Anthony Housefather, Liberal, Mount Royal, QC]

I was not proposing a subamendment. I was suggesting to Mr. Paul-Hus that this wording may be preferable to Madame Vignola's and that we may have a consensus on it if he used it. It's totally up to him how he words the amendment.

Thank you.

[Pierre Paul-Hus, Conservative, Charlesbourg—Haute-Saint-Charles, QC]

I would like to say something, Mr. Chair.

I have no problem with that. Of course, we'll be delighted to see in Ottawa the Quebec companies that manufacture masks, if there are any such companies, or companies from other parts of Canada. It doesn't matter.

The important thing is to get rid of the masks that come from abroad.

Thank you.

[The Clerk]

Mr. Chair, I apologize for intervening again.

Mr. Housefather, could I just get the text of what you had suggested? It went by a little fast for me. I do apologize for that.

What were you suggesting?

[Anthony Housefather, Liberal, Mount Royal, QC]

I was suggesting that we say “Canadian companies, including those from Quebec”.

In French, we would say: “les entreprises canadiennes, y inclus celles du Québec.”

[The Clerk]

Thank you very much. I appreciate that.

Thank you, Mr. Chair.