Evidence of meeting #1 for Government Operations and Estimates in the 44th Parliament, 1st Session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was amendment.
A recording is available from Parliament.
1:05 p.m.
Liberal
Majid Jowhari Liberal Richmond Hill, ON
Thank you, Mr. Chair.
I just want to reassure Ms. Vignola that nobody is trying to push back, and we are not trying filibuster.
We are trying to make sure that we work in a very collaborative way so that the motion that's going to get the unanimous support of this committee is really well-thought-through. That's all we are asking, and I—
1:05 p.m.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Robert Gordon Kitchen
I'm sorry for interrupting, Mr. Jowhari.
Unfortunately, our phone lines have dropped, and we have to reset those.
We're going to have to suspend just briefly. I apologize for interrupting you, Mr. Jowhari, but the phone lines are down, so we will just suspend for a couple of minutes while we try to get the phone lines back up.
1:05 p.m.
Liberal
Majid Jowhari Liberal Richmond Hill, ON
Mr. Chair, we are already past one o'clock, which is the regular time of this committee, but that's fine.
1:05 p.m.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Robert Gordon Kitchen
Hopefully we will be able to get this done as quickly as possible, but if not, we can continue without the phone lines. It's up to the committee if they'd like to do that.
Is the committee okay with our continuing without the phone lines? We don't know how long it would take to bring them back.
I'm seeing no nods against, so let us continue.
I'm sorry, Mr. Jowhari, go ahead.
1:05 p.m.
Liberal
Majid Jowhari Liberal Richmond Hill, ON
As I was saying, we appreciate the motion and its intent. We totally support making sure that all of our Canadian manufacturers are considered first and foremost.
The fact that we are having this much conversation about this motion in itself is evidence that we really need to take a step back and look at the content of the motion to to ensure that, once passed by this committee, it has teeth and can benefit us.
I suggest that we consider this as a notice of the motion, and, in the spirit of collaboration, we will go back and work with all members to ensure that we have a motion that's agreeable to all that we could table on the first meeting we come back and that it will have unanimous support of all the team members.
Thank you, Mr. Chair.
1:05 p.m.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Robert Gordon Kitchen
Just hold on for a second, Mr. Jowhari, while I figure this out. To my understanding, what you're proposing is that the motions be withdrawn.
1:05 p.m.
Liberal
Majid Jowhari Liberal Richmond Hill, ON
Yes, I'm proposing that we withdraw the motion. Consider it as a notice of motion, along with all of the amendments proposed, so that everybody, all of the team members, are in a position to be able to table a lot of notices of motion. In the spirit of not wanting to reject this motion, we want to make sure it's considered as a notice of motion. It should go to the subcommittee on procedure to be studied and modified, so that we can come back to support it in January.
1:10 p.m.
NDP
Gord Johns NDP Courtenay—Alberni, BC
Mr. Chair, I can support that if the priority is that this be the first motion that we bring back to this committee to discuss. Does that sound reasonable?
1:10 p.m.
NDP
Gord Johns NDP Courtenay—Alberni, BC
I'll wait for Ms. Vignola to give her feedback on that suggestion.
1:10 p.m.
Conservative
1:10 p.m.
NDP
Gord Johns NDP Courtenay—Alberni, BC
The spirit of your motion is fabulous. It's critical, and we need to show leadership here at this committee.
1:10 p.m.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Robert Gordon Kitchen
In order for us to do that, we would need unanimous consent to withdraw this motion at this time in the understanding that we would bring it back.
Correct me if I'm wrong, Mr. Clerk, the amended motion would not be brought back, but the initial motion.
1:10 p.m.
The Clerk
Mr. Chair, it may be worth your while to clarify what the committee is actually.... Is the committee wishing to withdraw both motions, which is to say the motion proposed by Madame Vignola as amended, and the amendment proposed by Mr. Housefather, or just the amendment proposed by Mr. Housefather?
1:10 p.m.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Robert Gordon Kitchen
Okay. We want clarification as to whether it's the motion as amended or Mr. Housefather's....
Mr. Housefather's motion was actually withdrawn with consent.
1:10 p.m.
The Clerk
If I may, Mr. Chair, there was an amendment by Mr. Housefather, which was withdrawn.
1:10 p.m.
The Clerk
Subsequent to that he moved another.
If the committee is not interested in dealing with the issue today, it could decide to withdraw both the motions. Alternatively, the committee could also decide to adjourn the debate on it and pick up the debate, which would include Mr. Housefather's current amendment and the motion Madame Vignola has moved, which has already been amended.
It's entirely up to the committee. To withdraw either of the motions requires unanimous consent, and any member can propose to adjourn the debate if they so choose, or to adjourn the meeting.
Thank you.
1:10 p.m.
Conservative
1:10 p.m.
Liberal
Anthony Housefather Liberal Mount Royal, QC
Thank you so much, Mr. Chair. To again explain, I think the intention of what Mr. Jowhari was suggesting—and Mr. Johns, I believe—was that the core motion, the base motion, as well as any amendments to it be tabled to our first meeting when we are back in January, giving people the opportunity to discuss it in the interim and try to find a consensus so that we could adopt it, given that we, right now....
I want to clarify, Mr. Chair, that this motion doesn't just deal with the parliamentary precinct, but with all federal departments across the country, and we have no idea, again, what inventory is related to masks and hand sanitizer. Again, I accept Mr. Johns' addition if he proposes it.
I think the right motion, Mr. Chair, is that I move to table discussion on the motion as well as any amendments to the first meeting of the committee back in January. I think that's the right motion to put forward based on the clerk's advice.
1:10 p.m.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Robert Gordon Kitchen
Thank you, Mr. Housefather.
Just to correct this again, my understanding, Mr. Housefather, was that this was just with regard to the parliamentary precinct, but I may be misinterpreting that as well.
Ms. Vignola, would you clarify that as well?
1:10 p.m.
Bloc
Julie Vignola Bloc Beauport—Limoilou, QC
The French version of the motion refers to masks distributed on Parliament Hill and in various federal departments and agencies.
I suggest that we suspend the motion that I moved. That way, we can discuss it again as a priority at our first meeting. In the meantime, we can discuss it further, as we will at the next committee meeting.
As I said earlier, this is an important issue. It affects public health, our companies and our workers. It's inconceivable that federal employees are wearing masks manufactured outside Canada.
1:15 p.m.
Conservative
1:15 p.m.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Robert Gordon Kitchen
I am seeing agreement, and nothing against.
That said, the debate is adjourned, and we will bring this up at our next meeting in January. It will be first on the agenda.
Thank you, everybody. Have a good day. Merry Christmas and happy new year to you all.