Government Operations Committee on June 12th, 2023

[The Chair, Conservative, Kelly McCauley]

It was clause 23. We did clause 22 and then we did clause 23.

[Majid Jowhari, Liberal, Richmond Hill, ON]

We did amendment G-9 [Inaudible—Editor] and we had to do the clause.

[The Chair, Conservative, Kelly McCauley]

We did clause 23.

[Greg Fergus, Liberal, Hull—Aylmer, QC]

My apologies, then. I will let the record show that I misvoted on clause 23. I would have voted, again, to negate it.

I thought that was the vote we had.

[The Chair, Conservative, Kelly McCauley]

We did that.

[Greg Fergus, Liberal, Hull—Aylmer, QC]

Then on clause 24—

[The Chair, Conservative, Kelly McCauley]

We just voted on clause 24.

[Greg Fergus, Liberal, Hull—Aylmer, QC]

Okay. I'm sorry.

For some reason, I think I had an extra vote in there.

[The Chair, Conservative, Kelly McCauley]

I understand where the confusion is probably coming from. It looked like we were just going to carry clause 24 on division, but we say for every single one that we're going to do a recorded vote.

Clause 24 is carried, Madam Clerk.

[The Clerk of the Committee, Ms. Aimée Belmore]

Yes, sir.

(On clause 25)

[The Chair, Conservative, Kelly McCauley]

Mr. Fergus, did you want to address clause 25?

[Greg Fergus, Liberal, Hull—Aylmer, QC]

Yes.

I recommend that we overlap this so that we can avoid duplication. It prevents overlap with the recourse mechanisms for reprisals. That's why I think we should be negating this clause. As I said earlier, what will happen if we don't is that we will have different bodies producing different results with different answers in terms of what will happen if people decide to pursue two or three different recourse mechanisms.

That's the reason we'd vote against it.

[The Chair, Conservative, Kelly McCauley]

Does anyone else wish to address the clause?

Shall clause 25 carry?

We'll have a recorded vote, ma'am.

(Clause 25 negatived: nays 8; yeas 2)

(On clause 26)

[The Chair, Conservative, Kelly McCauley]

We're at amendment G-10, which is on page 32 of the handout.

Mr. Fergus.

[Greg Fergus, Liberal, Hull—Aylmer, QC]

To make this more consistent with previous decisions, we want to add the following concept:

“on the basis of reasonable belief”.

Once again, this will reduce the burden.

[The Chair, Conservative, Kelly McCauley]

Thanks, Mr. Fergus.

It looks like we're ready to go to a vote.

Shall G-10 carry?

(Amendment agreed to: yeas 10; nays 0 [See Minutes of Proceedings])

We now go to amendment LIB-9, which is on page 32.1.

Mr. Jowhari, you're on.

[Majid Jowhari, Liberal, Richmond Hill, ON]

Thank you, Mr. Chair.

This is an amendment to clause 26. We are suggesting that we add, after line 24 on page 8, the following:

(4) If the Commissioner refuses to deal with a disclosure or to commence an investigation, he or she must provide the person who made the disclosure with information on the most appropriate procedures for dealing with the disclosure.

Many times we heard in the past there was no guidance provided as a next step. We think this is a good amendment.

[The Chair, Conservative, Kelly McCauley]

Ms. Vignola.

[Julie Vignola, Bloc, Beauport—Limoilou, QC]

I think LIB‑9 is similar to LIB‑8. Since we passed LIB‑8, does LIB‑9 become null and void? It depends how you understand it.

[Majid Jowhari, Liberal, Richmond Hill, ON]

Thank you.

We actually replaced LIB-8 with G-7.1.

[The Chair, Conservative, Kelly McCauley]

LIB-8 was withdrawn.

[Majid Jowhari, Liberal, Richmond Hill, ON]

Yes, it was withdrawn and it was replaced by LIB-7.1.

[Julie Vignola, Bloc, Beauport—Limoilou, QC]

It was therefore replaced by LIB‑7.1. Okay.

[Majid Jowhari, Liberal, Richmond Hill, ON]

Yes.

[The Chair, Conservative, Kelly McCauley]

Are you ready to vote on LIB-9, colleagues?

(Amendment agreed to: yeas 10; nays 0 [See Minutes of Proceedings])

(Clause 26 as amended agreed to: yeas 10; nays 0)

(On clause 27)

Mr. Fergus, do you wish to address it?