Evidence of meeting #57 for Procedure and House Affairs in the 39th Parliament, 1st Session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was witnesses.
A recording is available from Parliament.
Noon
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Gary Goodyear
Colleagues, we'll just take a break for a minute and a half until we rewrite this motion.
Noon
An hon. member
Are we rewriting the motion—
Noon
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Gary Goodyear
We're going to try to rewrite the motion and we'll discuss it with you guys, and then we'll come back. Hopefully we'll get a speedy agreement on this.
12:10 p.m.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Gary Goodyear
Colleagues, we're back in meeting. My apologies, we decided to work on the translated form as well.
I'm going to have the clerk read the amended motion--and subamended amended motion--but if you listen carefully, you will hear that we have included in the motion the opportunity for witnesses to appear. So the offer of one more opportunity should take care of this business of witnesses going on forever.
As well, there is mention in the motion of extra meetings, if necessary, so that clause-by-clause is completed and the report is tabled even if the House is not sitting.
Having said all that, I'll ask the clerk to read the amendment in both English and French.
Lucile.
12:10 p.m.
The Clerk of the Committee Ms. Lucile McGregor
The motion you have before you is the motion of Mr. Owen. That was circulated.
The amendment by Mr. Guimond is that the motion be amended by deleting all the words after “until”, and substituting the following therefor:
it has given an opportunity for representatives from Equal Voice, financial institutions, and political parties represented in the House to appear, but that clause-by-clause of Bill C-54 be completed no later than Friday, June 22, and that the Committee agree to meet even if the House has adjourned.
As regards the French, I would amend it by removing all the words after “témoignage”. It would read as follows:
Que le Comité retarde l'étude article par article du projet de loi C-54 jusqu'à ce qu’il ait donné l’occasion de comparaître aux représentants de À voix égales, des institutions financières et des partis politiques à la Chambre, mais que cette étude article par article soit terminée au plus tard le vendredi 22 juin et que le Comité convienne de se réunir même si la Chambre s’ajourne.
12:10 p.m.
NDP
Yvon Godin NDP Acadie—Bathurst, NB
The last part of the motion as amended says that we are going to finish the clause-by-clause study on June 22, but it does not specify that we are going to report to the House that day.
12:10 p.m.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Gary Goodyear
Members, could you just comment to the chair? Now I've lost the conversation.
Monsieur Godin, what were you saying? I'm sorry, sir.
12:10 p.m.
NDP
Yvon Godin NDP Acadie—Bathurst, NB
I asked how that could happen if the House is sitting. So we're talking about if it's not sitting.
12:10 p.m.
The Clerk
In English or in French?
12:10 p.m.
The Clerk
The last part reads:
that clause-by-clause of Bill C-54 be completed no later than Friday, June 22, and that the committee agree to meet even if the House has adjourned.
12:10 p.m.
Bloc
Michel Guimond Bloc Montmorency—Charlevoix—Haute-Côte-Nord, QC
What is the meaning of “be completed”?
12:10 p.m.
Conservative
12:10 p.m.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Gary Goodyear
No, not including tabled. It's just ready to be tabled--that clause-by-clause be completed, that the bill be ready to be tabled in the House, by me.
In terms of extending our meetings, we can immediately go to three-hour meetings and have lunch for Thursday, next Tuesday, and next Thursday. If necessary, we can have one and potentially two additional meetings between now and then.
I think we can do it. That's what it means by additional meetings. But the bill, clause-by-clause, would be finished no later than June 22, ready to be tabled.
Mr. Godin.
12:10 p.m.
NDP
Yvon Godin NDP Acadie—Bathurst, NB
Okay, but my question is when is it going to be tabled? Not in the fall, then.
12:10 p.m.
The Clerk
That depends on whether the House has risen or not. According to accepted practice, the House can pass an order allowing committees to table a report with the clerk. It is called tabling by the back door. If there is no order from the House, the report cannot be tabled in that way.
If it is possible, it is done after clause-by-clause study is finished. The chair can submit it to the clerk. If not, it has to wait until the first day of the session in September.
12:15 p.m.
NDP
Yvon Godin NDP Acadie—Bathurst, NB
I do not want to prolong the meeting, but I would like things to be clear. Can we not say that we would like to submit it to the House even if the House has adjourned?
12:15 p.m.
The Clerk
No.
12:15 p.m.
NDP
Yvon Godin NDP Acadie—Bathurst, NB
So can you explain to me the process we need to follow in order to table a report in the House when it is not sitting?
12:15 p.m.
The Clerk
For this kind of bill, the House has to pass a specific order permitting reports to be tabled in the House after it has adjourned. Some reports can be tabled under an act or a regulation, but that is not the case here.
12:15 p.m.
Conservative