Evidence of meeting #32 for Procedure and House Affairs in the 41st Parliament, 2nd Session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was voting.
A video is available from Parliament.
NDP
Alexandrine Latendresse NDP Louis-Saint-Laurent, QC
Actually, I think it's important to explain why it was so important to us to put forward this motion.
The minster has said repeatedly that he wants to wait for the committee's proposed amendments to see what will happen. To my mind, providing all members of Parliament with an update on the committee's work, as well as a summary of what witnesses and experts appearing before us have said, is important in order to make this bill the best it can be.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Joe Preston
I have no one else on my speaking....
Sure, well, go for it, Mr. Christopherson.
NDP
David Christopherson NDP Hamilton Centre, ON
I have to say, I'm getting some indication from the government members that they're not going to support this. Now for all the blocks and challenges, and everything else that this government has done in terms of thwarting the work of this committee, real work, to vote against a summary of the testimony...? They have to be kidding, Chair. They have to be kidding.
I would like to hear one of the government members take the floor and defend publicly why we're not going to ask our analysts to give us a summary of the testimony? Are they going to speak?
Conservative
NDP
NDP
David Christopherson NDP Hamilton Centre, ON
Well, that may be, Chair, but I can't believe that this isn't a motherhood motion and it's just flying through. Of course we're going to do it.
Liberal
Kevin Lamoureux Liberal Winnipeg North, MB
Mr. Chair, I do have one question.
The mover is saying in this summary “not include any recommendations to the Committee on how to proceed with the legislation”.
Why would you want to exclude that? What's the rationale behind it?
Conservative
Tom Lukiwski Conservative Regina—Lumsden—Lake Centre, SK
[Inaudible--Editor]...can't direct the committee on how to vote.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Joe Preston
I'll go to the mover and get her explanation if you'd like.
Madam Latendresse.
NDP
Alexandrine Latendresse NDP Louis-Saint-Laurent, QC
We would like the Library of Parliament to provide an impartial summary of the evidence the committee has heard thus far. We don't want to direct them in any way. We just want a good summary of what the committee has heard during the course of its study to date.
Liberal
Kevin Lamoureux Liberal Winnipeg North, MB
Again, I have a question of you, Mr. Chair.
The recommendations that would be provided by our analysts, would they not be apolitical in their nature, or do they get the recommendations from government?
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Joe Preston
We're walking new ground here, Mr. Lamoureux...a summary of evidence on a piece of legislation. Normally the witnesses give us their input and then the committee members, who were here taking that evidence, go into clause by clause. That is usually the summary of what we're doing. I'm not certain I can answer your question.
Liberal
Kevin Lamoureux Liberal Winnipeg North, MB
I don't have a problem in terms of supporting the motion, but in addition to that, I would like to be able to receive whatever recommendations they might have. I am approaching this with an open mind.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Joe Preston
We thank you for that, and we'll leave you on the speaking list.
We have Mr. Lukiwski next when we meet again.
The meeting is adjourned.