Evidence of meeting #117 for Procedure and House Affairs in the 42nd Parliament, 1st Session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was amendments.
A recording is available from Parliament.
Liberal
Liberal
Liberal
Chris Bittle Liberal St. Catharines, ON
I know we ran into some stumbling blocks back in June, but moving forward—and I appreciate everyone's desire to move this forward—one item that I would like to discuss is amendments on the bill.
I don't believe we received the package. My understanding is that the opposition has put in their amendments on the bill. That being said, we do have some further amendments on the bill that we would like to put in. Many of them are technical amendments from Elections Canada. Others are amendments that address some of the concerns that have been raised by the opposition. Even though there was a deadline in the past, it might just be easier if we all had a package, rather than the government bringing amendments from the floor.
We would request a new deadline, and that amendments be submitted by Monday, September 24, at noon. That would permit the clerk to get out the package of amendments as soon as possible.
Conservative
Scott Reid Conservative Lanark—Frontenac—Kingston, ON
We just need a second to chat among ourselves.
Liberal
Conservative
John Nater Conservative Perth—Wellington, ON
Thank you, Chair.
First of all, it's great to see Mr. Christopherson. On behalf of our corner of the caucus, thank you for your years of service. I think it's unfortunate that you're going to be leaving in an election, but I want to publicly say how much we like having you. We look forward to next year, when we will still have your guidance and expertise.
Conservative
John Nater Conservative Perth—Wellington, ON
Thank you, Mr. Bittle, for bringing forward that suggestion.
For the most part we are okay with that. I think we can get the amendments we have. I don't expect we'll have many more than have already been submitted. I would be more comfortable if we kept that as a somewhat soft deadline because I think it's still worthwhile for us to hear from the Ontario chief electoral officer. They had their election in June. They were not able to come in June, obviously, because of the election, so they declined at that point. If we could hear from the CEO of Ontario next week, as well as perhaps the federal Chief Electoral Officer and the minister, we could go from there. There may be amendments that may come out of those witnesses, but I think that would be a solid starting point for us to move forward with this if that would be acceptable.
Calgary Midnapore, CPC
I'd like to recognize that I did express to the minister in our meeting on Tuesday our interest in hearing from the Ontario electoral officer. She is aware I have concerns with regard to the application of the provincial legislation to the federal legislation.
Thank you.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Larry Bagnell
Mr. Nater, are you suggesting that we have all the amendments except for the ones that could result from those witnesses?
Conservative
John Nater Conservative Perth—Wellington, ON
Yes. I don't know what they would say or what has developed over the summer. We'll take anything we have now and put it in, and anything that comes afterwards we will have in due course.
Liberal
David Graham Liberal Laurentides—Labelle, QC
I don't have a huge problem with that, as long as we can.... If we start clause-by-clause on October 2, I'd be okay with having those witnesses before then.
I don't have a problem with the witnesses, but I'd like to get clause-by-clause started on September 27, if we can.
Liberal
David Graham Liberal Laurentides—Labelle, QC
I think Thursday afternoon is the easier one.
I can move the motion.
Conservative
Hamilton Centre, NDP
Angela, are you running the whole government? Everywhere I go, you're there.
Chris Bittle Liberal St. Catharines, ON
I'd like to verify the reason for the Thursday date, because there already was an agreement that the minister come back and testify before clause-by-clause. The minister is available to testify Thursday, September 27, at 3:30. That would be the start of clause-by-clause.
Conservative
John Nater Conservative Perth—Wellington, ON
Are we really starting clause-by-clause at 4:30 on a Thursday afternoon?
Liberal
Conservative
Scott Reid Conservative Lanark—Frontenac—Kingston, ON
If there's some way of structuring that so it's not leading us down the position of starting at 4:30 on Thursday, if that is within the realm of possibility, that would certainly warm the cockles of my heart a little bit as I plan that particular weekend.