Evidence of meeting #31 for Human Resources, Skills and Social Development and the Status of Persons with Disabilities in the 39th Parliament, 1st Session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was cuts.
A recording is available from Parliament.
12:45 p.m.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Dean Allison
This motion is debatable because we're changing precedence.
Ms. Yelich.
12:45 p.m.
Conservative
Lynne Yelich Conservative Blackstrap, SK
Ours are first, so can we debate them first? I would agree to debate all four at once but vote on them separately. I think we should be going in order of the motions as they have been recorded, but we will agree to debate all four because all motions should be debated.
12:45 p.m.
NDP
Tony Martin NDP Sault Ste. Marie, ON
My understanding of the priority of business before this committee is that we deal with estimates when they're tabled--they come here and then we deal with them. Secondly, any bills that are passed in the House and sent to committee are dealt with as a priority. Is that not correct?
12:50 p.m.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Dean Allison
There are requirements, and we have 60 sitting days to get back. Obviously that is a priority. Mr. Lessard is asking whether we should move it up in the order of precedence. That's what we're debating right now.
Mr. Storseth.
12:50 p.m.
Conservative
Brian Storseth Conservative Westlock—St. Paul, AB
Thank you very much, Mr. Chair.
I'm in favour of listening, but I'm not in favour of moving this motion before some of these things we've put forward that we think are very important. For example, there's Mr. Lake's motion that he's not here to speak on today. But there's the Canada Pension Plan disability benefits, and I think it's very important that we give some of these things precedence. We've had them on the order paper for some time now and they're ahead of this motion. I think it's very important that we address these other motions first.
12:50 p.m.
Bloc
Yves Lessard Bloc Chambly—Borduas, QC
Mr. Chairman, I am prepared to debate its merits, but the fact remains that on page 450 of Marleau and Montpetit, it is clearly stated that such a motion may not be debated.
12:50 p.m.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Dean Allison
Mr. Lessard, it is my understanding, from talking to the clerk, that this is not a superseding motion. We are in motions now, which are debatable and amendable. You're suggesting to the committee...and we're having the debate now as to whether that should be moved up in order of precedence. As you stated earlier, our committee is master of its own design in terms of direction, so that's what you have put forward right now. We're going to discuss it, and when everyone has had something to say, we'll have a vote on it.
Mr. Coderre, please.
12:50 p.m.
Liberal
Denis Coderre Liberal Bourassa, QC
Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
In my view, when the House asks parliamentarians to study a bill, that should constitute a priority. I will save my comments on the motion for later, but I think that for the time being, the important thing is for this motion to be given precedence over the others so that we can debate it immediately. I request a vote on this.
12:50 p.m.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Dean Allison
Are there any more comments?
All right, we'll call the vote.
(Motion agreed to)
All right, Mr. Lessard. We will move your motion up in order of precedence and now we're going to discuss your motion.
Do I have anyone with comments? Ms. Yelich.
October 31st, 2006 / 12:50 p.m.
Conservative
Lynne Yelich Conservative Blackstrap, SK
I'd like to make one.
I would like to see it handled after the break, because next week we're travelling. We are studying employability. This bill does have a deadline, although it is in March, so we know that it already has a deadline. I don't know why it's given such priority. However, I understand that he does want to have it here and studied, so I would like at the very least to be considerate and push it to our first meeting after the break, or our second meeting right after the break. That's not that long. We're gone all next week. I want to be here when we study Bill C-257 , so I would like to suggest that we do it immediately after the break.
I think in the best interests of this committee.... We are studying employability. It was high on everyone's agenda. You know, we keep getting diverted with different people's interests. I do want to see this be considered, and we will support it if it can be studied immediately after we get back.
12:50 p.m.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Dean Allison
What you're suggesting is you do support Mr. Lessard's motion of being able to look at it, but you're proposing an amendment. Is that what I hear you saying?
12:50 p.m.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Dean Allison
To look at it on.... After break week, it's the 21st and 23rd, so you're suggesting that we meet on say the 23rd to discuss as a group the work plan. Is that--
12:50 p.m.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Dean Allison
Okay, so the motion to amend is that we would look at.... Okay, we have a clarification.
12:50 p.m.
Liberal
Denis Coderre Liberal Bourassa, QC
No, because I'm totally in agreement that when we come back we should right away start to put up a work plan among ourselves and then build up all those meetings on Bill C-257. We are coming back on the 21st--
12:55 p.m.
Liberal
Denis Coderre Liberal Bourassa, QC
So on the 21st, immediately after we come back, we should be working in sessions to build up that work plan.
12:55 p.m.
Conservative
12:55 p.m.
Bloc
Yves Lessard Bloc Chambly—Borduas, QC
I believe, Mr. Chairman, that we should instead add some meetings to the committee's work so as to be able to specifically debate this bill, to maintain a steady pace and not to jeopardize the important files on which we are currently working. I believe that beginning next week, we could easily add two meetings per week to devote to the bill.
12:55 p.m.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Dean Allison
Okay, we have an amendment here to look at sitting down when we get back from the break, on the 21st, to start developing a working plan and what that would entail. I believe part of that working plan would be whether we're going to add additional days. We have to come up with lists of witnesses and other kinds of things.
Do we have any more comments on the proposal? Mr. Regan.
12:55 p.m.
Liberal
Geoff Regan Liberal Halifax West, NS
To be clear, Mr. Chair, I think what you're asking, as I understand the motion to amend, is to add a 1 after the 2--that's of November--so 21, not 2. That's what you're doing.