Evidence of meeting #56 for Human Resources, Skills and Social Development and the Status of Persons with Disabilities in the 40th Parliament, 2nd Session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was november.
A recording is available from Parliament.
4:15 p.m.
Liberal
Maria Minna Liberal Beaches—East York, ON
I have a point of order. We would like to have the correct version. I don't have one yet.
4:15 p.m.
Liberal
Maria Minna Liberal Beaches—East York, ON
I have two versions, but neither of them says what he just read.
4:15 p.m.
Liberal
The Vice-Chair Liberal Raymonde Folco
--if you do not have the version that is called “Notice of Motion: Tony Martin, MP, November 5, 2009”? That is the one we will be discussing.
Go ahead, Mr. Lessard.
4:15 p.m.
Bloc
Yves Lessard Bloc Chambly—Borduas, QC
Madam Chair, I invite our colleague, Mr. Martin, to reread the motion revised by the analysts. I think that it is simply an adjustment, a matter of syntax. It reflects Mr. Martin's motion well and completes it by providing the full name of the committee and so forth. I have reread both, and I feel that Mr. Martin's motion has been well reflected by the analysts except for one thing: the reduction of the poverty rate by 50% by 2020.
4:20 p.m.
Liberal
Michael Savage Liberal Dartmouth—Cole Harbour, NS
I have a point of clarification, Chair.
I think what happened here is that on the Tuesday we debated this, we all bandied this around, and it was suggested that the analysts would take the work we had done and produce a motion for Thursday. We didn't get that on the Thursday. On the Thursday, this is the motion that Tony proposed, and the one revised by the analysts actually predates the one from Tony Martin. That's my understanding of what's happened here.
4:20 p.m.
Liberal
The Vice-Chair Liberal Raymonde Folco
My impression, Mr. Martin--and I'm reading the French version only--is that the French version is exactly the same, except for the sentence, as Mr. Lessard mentioned, that the decision be reported back to the House. It's exactly the same, but with all due respect, it's in better French. I can't speak for the English version as I haven't compared the two. However, it is your motion and you can do with it what you wish.
4:20 p.m.
NDP
Tony Martin NDP Sault Ste. Marie, ON
The difference--and Ed knows this--is the 50% by 2020, which is in both the French and English version but not in the revised motion that was tabled by the clerk. The motion with the 50% by 2020 is the one I wanted to have debated here today. If you want, I can tell you why.
4:20 p.m.
Conservative
Ed Komarnicki Conservative Souris—Moose Mountain, SK
I understand the two motions and how they got here. I think it was adequately explained. The fact of the matter is that the motion--and it is not Mr. Martin's--precisely sets out where we had reached at the last meeting and we said we would support, but otherwise we would not support it. With the addition to this motion, we would not be prepared to support it.
So we can lose the entire motion or we can take the objectionable portion out. As an offer of goodwill, I move an amendment to take out the portion that states “starting with achieving a 50% reduction in poverty by 2020”.
4:20 p.m.
Conservative
Ed Komarnicki Conservative Souris—Moose Mountain, SK
I wish to amend the motion by omitting that part.
4:20 p.m.
Liberal
The Vice-Chair Liberal Raymonde Folco
I would like to add, Mr. Martin, that what I said previously was wrong. The French version does mention that the report be made to the House, and so what I said was not correct.
What Mr. Komarnicki is telling us is that he cannot agree with the 50% and that he wishes it to be taken out. Once again, it's back to you, Mr. Martin, as to where you want to go on this.
4:20 p.m.
NDP
Tony Martin NDP Sault Ste. Marie, ON
I think I've made my point clear and I want to hear from others.
4:20 p.m.
Conservative
Ed Komarnicki Conservative Souris—Moose Mountain, SK
On a point of clarification, a point of order, it was an amendment to the motion that I put forward.
4:20 p.m.
Liberal
The Vice-Chair Liberal Raymonde Folco
It's to take out, “starting with achieving a 50% reduction in poverty by 2020”.
4:20 p.m.
Liberal
The Vice-Chair Liberal Raymonde Folco
I've given Madame Minna the right to speak, so I'll continue and then I'll come back.
4:20 p.m.
Liberal
Maria Minna Liberal Beaches—East York, ON
I was just going to say, Madam Chair, that this motion essentially is different from the very first that Mr. Martin brought in. All of us worked at it a bit, and there was some agreement. I have no problem with it the way it is.
I want to ask Mr. Komarnicki if his major issue is with respect to setting a date. I know that achieving it may not be realistic. It should be realistic, but we may not do it. This is only a motion in any case and not legislation. Setting it down might help put all our feet to the fire a little bit.
4:20 p.m.
Conservative