Is it the intention of this amendment that the federal government would be in charge of monitoring and evaluating the program, or would the provinces be able to monitor and evaluate this?

5:15 p.m.

Liberal

Gerard Kennedy Liberal Parkdale—High Park, ON

Again, it's in its context, which is paragraph 5(1)(c). It basically says they're doing that together. In other words, the housing strategy is going to seat the people around the table and this is one of the objectives they have to arrive at together. There's the list of people we've approved who should be seated, and they have to develop the principles of an agreement with respect to development and delivery of the programs. That's what precedes it.

Answering your question, the principles would be made as part of the strategy, as opposed to us telling them how to do it now.

5:15 p.m.

Conservative

Ben Lobb Conservative Huron—Bruce, ON

I have one other question. I don't want to get into a big debate on this, but going back to our issue we had at the beginning, for example, if Quebec could not come to an agreement on how it should be monitored and evaluated, with the amendment we debated would they have the ability to opt out if they disagreed?

5:15 p.m.

Liberal

Gerard Kennedy Liberal Parkdale—High Park, ON

I'm sure the clerk can tell you that. I understand that to be the effect of the amendment that was passed.

This refers to a successful discussion involving everyone, and it suggests what they need to arrive at. I don't think it's affected one way or the other by that particular amendment. I think that is a standing option, if you like, that's been created for Quebec.

5:15 p.m.

Conservative

The Chair Conservative Dean Allison

Okay, I have some names here.

Mr. Ouellet.

5:15 p.m.

Bloc

Christian Ouellet Bloc Brome—Missisquoi, QC

Mr. Chair, this practice is already in effect. At present, the federal government asks the provinces to submit a report on quality, the things they are doing, and so on. It isn't new. Every year, Quebec is always the first to comply, in fact, reporting on how it used the funds.

5:15 p.m.

Conservative

The Chair Conservative Dean Allison

I want to ask the committee what its intent is. Do we want to come back after votes to deal with this? Do we want to come back on Thursday? What's the thought process?

5:15 p.m.

Liberal

Raymonde Folco Liberal Laval—Les Îles, QC

What time is the vote, Mr. Chair?

5:15 p.m.

Conservative

The Chair Conservative Dean Allison

It's in ten minutes.

Is it okay to come back on Thursday?

5:15 p.m.

Conservative

Ed Komarnicki Conservative Souris—Moose Mountain, SK

We'll have to carry it over to the new year, as far as I can see.

5:15 p.m.

Conservative

Ron Cannan Conservative Kelowna—Lake Country, BC

I won't be here on Thursday, unfortunately. I have to make an affordable housing announcement.

5:15 p.m.

Conservative

The Chair Conservative Dean Allison

I'm going to call the question on L-15.3, because that's what we're talking about now.

(Amendment agreed to) [See Minutes of Proceedings]

On L-16 and L-16.1, I believe there is something different.

Mr. Kennedy.

5:15 p.m.

Liberal

Gerard Kennedy Liberal Parkdale—High Park, ON

There's a new L-16, so I want to make sure people have the right version. Amendment L-16 is the one you were handed that is shorter than the one in the booklet.

5:15 p.m.

Conservative

The Chair Conservative Dean Allison

It was the one that was just handed out.

5:15 p.m.

Liberal

Gerard Kennedy Liberal Parkdale—High Park, ON

That's correct.

5:15 p.m.

Conservative

The Chair Conservative Dean Allison

It's on page 17.1.

Go ahead.

5:15 p.m.

Liberal

Gerard Kennedy Liberal Parkdale—High Park, ON

This is to make sure you not only have a strategy, but you have a means for seeing whether the strategy means something to the people for whom it's intended. So it will “develop a process by which an independent body will review, address and report on complaints about possible violations of any housing rights recognized by this Act.”

This closes the loop so we don't just go into an exercise that ends with a conference and a strategy. Someone will tell us whether or not it amounted to some benefit for Canadians.

5:15 p.m.

Conservative

The Chair Conservative Dean Allison

Mr. Lessard.

5:15 p.m.

Bloc

Yves Lessard Bloc Chambly—Borduas, QC

Mr. Chair, this is a text we have just received. Our work is going well; we have taken the time we needed. I suggest that we conclude this work at the beginning of the meeting on Thursday. If everyone agrees, we could proceed that way.

5:15 p.m.

Conservative

The Chair Conservative Dean Allison

Go ahead, Mike.

5:20 p.m.

Liberal