Evidence of meeting #68 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 amendment.
A recording is available from Parliament.
3:45 p.m.
Bloc
Yves Lessard Bloc Chambly—Borduas, QC
It relates to the same point, Mr. Chair.
Should we appeal your decision now? Otherwise we can't discuss it.
3:45 p.m.
Conservative
3:45 p.m.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Dean Allison
What happens is that you have a chance to challenge me, but once we move on we've moved on. So if you challenge me, it's not debatable; it's a vote we'll have.
I haven't dealt with your motion yet, so if you want to move to BQ-2 we could certainly do that right now. But I'm not going to move on until all the discussion has been dealt with.
Mr. Savage.
3:45 p.m.
Liberal
Michael Savage Liberal Dartmouth—Cole Harbour, NS
Thank you, Mr. Chair.
I would suggest that we not challenge the chair on the NDP amendment, but we would be prepared to support the Bloc's amendment on page 9.
3:45 p.m.
Conservative
3:45 p.m.
Liberal
Gerard Kennedy Liberal Parkdale—High Park, ON
Mr. Chair, you don't provide the reasons; it's simply a finding. Is that right, or do you give us some reason?
3:45 p.m.
Liberal
Raymonde Folco Liberal Laval—Les Îles, QC
Could you go through the explanation, please, just so it's clear?
3:45 p.m.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Dean Allison
Sure, by all means.
As a matter of fact, I don't come up with whether it's inadmissible or not. That's why we have the legislative clerks before us. But the purpose of the bill was a national housing strategy and consultation with all provinces. So when we opt out a province it goes against the whole purpose of the bill, which was a national housing strategy.
I want to know if there's any more discussion on NDP-6 before we move on to BQ-2. I still see hands.
Mr. Savage.
3:45 p.m.
Liberal
Michael Savage Liberal Dartmouth—Cole Harbour, NS
Just for clarification, Chair, I'm trying to recall Bill C-303, the child care bill that this committee considered. Was a similar provision considered to be outside the scope of the bill in that case? Do you recall?
3:45 p.m.
Conservative
3:45 p.m.
Liberal
3:45 p.m.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Dean Allison
I've been informed by the legislative clerk that once again, for clarification, any exemption can be part of an original bill. The challenge is that we've gone through two readings now and it's become part of the bill. The exemption was not made before that. So by all means we're not saying that no exemption could ever happen; it just cannot happen once it's past second reading.
Go ahead, Mike.
3:45 p.m.
Liberal
Michael Savage Liberal Dartmouth—Cole Harbour, NS
I understand that. I think the timing was similar on Bill C-303; that's all. But it doesn't matter. We're fine and ready to go and all excited. Let's move.
3:45 p.m.
Conservative
3:45 p.m.
Bloc
Yves Lessard Bloc Chambly—Borduas, QC
Mr. Chair, it is a precautionary measure. Immediately afterward, we can discuss the Bloc Québécois amendment. The decision you make on amendment NDP-6, which is on page 8, does not assume the decision you are going to make on amendment BQ-2, which is on page 9, and also does not involve BQ-2.
I will tell you why. If you cite the fact that there has to be a decision, and you can do that, we are immediately going to appeal your decision, Mr. Chair. If you tell me that the decision will be made in relation to the Bloc Québécois amendment on page 9, we will not appeal your decision now. Your answer will decide the matter for us.
3:50 p.m.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Dean Allison
Sure. Most definitely I'll have the same ruling. Then the question is whether you want to challenge me now or you want to challenge me later.
We could pass NDP-6; we could move on to your motion. I will rule it out of order, and then you can challenge me, if you like--however you want to do it.
Do you have any thoughts?
3:50 p.m.
Bloc
Yves Lessard Bloc Chambly—Borduas, QC
We are going to do it in relation to our amendment, to make the fun last longer, Mr. Chair.
3:50 p.m.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Dean Allison
I thank you very much.
We're now going to move to page 9, which is BQ-2, and I'm going to ask the Bloc to just speak to their motion, and then I will give you the same ruling. But I'll wait to hear it, just in case it's different.
Go ahead, Mr. Lessard. The floor is yours, sir.
3:50 p.m.
Bloc
Yves Lessard Bloc Chambly—Borduas, QC
As it is now worded, the Bloc Québécois amendment reads as follows:
3.1 The Government of Quebec may choose to be exempted from the application of this Act and may, if it chooses to do so, receive an unconditional payment equal to the total of the amounts that would otherwise be paid within its territory under this Act.
Mr. Chair, I am now going to let you make your decision and I reserve the right to present arguments in support of this amendment, if it is ruled in order. I want to know first whether it is in order.
3:50 p.m.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Dean Allison
Okay. All right, I'm going to rule this one out of order for the same reason as I ruled the last one. I am now taking a list to discuss that. I have on the list right now Madame Folco, Mr. Komarnicki, and Ms. Leslie, so why don't we go from there.
Madame Folco.
3:50 p.m.
Conservative
3:50 p.m.
Bloc