Human Resources Committee on March 22nd, 2010

[Ed Komarnicki, Conservative, Souris—Moose Mountain, SK]

My request is that I moved a motion to the effect that the bill be reported to the House in the same fashion it was reported to it the last time, with any objections recorded on the bill being the same now as they were then, just basically taking the whole proceeding.... We have all of the evidence over here. We have all of the voting--

[The Chair, Conservative, Candice Bergen]

We have that motion. I'm going to read that motion and we're going to discuss it.

[Maurice Vellacott, Conservative, Saskatoon—Wanuskewin, SK]

What was your wording? The wording--

[The Chair, Conservative, Candice Bergen]

It was that we accept the report that was dated Thursday, December 10: that we accept that same report today and present it as it is.

[Ed Komarnicki, Conservative, Souris—Moose Mountain, SK]

Yes, with all of the voting patterns and objections listed there--

[The Chair, Conservative, Candice Bergen]

We will accept it exactly the same way. We'll get it written out and then I'll read it, but right now we're going to discuss Mr. Komarnicki's motion that we accept our report as we decided it on December 10, as is, on Bill C-304.

Can we have discussion on that, please?

Mr. Kennedy, please.

[Gerard Kennedy, Liberal, Parkdale—High Park, ON]

Just for greater certainty, I guess it means that the eighth report that was done in its entirety without change is what Mr. Komarnicki is putting forward. The reference is a little less precise than that, but there is a report that would have gone forward and been reported had Parliament come back. So I just want to be absolutely certain that there's nothing different in saying we're allowing this to go forward now that Parliament is back. So the eighth report will essentially become the report we make today under this motion. Is that correct?

[The Chair, Conservative, Candice Bergen]

That is how I understand the motion. That is how we are going to write it and present it.

[Gerard Kennedy, Liberal, Parkdale—High Park, ON]

Would Mr. Komarnicki accept a friendly amendment that it be precise in reference; that we talk about the eighth report on December 10 as occurred? That's how it's titled in Hansard.

[Ed Komarnicki, Conservative, Souris—Moose Mountain, SK]

Yes.

[The Chair, Conservative, Candice Bergen]

Gerard just wants to make sure that we want to accept the exact report we're going to table.

[Ed Komarnicki, Conservative, Souris—Moose Mountain, SK]

I am told by the legislative clerk, just for clarification, that the ending portion of the report refers to the relevant minutes of the proceedings in meetings 55, 56, 68, and 69. So all of the parties' positions and voting records would be incorporated within that. If that's correct, I'm happy with that narrow motion.

[The Chair, Conservative, Candice Bergen]

Let me read it as we have it right now, and you can let me know what you think. It says:

That the eighth report of this committee on Bill C-304 in the last session be adopted, as it was debated and subjected to the same voting pattern, without any change.

[Ed Komarnicki, Conservative, Souris—Moose Mountain, SK]

That is perfect.

[The Chair, Conservative, Candice Bergen]

Would you like me to read it again? Was that clear?

[Gerard Kennedy, Liberal, Parkdale—High Park, ON]

I was seeking that degree of precision. I'm not saying yet how we're voting, but I'm trying to understand what we have.

[The Chair, Conservative, Candice Bergen]

Okay. Good.

Ms. Leslie, please.

[Megan Leslie, NDP, Halifax, NS]

Thanks, Madam Chair.

I wonder if the chair would accept an amendment to that motion to include amendment NDP-5, which people have in front of them.

[The Chair, Conservative, Candice Bergen]

Are you suggesting a friendly amendment? If not, then we have to actually put it in and debate it as an amendment.

[Megan Leslie, NDP, Halifax, NS]

Somehow I don't think it would be considered friendly.

[The Chair, Conservative, Candice Bergen]

Okay, so you want to put in an amendment.

[Megan Leslie, NDP, Halifax, NS]

I want to make a subamendment to his motion.

[The Chair, Conservative, Candice Bergen]

Sorry, that's ruled out of order, because you'd be amending the bill.

Is there any other discussion?

(Motion agreed to)

Thank you very much.

It seems we have completed this very efficiently. I would like to do a little bit of committee business very quickly and deal with the travel we talked about. The clerk will hand out the report and the work he did in getting us ready for the trip we want to take. We can discuss it and make some decisions, and we'll be ahead of the game.

We talked previously about a trip to an aboriginal community. Madam Folco put forward a very good suggestion that we go the night before to give us a little more time to spend at the first nations community.

Georges has put down a fourth option of $14,129 that includes one night of accommodations. It would be for six to eight committee members. I think that looks like a great suggestion. I wonder if there's any discussion on it.

Mr. Savage.

[Michael Savage, Liberal, Dartmouth—Cole Harbour, NS]

Could you confirm the dates we're talking about?

[The Chair, Conservative, Candice Bergen]

We haven't confirmed anything. Because we've moved things down a bit I think we're looking at April, and we have the minister coming on one of the first days. We'll let you know in advance. If it's all right with the committee, we will propose a few dates and e-mail them to your office. Then we'll set the dates.

I've just heard that the minister's coming on April 14, so if the committee's in agreement, we'll find two good dates in April and let you know.

Monsieur Lessard.