Evidence of meeting #37 for Human Resources, Skills and Social Development and the Status of Persons with Disabilities in the 41st Parliament, 2nd Session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was cases.
A recording is available from Parliament.
NDP
Jinny Sims NDP Newton—North Delta, BC
If I had the wording of the motion in front of me, I could say where the amendment could go. It's really hard to do that without it.
The amendment would go something like this: that the chair send a letter to the chair of the Standing Committee on Finance stating that this committee did not have enough time to examine this legislation, and therefore feels it cannot make an informed response.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Phil McColeman
Okay.
We have an amendment proposed on the table. I'll ask if there is any discussion regarding the amendment.
Seeing none, I call the question on the amendment.
(Amendment negatived [See Minutes of Proceedings])
We are back to the original motion.
Is there any further discussion on the motion?
Ms. Sims.
NDP
Jinny Sims NDP Newton—North Delta, BC
Chair, I found this morning to be maybe one of the most frustrating experiences.
First, I know that the bells interfered and took a little bit of time away, but we had three very distinct amendments being taken that we were asked to take a look at. We had very distinct witnesses. I felt, even with the staff who were here, that I could not get into the kind of discussion I needed, or ask the questions I needed to ask, and felt even more of a frustration level when we had the second part of the meeting.
Yet this is legislation. Legislation is sent to committees for a reason. This is where we take that in-depth look. We get the opportunity to hear experts. We get the opportunities to pursue. But in each of these incidences we had 10 minutes—five minutes for the first panel, five minutes for the second.
I really feel that it's very difficult for me to support the recommendation that my colleague has brought forward. No fault of his...well, maybe; he could have voted with me.
But really, I have a great deal of frustration with the way in which I believe the parliamentary processes are being stymied.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Phil McColeman
I'll just remind committee members that as the chair, I'm acting on the committee's desire to do this all in one meeting. That was the motion passed for the business that was conducted today. I'll just remind committee members of that. So we are trying to do that, to do it efficiently, and to provide fair time for everyone here, for all persons concerned.
Is there any other discussion on the motion that Mr. Armstrong has presented?
NDP
Jinny Sims NDP Newton—North Delta, BC
Chair, for the record, at no time was I suggesting that it was our respectful chair who had limited our debate.
NDP
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Phil McColeman
—I just wanted the committee members to know that.
I don't see any further discussion on this motion, so I'll call the question.
(Motion agreed to)
Mr. Armstrong.
Conservative
Scott Armstrong Conservative Cumberland—Colchester—Musquodoboit Valley, NS
I move that the committee move in camera.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Phil McColeman
Okay. We'll take a short recess to move in camera.
[Proceedings continue in camera]