However, a colleague of mine is able to do that. If a colleague were then to take my amendment and make the motion to get rid of the first line of my amendment, starting with “any power, duty or function of the Minister”, and delete up until the end of that, and then, of course, leaving proposed (b) in place....

If another member of this committee were to do that and replace it with other wording that was presented by Ms. Damoff, that type of subamendment could be put forward, could it not?

5:15 p.m.

Liberal

The Chair Liberal Bryan May

Those are two different lines, right?

5:15 p.m.

The Clerk

I think we'd need to pause on that to—

5:15 p.m.

Liberal

The Chair Liberal Bryan May

We'd have to pause again to see if that's possible, but I think there's an issue with its being two different lines of amendment. It depends on where it's going in the clause. I believe what we're suggesting is a different part of the clause.

5:15 p.m.

Conservative

Steven Blaney Conservative Bellechasse—Les Etchemins—Lévis, QC

Would it be agreed if I recommend—and I'm speaking to my colleague through you, Mr. Chair—to remove the first part of my colleague's amendment? I could table it.

Do you want me to remove this?

5:15 p.m.

An hon. member

No.

5:15 p.m.

Conservative

Steven Blaney Conservative Bellechasse—Les Etchemins—Lévis, QC

Anyway, we'll find a way.

5:15 p.m.

Liberal

The Chair Liberal Bryan May

We have to make a decision. We can withdraw. We can vote. We can unanimously consent to table, which is essentially....

MP Damoff.

5:15 p.m.

Liberal

Pam Damoff Liberal Oakville North—Burlington, ON

I guess we've agreed that we're all okay with this wording; it's the process here.

If we can't come to a decision, do we vote on CPC-7 and defeat it, and then I'm able to introduce it?

5:15 p.m.

Liberal

The Chair Liberal Bryan May

That's the action that I have in front of me, as chair. Anything else would have to be brought forward by Ms. Harder.

5:15 p.m.

Conservative

Steven Blaney Conservative Bellechasse—Les Etchemins—Lévis, QC

There are a lot of discussions about the procedure. I, for one, am going to talk about the amendment. Perhaps that will give you time to think about how to proceed.

I commend the members of the committee for wanting to ensure that they get things right. We know that the bill covers federal employees; the amendment does not deal with that. The amendment seeks to protect the integrity of the process and to avoid political or partisan interference, regardless of the government. As my colleague said, my colleagues opposite have an appetite for that.

Let me give you the best example. We want to make sure that, if an employee of the minister, wants to lodge a complaint for harassment, there will be no political interference. In this case, the investigation would stop at the deputy minister's office. That's the intent behind the motion.

The interesting part of this amendment is that it would apply to all the politicians. My colleagues may want to talk about it to determine whether it needs to apply to harassment and violence only or whether it needs to apply to all the provisions in Part II of the Canada Labour Code. There would be an interest in that.

When I was minister of Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness, I had to make decisions to protect the independence of the House from the executive power. In retrospect, I realize that this place is very important, that it's a sacred place, that it is important to maintain the legislative power independent from the executive power. Including harassment and violence is not just a detail. It must also be included in Part II of the Canada Labour Code, to always maintain this independence between the legislature and the executive.

As to how to achieve this, we are in the process of discussing it, but I think it is an important aspect. I am pleased to see that my colleagues opposite have an appetite for what I consider to be one of the most important amendments that can be made to this bill.

5:20 p.m.

Liberal

The Chair Liberal Bryan May

Thank you, sir.

MP Damoff.

5:20 p.m.

Liberal

Pam Damoff Liberal Oakville North—Burlington, ON

I know we're not discussing it, but one of the things we talked about.... There's no desire on our part to exclude other instances under the Canada Labour Code, so I think, with the advice of the officials when we get there, to say part II of the Canada Labour Code, including occurrences of “harassment and violence”.... If we could get some advice from the officials on that when we get there, to make sure....

There's no intent to limit excluding the minister from these investigations at all. It's more to highlight the harassment and violence piece. There's no problem with including all of the Canada Labour Code and then just put wording including “occurrences of harassment and violence” if the officials think that that wording, or whatever wording they may like, is agreeable.

5:20 p.m.

Liberal

The Chair Liberal Bryan May

I'm going to pull this back. You're referring to an amendment that we don't actually have in front of us yet, so we do need to make a decision on CPC-7. As I said, my tool at this point is to call for a vote.

MP Harder.

5:20 p.m.

Conservative

Rachael Thomas Conservative Lethbridge, AB

Mr. Chair, in good faith, the recommendation that is before us, the amendment that is before us by Ms. Damoff, will be changed to read “under Part II of the Canada Labour Code, including occurrences of harassment and violence”. If that is deemed necessary, if we were to make that change to that amendment, and if, in good faith, we can come to an agreement on that, then I would agree to take my amendment off the floor.

5:20 p.m.

Liberal

The Chair Liberal Bryan May

You would agree to withdraw it.

5:20 p.m.

Conservative

Rachael Thomas Conservative Lethbridge, AB

I would withdraw it.

5:20 p.m.

Liberal

The Chair Liberal Bryan May

Thank you.

Just for clarification for MP Harder, I believe what MP Damoff has requested is some guidance from the departmental officials. Is that correct?

5:20 p.m.

Liberal

Pam Damoff Liberal Oakville North—Burlington, ON

I think I have to introduce it first.

5:20 p.m.

Liberal

The Chair Liberal Bryan May

Of course, but we're doing things out of order right now, so....