Human Resources Committee on Feb. 25th, 2020

[Dan Albas, Conservative, Central Okanagan—Similkameen—Nicola, BC]

Again, MP Vaughan mentioned earlier that perhaps it's one way for us to move forward, supported by MP Dong as well. What I'm trying to say is that right now, all I can do is have that binary vote for or against. Quite honestly, it would be very helpful to all of us if a member were just to say that they were taking this off-line, or if someone other than me were to say that debate now be adjourned on this and just clear the air. Perhaps the people who have presented motions, without presenting at the formal table, can state their case as to why it should go first. Then we'll know what is on each other's mind.

Again, I'm one person on the committee. I do recognize that committee business is very busy. We want to get things done. The other thing is that we also want to do it right. This is a minority Parliament. I don't think it's a healthy sign to have the government side immediately pushing forward with an agenda, even though I might agree with parts of it. Part of being on committee in a minority means listening to other views.

I would just hope that perhaps we could put tools down for a moment and have a discussion. There might even be some consensus motions where four of us say, yes, MP Young's might be second or third, but maybe one of the other ones might be first. I would go back to the one about medical assistance in dying. That one is very timely and relevant, and it will not be a week or two or three from now.

[The Chair, Liberal, Sean Casey]

Mrs. Kusie.

[Stephanie Kusie, Conservative, Calgary Midnapore, AB]

I'm sorry, Chair, I just want to know where we're at on Leah's amended motion.

[The Chair, Liberal, Sean Casey]

[Technical difficulty—Editor]

[Stephanie Kusie, Conservative, Calgary Midnapore, AB]

Okay. Thank you.

[The Chair, Liberal, Sean Casey]

Madame Chabot.

[Louise Chabot, Bloc, Thérèse-De Blainville, QC]

I am more or less in agreement that we look at the motions one by one, discuss them and vote on them.

It was also not clear to me that, because Ms. Young was the first to move a motion on February 19, there was an order of priority being followed.

All committee members—Conservatives, New Democrats and Liberals—put forward motions. We can discuss them and make a decision about them, and we can say what we would like to do about this.

Correct me if I am wrong, but I believe that we could submit certain issues to subcommittees and then discuss them in committee, while others could be studied here. I'm not quite sure.

I believe that it is important to prioritize the work for the next few meetings. However, I am personally prepared to agree to go through members' proposed motions one by one, without considering that we are giving priority to one over the other.

[The Chair, Liberal, Sean Casey]

Mr. Long.

[Wayne Long, Liberal, Saint John—Rothesay, NB]

Thank you, Mr. Chair.

I have a few thoughts. Did we not discuss, last meeting, that administrative matters would go in camera? That's just something I'd like you to consider because I think we are talking about administrative matters.

Second, it is a new Parliament. We are a minority government—I recognize that—but we do serve motions 48 hours in advance for everybody to see, for everybody to ponder, for everybody to talk to colleagues about and so on.

I would also throw out there that, obviously, as a team on this side, we want to move forward with this study on indigenous housing and the challenges that first nations communities face. Maybe we can move forward and move this one as the first order of business. Then, maybe we can discuss the other motions after that. I'll throw that out to you for consideration.

[The Chair, Liberal, Sean Casey]

Mrs. Kusie.

[Stephanie Kusie, Conservative, Calgary Midnapore, AB]

Mr. Chair, in the spirit that Mr. Albas was talking about, I would be interested in discussing Ms. Leah Gazan's motion. She seems to have a very strong interest in this as well. I think it would be a really generous move from the government to perhaps accept the motion of another individual, a minority party individual, for evaluation. I think that would be in a great spirit of goodwill that the government could take.

As many individuals have pointed out, it is in the spirit of what Ms. Young's motion is trying to achieve. As Conservatives, we are always willing to support goodwill and collaboration with others. It's something that we want to demonstrate.

I would suggest to Ms. Young that perhaps she wants to withdraw this motion and allow Ms. Gazan to put her motion forward for us to vote on in the spirit of a minority government and a new start here in the House of Commons—a new start, unified.

Mr. Chair, I'd like to present that to the committee.

[The Chair, Liberal, Sean Casey]

Mr. Dong.

[Han Dong, Liberal, Don Valley North, ON]

Mr. Chair, I was just wondering if the committee would consider hearing what Mr. Vaughan is working on. It looks like an amendment to Ms. Young's motion that would adopt the spirit of Ms. Gazan's motion or amendment.

My understanding, when I heard it, was that it was a little longer than a normal amendment but that it was an amendment. It was not presented in the formal way of a motion. It came out during the discussion on the current motion moved by Ms. Young.

I would ask the committee to listen to Mr. Vaughan's proposed amendment.

[Adam Vaughan, Liberal, Spadina—Fort York, ON]

I'll read it, but it's subject to getting consent from the opposite member. I think I've blended the two into one motion that uses almost all of the language of our colleague on the other side and stays true to the motion that was tabled by our member for London West:

That, in recognition of the fact that nearly 80% of Indigenous Peoples in Canada live in urban, rural and norther communities; be it resolved that pursuant to Standing Order 108(2), the committee undertake a study to investigate and make recommendations on the challenges and systemic barriers facing Indigenous People and indigenous housing providers in northern, urban and rural communities across Canada; that this study focus on urban, northern and rural providers and identify the gaps in the federal government's current policies in addressing homelessness and the precarious housing crisis facing Indigenous Peoples in urban, rural and northern communities across Canada; and that pursuant to Standing Order 109, the committee request that the government table a comprehensive response to the report.

I've included all the language and woven it through with the language that was tabled by Ms. Young.

If you'd like to recess for the NDP to review that, just to make sure they're happy with that, I'm more than happy to get it to them quickly.

[Leah Gazan, NDP, Winnipeg Centre, MB]

Yes.

[The Chair, Liberal, Sean Casey]

Let's suspend for five minutes, please.

[The Chair, Liberal, Sean Casey]

Thank you. We're back in session.

I am advised by the clerk that one option in terms of how to proceed—and I will, of course, be guided by the committee, but let me convey to you the procedural advice I've received—is that Mr. Vaughan could propose that the motion be amended by deleting all the words after “that” and replacing them with his motion. That is one option, but I would be more interested in whether you reached a consensus during the suspension, rather than relying on that.

Ms. Gazan, please.

[Leah Gazan, NDP, Winnipeg Centre, MB]

Mr. Chair, again I apologize and I thank you all for your patience while I'm learning. I'd like to move that my amendments to the motion be accepted.

[The Chair, Liberal, Sean Casey]

Ms. Gazan, I don't want to put words in your mouth, but are you moving that all the words in the motion after the word “that” be deleted and replaced with the words that Mr. Vaughan read before the suspension?

[Leah Gazan, NDP, Winnipeg Centre, MB]

Yes.

[The Chair, Liberal, Sean Casey]

Okay. We now have an amendment before us. The floor is open for debate on the amendment.

Mrs. Kusie.

[Stephanie Kusie, Conservative, Calgary Midnapore, AB]

Ms. Gazan, would these amendments replace your motion?

[Leah Gazan, NDP, Winnipeg Centre, MB]

I want us to work together as a committee, understanding that it is my motion but I'm willing to make that concession because I feel this is a very important study that I'd like to see advanced. I suppose that would be a yes.

[Stephanie Kusie, Conservative, Calgary Midnapore, AB]

Thank you.

[The Chair, Liberal, Sean Casey]

Mr. Albas.