With respect, my dear friend Ms. Chabot, I would like to point out that the same amendment was proposed in the Special Committee on the Economic Relationship between Canada and the United States, and rejected by the majority.

Let's take as an example the new motion like you've just presented, Ms. Chabot. We haven't received it in writing in English. If what you are proposing were to be applied, then the clerk would have to find a way of sending an email to all members of the committee to provide them with the text of the motion in English. Who would translate it? Would it be me, or you, or the clerk?

5:15 p.m.

Bloc

Louise Chabot Bloc Thérèse-De Blainville, QC

You could do it, Mr. Housefather.

5:15 p.m.

Liberal

Anthony Housefather Liberal Mount Royal, QC

Indeed, if amendments had to be translated on the fly, I can promise you that I would always be happy translate for you. And of course the interpreters are doing so as well.

You might therefore want to reconsider this motion, and determine what you are really trying to achieve, and then submit a new proposal, because I don't think this one works. It would slow us down. In addition, the clerk of the Special Committee on the Economic Relationship between Canada and the United States said that she was very uncomfortable about the idea of having to translate the documents herself .

5:15 p.m.

Liberal

The Chair Liberal Sean Casey

Back to you, Ms. Chabot.

5:15 p.m.

Bloc

Louise Chabot Bloc Thérèse-De Blainville, QC

I know that a similar proposal was rejected by another committee. Be that as it may, I have the privilege of being able to bring this motion to our committee and to request the support of my colleagues, if they feel it would be useful to the committee.

Furthermore, by rewording my motion in this way today, as procedure allows me to do, I was very much aware of the fact that it ran counter to the very purpose of my motion.

Indeed, the goal of my new motion is to allow what we are doing at the moment, which is to permit members of the committee to debate a motion without having a written version in both official languages. On the other hand, it's important to have the motion translated into both official languages when the time comes to vote, to ensure that we understand correctly. That was my concern.

I am therefore not withdrawing my motion. I will leave it to you, my dear parliamentary colleagues, to deal with it as you see fit.

February 25th, 2021 / 5:15 p.m.

Liberal

The Chair Liberal Sean Casey

Ms. Gazan.

5:15 p.m.

NDP

Leah Gazan NDP Winnipeg Centre, MB

In agreement with my colleague, Anthony Housefather, I will also not be supporting this motion.

Thank you.

5:15 p.m.

Liberal

The Chair Liberal Sean Casey

Are there any other interventions on the new motion?

Seeing none and sensing that we do not have consensus, I call the question and ask the clerk to proceed with a roll-call vote.

(Motion negatived: nays 10; yeas 1)

5:20 p.m.

Liberal

The Chair Liberal Sean Casey

Is there any other business to come before the committee?

Is it the will of the committee that we adjourn? I see consensus.

Before we adjourn, we have this evening, colleagues—now—a scheduled meeting of the subcommittee to proceed in camera. For those of you who are on the Subcommittee on Procedure and Agenda, take 10 minutes to stretch your legs to give us time to get switched over, and then please log in with the separate credentials that you have been given for the subcommittee meeting. They are not the same as the ones for the meeting we are in now.

If everyone could please log out.... Those of you who aren't on the subcommittee, have a wonderful evening. Those of you who are, please, in 10 minutes, log back in.

We are adjourned.