Evidence of meeting #117 for Human Resources, Skills and Social Development and the Status of Persons with Disabilities in the 44th Parliament, 1st session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was federal.
A recording is available from Parliament.
Liberal
Peter Fragiskatos Liberal London North Centre, ON
I was going to introduce an amendment for four meetings, but I don't think I can do that at this point.
Liberal
Peter Fragiskatos Liberal London North Centre, ON
On this amendment, we've heard from the minister, Minister Fraser, multiple times at this committee. He's probably the minister who has engaged committee the most. I'm not sure how other colleagues feel about that, but I think it's worth raising.
The other even more important point is that, as far as the committee agenda is concerned, we agreed to look at a number of issues in priority. Mrs. Gray was there. She was part of the subcommittee that met on this in February, I believe, and she suddenly put this ahead.
With all due respect to Mr. Coteau, who I think has presented a good idea, I'm not sure that's the direction we want to go as a committee.
Liberal
Peter Fragiskatos Liberal London North Centre, ON
We can look at it, but I think that this point about priority is out of place.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Bobby Morrissey
Thank you, Mr. Fragiskatos.
The committee chooses its priority schedule through a subcommittee accepted by the full committee. The agenda takes us quite a while, and the agreement was that we could only deviate from that with unanimity. I plan on holding to that decision.
We have an amendment by Mrs. Gray. Is there any further discussion on the amendment by Mrs. Gray?
Go ahead, Mr. Coteau.
Liberal
Michael Coteau Liberal Don Valley East, ON
I appreciate the support, but my anticipation was that we would deal with this in the fall, considering how much stuff we have in front of us. We have two and a half weeks left. To do this properly, I think I'd need time to identify the right folks to come in, so I couldn't support it happening right after this study.
Liberal
Bloc
Louise Chabot Bloc Thérèse-De Blainville, QC
For the same reasons given before, I disagree with the amendment. We must stick to the set schedule.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Bobby Morrissey
Thank you, Madame Chabot.
I have Mr. Desjarlais on the amendment by Mrs. Gray.
NDP
Blake Desjarlais NDP Edmonton Griesbach, AB
Thank you very much, Mr. Chair.
I thank our Conservative colleague for the amendment and our Liberal colleague for bringing this forward, but we have witnesses here who have very important testimony that will be absorbed into this study, which I find important.
Chair, with your indulgence and considering the speakers list, I'd like to dispose of this by way of a vote. I'll make transparent that I would vote against both the main motion and the amendment in order to dispose of this as quickly as possible.
It sounds like this committee has already set a calendar that's agreeable, and I'd recommend that members of this committee at this particular time adhere to that, and we can get on with the order of business scheduled for today.
Liberal
Peter Fragiskatos Liberal London North Centre, ON
Chair, I think we can go to a vote on the amendment, and then I'll say something on the motion.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Bobby Morrissey
We'll go to a vote when there's no more discussion on the amendment.
Seeing no further discussion, I will call a recorded vote on the amendment by Mrs. Gray.
(Amendment negatived: nays 7; yeas 4)
We have Mr. Fragiskatos on the main motion.
Liberal
Peter Fragiskatos Liberal London North Centre, ON
I have an amendment to change the number of meetings from five to four. That is to ensure that we have time to take up other matters, the other important issues the committee has already agreed to.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Bobby Morrissey
Do we have unanimity from the committee to move it from five to four meetings?
(Amendment agreed to)
I will call the vote on the main motion with the minor amendment of five to four meetings.
Go ahead, Mr. Van Bynen.
Liberal
Tony Van Bynen Liberal Newmarket—Aurora, ON
Mr. Chair, I just wanted to clarify that the intent is to follow the order of business that we have already established and that it won't interfere with the existing—
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Bobby Morrissey
That is the intent, unless the committee chooses otherwise by unanimity.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Bobby Morrissey
The main motion of Mr. Coteau, with the minor change of five to four, is what we're voting on.
We'll have a recorded vote on the main motion of Mr. Coteau.
Just so we're clear, the amendment by Mrs. Gray was defeated. That brought us back to the main motion. There was no discussion, but Mr. Fragiskatos indicated changing the word “five” to “four”. I asked for consensus, which was given to me, so that's the only change in the main motion.
(Motion as amended agreed to: yeas 11; nays 0)
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Bobby Morrissey
Attention, please, members. It's important that we fully understand what we're voting on. That's why I gave clarification. It was because Mrs. Falk questioned me on that, and I appreciated that.
Now we'll return to the witnesses. Your time is gone, Mr. Coteau.
Liberal
Michael Coteau Liberal Don Valley East, ON
I'll just ask that my name be spelled correctly on the motion, just for the record.
Is my time really gone?