Evidence of meeting #96 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 amendment.
A recording is available from Parliament.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Bobby Morrissey
As House of Commons Procedure and Practice, third edition, states on page 770, “An amendment to a bill that was referred to a committee after second reading is out of order if it is beyond the scope and principle of the bill.” In the opinion of the chair, this amendment introduces a new concept that is beyond the scope of the bill as agreed to by the House at second reading. Therefore, I rule the amendment inadmissible.
Ms. Gazan, go ahead.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Bobby Morrissey
The chair's ruling has been challenged, which means we go directly to a vote on upholding the chair's ruling or changing it.
Madam Clerk, could we have a recorded vote on my ruling, please?
(Ruling of the chair overturned: nays 6; yeas 5)
The chair's ruling has been overturned. Therefore I will call a vote on amendment NDP-3.
We'll wait just a moment.
Ms. Gazan, go ahead.
NDP
Leah Gazan NDP Winnipeg Centre, MB
I'm going to ask all of my colleagues once again to take this opportunity to really support each other across party lines and support reconciliation in this country as it relates to indigenous families and children.
Thank you.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Bobby Morrissey
Seeing no further discussion on amendment NDP-3, I shall call for a recorded vote on NDP-3.
(Amendment agreed to: yeas 6; nays 0)
Shall clause 14 as amended carry?
(Clause 14 as amended agreed to)
There are no amendments for the next two clauses, 15 and 16, so I would ask whether the two clauses could be carried together as presented.
I see no dissent.
(Clauses 15 and 16 agreed to)
(On clause 17)
On clause 17, we have amendment NDP-4.
Madame Gazan, go ahead.
Leah Gazan NDP Winnipeg Centre, MB
I'd like to amend this article just for consistency:
(3.3) For greater certainty, in this section, a reference to a child who is in the care of an employee for the purpose of adoption includes an Indigenous child placed, in accordance with the customs or traditions of the Indigenous group, community or people to which the child belongs, with an employee, other than the child’s parent, for the purpose of giving the employee primary responsibility for providing the child’s day-to-day care.
To speak to it, as I said before, I'd like to find any indigenous person who would have to be consulted on why they could raise their kids in accordance with the customs and traditions of their indigenous group, on why they would need consultation on it. If the Liberal bill comes forward and if they also have not included custom and kinship care, I look forward to fighting this with the same level of intensity. Again I want to give this opportunity to not abstain and to stand up for reconciliation and indigenous kids and families in this country and to actually take a stand.
I'd like to thank all of my colleagues, the Conservatives, the Bloc, and the NDP. Human rights are a non-partisan issue. I welcome the Liberal Party to do the same.
Thank you.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Bobby Morrissey
Thank you.
Before the amendment is brought to debate, as chair, I again must give a ruling on the admissibility of said amendment.
Again, Bill C-318 amends the Canada Labour Code to introduce a new type of special benefit to extend parental leave in the case of the transfer of a child through adoption or a child born through surrogacy.
The amendment attempts to create another benefit whereby an indigenous child could be placed with an employee other than the child's parents, following processes different from the provincial adoption process that was indicated in the bill, and the employee could be entitled to an extended parental leave. As House of Commons Procedure and Practice, third edition, states on page 770, “An amendment to a bill that was referred to a committee after second reading is out of order if it is beyond the scope and principle of the bill.”
In the opinion of the chair, the amendment introduces a new concept that is beyond the scope of the bill as agreed by the House at second reading. Therefore, I rule the amendment inadmissible.
Go ahead, Ms. Gazan.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Bobby Morrissey
The chair's ruling has been challenged.
Madam Clerk, we will have a recorded vote on my ruling.
(Ruling of the chair overturned: nays 6; yeas 5)
The amendment has been adopted by the committee.
Is there discussion on the amendment?
Seeing no discussion, Madam Clerk, I will call a recorded vote on amendment NDP-4.
(Amendment agreed to: yeas 6; nays 0 [See Minutes of Proceedings])
Shall clause 17 as amended carry?
(Clause 17 as amended agreed to)
That concludes the clauses.
Shall the preamble carry?
Liberal
Conservative
Tracy Gray Conservative Kelowna—Lake Country, BC
Thank you, Mr. Chair.
I just want to take this opportunity to thank Mrs. Falk for bringing this important piece of legislation forward. I hope that everyone can support this bill, including the amendment. I just want to take this opportunity to thank her for that.
Also, Mr. Chair, I'm wondering if I can be put first on the speaking list once we are done with this, please.
Thank you.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Bobby Morrissey
Madam Gray, you will have to get my attention when that time comes.
Liberal
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Bobby Morrissey
Shall the committee order a reprint of the bill as amended for the use of the House at report stage?
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Bobby Morrissey
The committee has agreed, has reviewed the bill and has adopted several amendments. The bill will be brought to the House.
That concludes the consideration of Bill C-318.
At this stage, is there other business before the committee?
Go ahead, Mrs. Gray.