Madam Neville.
Evidence of meeting #61 for Indigenous and Northern Affairs in the 39th Parliament, 1st Session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was chair.
A recording is available from Parliament.
Evidence of meeting #61 for Indigenous and Northern Affairs in the 39th Parliament, 1st Session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was chair.
A recording is available from Parliament.
Liberal
Anita Neville Liberal Winnipeg South Centre, MB
That was my point as well, Mr. Chair. You've just advised the committee that on your own volition you called the committee together to deal with an agenda that you determined. What I'm hearing from you is that you are ignoring the subcommittee report concurred on by all members of the committee on May 10.
As I understand the minutes, it was concurred on by all members of the committee that we would deal with this issue in September. So on what basis do you come forward on your own volition to supersede that agreement by the entire committee?
Liberal
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Colin Mayes
First of all, the June motion by Mr. Lemay superseded the motion to defer until September.
I believe it's the duty of this committee to proceed with the House business. We are at the pleasure of the House. They have directed a bill to us to deal with.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Colin Mayes
I think it's important that we report the bill back to the House in a timely fashion, so let's get to the clause-by-clause.
Mr. Bruinooge.
Conservative
Rod Bruinooge Conservative Winnipeg South, MB
Mr. Chair, not only did four members of our committee request that we go to clause-by-clause--and thankfully you did call this important meeting--but a number of people all across Canada, first nations people on reserve who don't have access to the Canadian Human Rights Act, have called me and asked to extend the Canadian Human Rights Act to first nations people.
Your party might choose to not do this, as you have; you have voted against extending the Canadian Human Rights Act to first nations people. But this is something we must do and we should do. If you want to continue to block what we're attempting to do, you can.
Conservative
Rod Bruinooge Conservative Winnipeg South, MB
No, I believe what I'm saying. That's the difference between you and me. You obviously point out scripts.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Colin Mayes
We have a motion on the floor, which is whether or not we're going to deal with the motions by Madam Neville and Mr. Lemay. That's the question, so let's deal with that question.
Any further discussion?
Liberal
Anita Neville Liberal Winnipeg South Centre, MB
I would like to know which four members requested, and I would like clarification as to whether four members can determine the agenda. Four members can call a meeting, but my understanding is that four members cannot determine the agenda. It is the committee that determines the agenda of the meeting.
Conservative
Conservative
Brian Storseth Conservative Westlock—St. Paul, AB
Thank you very much, Mr. Chair.
In speaking to this motion, I think it's incumbent that we recognize the fact that you did call this meeting today and that you did put clause-by-clause--which we are now in--at the forefront of this agenda. I feel that changing this agenda around to try to circumvent clause-by-clause would be harmful not only to first nations people across this country but also to the identity of our nation as a whole.
So I will be voting against this idea of going to these motions. I think we need to carry forward with clause-by-clause.
I notice that the opposition, Mr. Chair, has several amendments that they obviously want to put toward this. I suggest that we continue to clause-by-clause, look at the opposition's amendments, and hammer out something that will be amicable for all parties here.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Colin Mayes
Go ahead, Madam Bennett, but let's stay on the motion at hand, that we deal with the motions before we move to clause-by-clause.
Liberal
Carolyn Bennett Liberal St. Paul's, ON
This is a point of order in that at the moment my understanding is that it's at the call of the chair, at the request of whoever, that we are convened here today. It is now your job, as chair, to determine the will of this committee as to the work done at this committee, if any. Your job is not to dictate the work of this committee. Your job now is to ask the committee if they are prepared to do clause-by-clause. That is your job.
I think you will find that we do not want to do clause-by-clause because of the previous decision of this committee to wait until there have been appropriate consultations with first nations and native women in this country, which this committee agreed to twice.
You have called this meeting. We are all here. But now it is your job to ask us what we want to do.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Colin Mayes
Okay. Dealing with the motion by Madam Neville to proceed with the motion—