Indigenous and Northern Affairs Committee on Oct. 13th, 2020

[Arnold Viersen, Conservative, Peace River—Westlock, AB]

Mr. Chair, I also have some study motions. Can I submit them by electronic means? Fortunately or unfortunately, they're very similar to some of Ms. Zann's. I have one that's very similar, so I'm happy to work with her.

[The Chair, Liberal, Bob Bratina]

With further notices coming from Ms. Qaqqaq and Mr. Viersen, perhaps we should move this to the agenda review subcommittee and determine the future work of the committee.

We'll be here for a long time going over the material that we have, but I'm really pleased that we have heard the directions that our members from all parties are interested in pursuing.

[Arnold Viersen, Conservative, Peace River—Westlock, AB]

Mr. Chair, I would still like to move a motion, which we could dispose of today. It is not a study motion.

[Gary Anandasangaree, Liberal, Scarborough—Rouge Park, ON]

Mr. Chair, I don't understand what's meant by “not a study motion”. Is it a declaration then?

Are we as a committee making a declaration? If that's the case, I'm not actually sure we're able to do that. I don't know if the clerk could give us some clarity on it. I don't believe we're able to do that.

[Arnold Viersen, Conservative, Peace River—Westlock, AB]

I believe this is the committee business section of the meeting where we can dispose of motions.

[The Chair, Liberal, Bob Bratina]

It sounds substantive so it would require 48 hours. Wouldn't it?

Mr. Clerk, could you clarify?

[Arnold Viersen, Conservative, Peace River—Westlock, AB]

I believe we can present motions from the floor.

[The Clerk]

Notices of motions can be submitted, either orally by reading them out in committee or via the clerk, according to the routine motions. For any substantive motion, unanimous consent is required to consider that motion or for that motion to be moved, if the 48-hour notice period has not elapsed.

[Arnold Viersen, Conservative, Peace River—Westlock, AB]

What's the definition of “substantive”?

[The Chair, Liberal, Bob Bratina]

Anything is substantive right now, because it's all brand new. It's not based on previous discussions that we've been having and sort of nuanced to something.

[Arnold Viersen, Conservative, Peace River—Westlock, AB]

When will our next meeting be because that can kind of determine.... I'd like to get this dealt with before the House resumes next week. I don't think we'll be having another meeting before next week.

[Cathy McLeod, Conservative, Kamloops—Thompson—Cariboo, BC]

On a point of order, Mr. Chair, does he not need to move it? Then the decision, as per our NDP colleague, would be whether unanimous consent is given. Is that not what would need to happen?

[Arnold Viersen, Conservative, Peace River—Westlock, AB]

My motion would be:

That the committee extend condolences to the family of Joyce Echaquan and express great concern over her treatment and this be reported to the House.

Given the fact that we've seen people pushing us for a while, saying that we sit on this committee so we need to provide a reaction. People are asking, “What is the committee going to do about this?” We can express our great concern and condolences. We will be studying health care impacts and all these kinds of things. What we need to do is express our concern and report this to the House forthwith. I don't think that we should be delaying this any longer.

[The Chair, Liberal, Bob Bratina]

Let me ask Mr. Anandasangaree for a comment.

[Gary Anandasangaree, Liberal, Scarborough—Rouge Park, ON]

If that's the actual wording of the motion, I don't think there's a particular issue. My concerns are threefold. First, I've never had a committee basically declare anything like this, so I'd like clarity on whether we have the ability to do that.

Secondly, with regard to the nature of the file that we're dealing with respecting issues around indigenous people, I think this type of motion could basically be done every other day, given the number of outrageous things that have taken place and continue to take place.

In terms of precedent, I think we have to be careful in that sense.

[Arnold Viersen, Conservative, Peace River—Westlock, AB]

Are you saying that this is happening every other day?

[The Chair, Liberal, Bob Bratina]

Mr. Viersen, Mr. Anandasangaree has the floor.

[Gary Anandasangaree, Liberal, Scarborough—Rouge Park, ON]

I think what we should focus on is coming up with a study that reflects the need for action. I think that would be a more appropriate response from this committee, to do a study—

[Arnold Viersen, Conservative, Peace River—Westlock, AB]

We will be doing that study; that's guaranteed.

[Gary Anandasangaree, Liberal, Scarborough—Rouge Park, ON]

If I may just finish, Arnold, it will be, I think, prudent of us to speak to experts, come back with some comprehensive response on—

[Arnold Viersen, Conservative, Peace River—Westlock, AB]

Speak to experts...?

[The Chair, Liberal, Bob Bratina]

Mr. Viersen, and everybody in the committee, crosstalk does not enable us to function well.

Mr. Anandasangaree has the floor.

Please, go ahead.

[Gary Anandasangaree, Liberal, Scarborough—Rouge Park, ON]

I think it would be appropriate for us to work on a study that will come back and report accordingly to Parliament. I think that's the appropriate way that this committee should be functioning, and that's probably what's called for in respect of the issues that Mr. Viersen has brought up.

[The Chair, Liberal, Bob Bratina]

Arnold, do you want to comment?

[Arnold Viersen, Conservative, Peace River—Westlock, AB]

Mr. Chair, this is basically a process thing. Unless I get unanimous consent for this, you're telling me that I may not move this motion. At this point, this is a notice of motion:

That the committee extend condolences to the family of Joyce Echaquan and express great concern over her treatment and this be reported to the House.

I hope to dispose of this as soon as possible.

Thank you, Mr. Chair.