Evidence of meeting #16 for Indigenous and Northern Affairs in the 43rd Parliament, 2nd Session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was amendment.

A recording is available from Parliament.

On the agenda

MPs speaking

Also speaking

Émilie Thivierge  Legislative Clerk
Philippe Méla  Legislative Clerk
Clerk of the Committee  Mr. Naaman Sugrue

11:55 a.m.

Liberal

The Chair Liberal Bob Bratina

We will have a recorded vote on the amendment NDP-2 moved by Ms. Kwan.

(Amendment negatived: nays 10; yeas 1 [See Minutes of Proceedings]))

Now, members of the committee, we get to the actual oath or affirmation, which is noted as “Schedule”. I will ask for a recorded vote on the oath or affirmation of citizenship.

Prior to that, are there any further comments anyone would like to make?

Ms. Kwan, please go ahead.

11:55 a.m.

NDP

Jenny Kwan NDP Vancouver East, BC

I will be supporting the language as proposed by Bill C-8. I would have preferred that one of my amendments pass. It is important to get on with it. It's only taken five years, and this is the third bill.

I've indicated to Mr. Anandasangaree, on different occasions, that it was always my intention to move forward with the 94 calls to action. That was something that the New Democrats supported long ago. Prior to this, the former member, Romeo Saganash, and I had actually written to the predecessors of the current minister offering our support in moving forward with this.

I will be supporting this.

(Schedule agreed to: yeas 10; nays 1 [See Minutes of Proceedings])

11:55 a.m.

Liberal

The Chair Liberal Bob Bratina

Shall the preamble carry?

11:55 a.m.

Some hon. members

Agreed.

11:55 a.m.

Liberal

The Chair Liberal Bob Bratina

Shall the title carry?

11:55 a.m.

Some hon. members

Agreed.

11:55 a.m.

Liberal

The Chair Liberal Bob Bratina

Shall the bill carry?

11:55 a.m.

Some hon. members

Agreed.

11:55 a.m.

Liberal

The Chair Liberal Bob Bratina

Shall the chair report the bill to the House?

11:55 a.m.

Some hon. members

Agreed.

11:55 a.m.

Liberal

The Chair Liberal Bob Bratina

With regard to a reprint of the bill, Mr. Clerk, is that a requirement?

Noon

The Clerk

No.

Noon

Liberal

The Chair Liberal Bob Bratina

Members of the committee, we've reached a historic moment. I'm very happy, except perhaps with the lack of unanimity. Nevertheless, we're able to move forward. I want to thank our legislative staff for assisting me, and all of us in this process. I believe we attached our names to something significant, and that's much appreciated.

Noon

Liberal

Gary Anandasangaree Liberal Scarborough—Rouge Park, ON

Mr. Chair, I wish to thank the staff from IRCC for their assistance, and for being here today.

Noon

Liberal

The Chair Liberal Bob Bratina

We do have a bit of committee business. I'm not sure we need the legislative staff to hang on if they have other work to do. We can get through this just fine.

First, I need to approve the project budget and the amount requested of $1,650. Is anyone opposed to that?

I don't see anyone in opposition, so we'll say that's approved.

Noon

Conservative

Cathy McLeod Conservative Kamloops—Thompson—Cariboo, BC

Certainly I have no opposition, Chair, but I'd be very curious to do a comparison year over year in terms of our virtual hybrid model and the general committee costs. I expect they're significantly down. We have lost some benefit in that process but it would be kind of interesting at some point for us to engage in that kind of dialogue, whether it is through our committee or more broadly.

Thank you.

Noon

Liberal

The Chair Liberal Bob Bratina

That's a very good point. It probably applies to many other items of parliamentary business. I think we can work through that as well.

I also need to have approval, members of the committee, of the draft work plan for our committee. On the document that I have, some dates are a bit off for the obvious reason that things have moved around. Is there any opposition to the work plan that we have already discussed?

Mr. Anandasangaree.

Noon

Liberal

Gary Anandasangaree Liberal Scarborough—Rouge Park, ON

I'm sorry, Mr. Chair.

I must have missed the document. Which plan are you referring to?

Noon

Liberal

The Chair Liberal Bob Bratina

Mr. Clerk.

Noon

The Clerk

If I may, it's an updated version of the food security and northern communities work plan, to reflect meetings held in late December and the one witness we heard from earlier in January.

I believe it was sent yesterday or the day before. I will resend it to your personal email now.

Noon

Liberal

Gary Anandasangaree Liberal Scarborough—Rouge Park, ON

Great.

If we are going to be talking about witnesses, should we be going in camera or are we able to continue the conversation here?

Noon

The Clerk

That would be entirely up to the committee.

Noon

Liberal

Gary Anandasangaree Liberal Scarborough—Rouge Park, ON

My understanding is that if we are going to be talking about witnesses then usually it's in camera but I'm open to what other committee members want.

Noon

Liberal

The Chair Liberal Bob Bratina

We have a list of witnesses for each panel. Would there be anything, Mr. Clerk, that would be contentious in the people who are listed as witnesses?

12:05 p.m.

The Clerk

I can ask the analyst to comment on that.

In response to Mr. Anandasangaree, it is typical for committees to hold such discussions in camera.