Indigenous and Northern Affairs Committee on Nov. 14th, 2022

[Jaime Battiste, Liberal, Sydney—Victoria, NS]

I understand that this is about the promotion and support of indigenous languages as part of the council's functions, I believe. It is? Okay.

We're in agreement—

[The Chair, Liberal, Marc Garneau]

It's to protect indigenous language rights.

Does the committee wish to debate the amendment?

Not seeing any debate, shall NDP-2 carry? I see agreement.

(Amendment agreed to [See Minutes of Proceedings])

We now come to PV-1, which is Ms. May's, who I'm afraid is not here at this point. There is no need to move it on her part. That's pursuant to a routine motion adopted by the committee in December 2021.

Is there a desire to debate PV-1?

Go ahead, Mr. Schmale.

[Jamie Schmale, Conservative, Haliburton—Kawartha Lakes—Brock, ON]

Could we have a recorded vote on this one?

[The Chair, Liberal, Marc Garneau]

Thank you.

Mr. Battiste, do you have a comment?

[Jaime Battiste, Liberal, Sydney—Victoria, NS]

We have actually some alternative language that we would like to propose to the committee. It is that Bill C-29, in clause 7, be amended by adding after line 9 on page 4 the following: “The Council must constitute a national reconciliation trust to advance the cause of reconciliation; the Council must develop a multi-year funding plan that ensures adequate funding of the Council national reconciliation trust; the Council must inform the Minister of any initial funding gaps in relation to item 3.”

That is the amended wording.

Are we sure? It sounds like the exact same thing.

[A voice]

[Inaudible—Editor]

[Jaime Battiste, Liberal, Sydney—Victoria, NS]

Are we okay with that?

Could we have a time out, Mr. Chair?

[The Chair, Liberal, Marc Garneau]

Do you want a time out? Of course, if you are proposing it, this constitutes a subamendment, and it would need to be provided in writing.

[Jaime Battiste, Liberal, Sydney—Victoria, NS]

It feels like I amended something that's already the same as what's written, so I'm trying to get a quick time out to understand what I changed—

[The Chair, Liberal, Marc Garneau]

Do you want a time out? Yes.

Okay. We will suspend momentarily.

[Jaime Battiste, Liberal, Sydney—Victoria, NS]

Let's try that again, Marc. Omit what I just said and we'll go to a vote.

[Some hon. members]

Oh, oh!

[An hon. member]

That was easy.

[The Chair, Liberal, Marc Garneau]

Okay, very good.

Does anyone else wish to comment on PV‑1?

It doesn't look like it.

In accordance with two requesters, we will go to a recorded division on PV-1.

(Amendment negatived: nays 11; yeas 0 [See Minutes of Proceedings])

Shall clause 7, with amendments CPC-2, NDP-1, CPC-3 and NDP-2, carry?

(Clause 7 as amended agreed to [See Minutes of Proceedings])

(On clause 8)

Before we get into clause 8, I have to point out one thing. If CPC-4 is adopted, then G-1 cannot be moved, as they amend the same line.

I'm going to reference House of Commons Procedure and Practice, third edition, which states on page 769:

Once a line of a clause has been amended by the committee, it cannot be further amended by a subsequent amendment as a given line may be amended only once.

I hope that's clear to everyone.

With that, Mr. Vidal, would you like to move CPC-4 and present it?

[Gary Vidal, Conservative, Desnethé—Missinippi—Churchill River, SK]

Thank you, Mr. Chair.

I'm just making sure that I have all my notes coordinated and I'm on the right page.

I move that we consider the amendment with the reference number of 12004717. The purpose of this amendment to clause 8 is to change the language to suggest that the directors be “jointly selected” by the minister and the transitional committee rather than “in collaboration with”. The purpose of this suggested amendment would be to truly honour the Truth and Reconciliation Commission's call to action number 53, which calls on that language of “jointly” selected rather than “in collaboration with”.

I think this is a little bit stronger language. We heard testimony from a number of witnesses who would support this amendment. I move it accordingly.

[The Chair, Liberal, Marc Garneau]

Thank you, Mr. Vidal.

Is there any desire for debate?

Not seeing any, is CPC-4 carried?

(Amendment agreed to [See Minutes of Proceedings])

Because CPC-4 was carried, G-1 cannot be presented as an amendment.

We're moving on to BQ‑1.

This is just a heads-up that BQ‑1 and BQ‑5 are consequential. If BQ‑1 is adopted, BQ‑5 is automatically adopted, but if BQ‑1 is not adopted, BQ‑5 can still be moved later.

Also, if BQ‑1 is adopted, CPC‑5 can't be moved because both amendments change the same line in the bill.

There are a couple of things to remember here. Is it clear to everyone? If BQ-1 is adopted, then CPC-5 cannot be proposed, because it changes the same line. That's the same rule I explained a minute ago.

[Gary Vidal, Conservative, Desnethé—Missinippi—Churchill River, SK]

Could we have a minute?

[The Chair, Liberal, Marc Garneau]

Yes. We'll suspend for a minute here.

[The Chair, Liberal, Marc Garneau]

Are you ready to move BQ‑1, Mrs. Gill?

You can speak to it, if you wish, before the committee debates it.

[Marilène Gill, Bloc, Manicouagan, QC]

Actually, Mr. Chair, the purpose of the amendment is simply to ensure that the clause also takes into account equal representation of women and men, as new subsection 12(2) would mention.

The purpose of CPC‑5 is to ensure that the clause takes into account section 12 in its entirety. I don't want to limit the scope of my amendment, so I could move a subamendment to my own amendment to include CPC‑5. I would have absolutely no problem doing that, but I'm not sure whether it's allowed, procedurally speaking, Mr. Chair.

[The Chair, Liberal, Marc Garneau]

It's been discussed, Mrs. Gill, and if you want the clause to take into account other factors, instead of referring to subsection 12(2), you can refer simply to section 12. When we get to that clause and BQ‑5, other amendments may come up.

[Marilène Gill, Bloc, Manicouagan, QC]

I think it's in keeping with what our amendment is trying to do, so that's what I'm proposing, and we can discuss it when we get to BQ‑5. The door is open.

Thank you, Mr. Chair.

[The Chair, Liberal, Marc Garneau]

From what I gather, you are proposing that BQ‑1 refer to section 12, instead of subsection 12(2).

[Marilène Gill, Bloc, Manicouagan, QC]

Yes, exactly. That reflects CPC‑5. It would actually be the same amendment.

[The Chair, Liberal, Marc Garneau]

Very well.

Is there debate on the latest version of BQ-1?