Indigenous and Northern Affairs Committee on Nov. 17th, 2022

[Andy Garrow]

The interim board was established to help set up the council. They're there to do the incorporation process and to now co-name the first board members. Then it will become the duty of the council to take this on. The interim board won't be taking over these responsibilities. Once the council is set up, they will start to take on these responsibilities for doing the report. It won't be the interim board.

[The Chair, Liberal, Marc Garneau]

Thank you.

I'm going to put this to a vote. Is there any further comment?

Yes, Mr. Vidal.

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

I'm going to respond to the talk about the interim board of directors and the transitional committee. If I understood correctly from the departmental briefing I sat on when this bill was going to be introduced, the interim board of directors did all of its work from January to June 2018, after being appointed in December 2017. The transitional committee did all its work, after being appointed in December 2021, by March 2022, in 90 days.

In theory, those prior entities working on this important work were six months and three months. I think these timelines are reasonable. I think there should be an urgency to this.

[The Chair, Liberal, Marc Garneau]

Thank you, Mr. Vidal.

Are there any further comments before we go to a vote on amendment CPC-11?

(Amendment agreed to: yeas 6; nays 5 [See Minutes of Proceedings])

[The Chair, Liberal, Marc Garneau]

Now we'll go to PV-4.

I have two comments here. Of course, PV-4 is deemed already moved. Second, this is one of these similar situations that we've experienced before. If PV-4 is adopted, then NDP-6, CPC-13 and G-3 cannot be moved, as they amend the same line, so bear that in mind as we go forward.

With that, Ms. May, would you like to speak to PV-4?

[Elizabeth May, Green, Saanich—Gulf Islands, BC]

Thank you, Mr. Chair.

I haven't had an opportunity to say this before.

I want to specify that “PV” stands for Parti Vert, Green Party. The first time I participated in a clause-by-clause study, someone suggested that Green Party amendments should be designated with the letter G, for “Green Party”. Now, that would have been a problem, since that letter refers to “government”.

Maybe some day, but it's not right now.

This is why we use “PV” to refer to the Green Party amendments.

This is, again, an attempt to ensure that Bill C-29 as closely as possible tracks the recommendations from the Truth and Reconciliation Commission.

In Bill C-29, at first reading, the role of the Prime Minister in tabling the report was replaced with the minister. Now, I see by looking ahead.... As you've noted, Mr. Chair, if my amendment is accepted, then the government's amendment...where the “G” doesn't stand for “Green Party”; it's the government, and they're not very green. I'm just moving along here. It's a small dig to cheer up my Conservative friends.

[Voices]

Oh, oh!

[The Chair, Liberal, Marc Garneau]

Let's try to refrain from editorializing.

[Voices]

Oh, oh!

[Elizabeth May, Green, Saanich—Gulf Islands, BC]

It's really hard, when I get my moments, you know.

Here's the thing. The G-3 amendment does, in fact, ensure that the Prime Minister has a role in this council, something that was removed in the first reading. If G-3 is carried, clearly the bill will track much more closely to what was recommended by the TRC.

I would be forcefully arguing for my amendment if G-3 didn't exist. I can't vote on my amendment. I put it to you that it's an attempt to make sure that the Prime Minister has a requirement of engagement in tabling the report, and in that light, I'll leave it to you. As long as you pass G-3, I won't feel that my efforts have come to naught.

Thank you.

[The Chair, Liberal, Marc Garneau]

Thank you.

Mr. Battiste, go ahead.

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

I think this is one of the ones where we've done a lot of good work around the table in strengthening it. I think that, in discussions with the Prime Minister, he was open to this and actually quite excited about the possibility of being the first Prime Minister to table a statement on this, and that's why we have G-3.

It's quite consistent with CPC-13, which is a shock to me. With that said, we do feel that it's appropriate for the Prime Minister to table the government's response. However, as the committee is an independent national council, we feel that it's probably better that the Speaker, or someone else, tables the report on behalf of the council. That's why we feel the wording of CPC-13 and G-3 is much stronger than that provided by the Green Party and the NDP.

Whichever one we decide to support is fine, but we think the wording of CPC-13 and G-3 is most consistent with what we want to do here.

For that reason, we'll be voting against.

[The Chair, Liberal, Marc Garneau]

Seeing no further debate, I'm going to ask for a vote on PV-4.

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

Just wait a second. I'm being asked to suspend for a second while I confirm with my team that I have said the right things.

[Voices]

Oh, oh!

[The Chair, Liberal, Marc Garneau]

Okay. We'll suspend momentarily.

[The Chair, Liberal, Marc Garneau]

We will now take a recorded vote on amendment PV-4.

[Lori Idlout, NDP, Nunavut, NU]

Sorry, I just need some clarification before we vote.

Isn't it better to do a subamendment to replace the Prime Minister with the Speaker? Then approving the subamendment will mean that we don't need to discuss the rest of the similar amendments.

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

Consistent with what Ms. May said, we feel that by voting down the.... Instead of amending them, we can just cover it with CPC-13 and vote on that one. It covers all the bases.

We're all on the same page here. It's just the wording.

[The Chair, Liberal, Marc Garneau]

Does that answer your question, Ms. Idlout? Very good.

Let's proceed with the vote, please.

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

Based on that, PV-4 does not carry.

Next in the order, we are going to NDP-6.

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

It's the same rationale. Our government will be voting against, because CPC-13 will cover that with better wording.

[The Chair, Liberal, Marc Garneau]

Thank you, Mr. Battiste.

Are there any other comments?

Go ahead, Ms. Idlout.

[Lori Idlout, NDP, Nunavut, NU]

Can I move to withdraw my motion, reference number 12027230?

[The Chair, Liberal, Marc Garneau]

It was a mistake on my part. I didn't ask you to move it, which is what I'm now asking.

Do you wish to move it?

[Lori Idlout, NDP, Nunavut, NU]

Yes. I wish to withdraw my motion.