Evidence of meeting #51 for Industry, Science and Technology in the 42nd Parliament, 1st Session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was diversity.
A recording is available from Parliament.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Dan Ruimy
Welcome, everybody. We'll get this show on the road here.
Welcome to meeting 51 of the Standing Committee on Industry, Science and Technology. Today we're continuing our work on Bill C-25.
(On clause 24)
We left off at PV-5. There were quite a few things being said. If there is anything new to add to PV-5, I would like to hear that. If not, we could then move on to the next one, NDP-13.
Mr. Lobb.
Conservative
Ben Lobb Conservative Huron—Bruce, ON
I bumped into Mr. Lametti yesterday, walking to caucus, I think it was. He indicated to me that he had some information that would maybe help shed some light on our discussion. I thought I would ask him to say it.
Now, I will say this, though; in defence of myself, and for the whole committee, I guess I didn't realize that he couldn't say anything, or that he felt like he couldn't say anything. So if there's a moment where my Liberal colleagues feel like the parliamentary secretary can shed some light on a 45-minute discussion on one amendment, I would encourage them to let us know.
You know, our parliamentary secretaries are here as well as everybody else to shed some light on things. I just bring that out there, because I was unaware that Mr. Lametti had any insider info on it. It would have been helpful prior to our 45-minute discussion on that amendment.
If Mr. Lametti has something to say today, I'd welcome him saying it.
Liberal
David Lametti Liberal LaSalle—Émard—Verdun, QC
Thank you, Mr. Chair.
I had indicated to all the members of the opposition, including Ms. May and Mr. Masse, that first of all I'm here as a member of Parliament, so I'm entitled to sit at this table. But as the parliamentary secretary, I'm always willing to answer, in good faith, any inquiries that the opposition members or Liberal members of the committee might have, in part because I often will know what the ministry is thinking.
That was part of a general set of comments that I had made to all the members. If there is a specific question, I'm willing to answer it.
Conservative
Ben Lobb Conservative Huron—Bruce, ON
I'll just say this, Mr. Chair. It's pretty obvious what we're discussing, and that's the amendments on the one....
I thought, from our discussion yesterday, you had some insight on what a regulation would look like instead of this piece that we're talking about here. I would encourage you to let us have some insight on what the minister or the ministry is thinking in terms of what a regulation may look like.
Liberal
David Lametti Liberal LaSalle—Émard—Verdun, QC
Okay.
As Mr. Schaan mentioned yesterday, the regulations process is a separate process but the minister is committed to giving guidance in the regulations. As Mr. Schaan pointed out yesterday, the kinds of ideas that are being discussed are an open-ended provision on diversity other than gender, which incorporates, in an inclusive fashion—“may include” or something like that, language like that—the kinds of categories that are found in the Employment Equity Act.
I'm not saying anything that Mr. Schaan didn't say yesterday, but perhaps I'm packaging it in a more directed fashion in response to your question.
NDP
Brian Masse NDP Windsor West, ON
Thanks for that intervention. It still doesn't change the fundamental fact that this is an opportunity for Parliament and for us to add an amendment. In fact, I have a subamendment to my amendment, which will be coming up. It actually uses language that was passed by this House of Commons, including the government members and the parliamentary secretary, most recently on Bill C-16, that outlines a specific element of diversity.
NDP
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Dan Ruimy
Sorry, Mr. Masse. We can get to that when you're on your subamendment, but right now we're dealing with PV-5.
Liberal
NDP
Brian Masse NDP Windsor West, ON
No, it's relevant to this discussion, Mr. Chair. It's relevant to this discussion because we just had an intervention about regulations.
NDP
Brian Masse NDP Windsor West, ON
I'm highlighting the fact.... This will be upcoming, but I wanted to specifically mention that this piece of legislation was not in regulations. It was actually passed by the House of Commons. I'd just like to finish reading what we all passed in this committee here.
NDP
Brian Masse NDP Windsor West, ON
It specifically says that information respecting gender representation and diversity including in regard to “colour, race, religion, national or ethnic origin, age, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or mental or physical disability” was passed as a definition in an act to amend the Canadian Human Rights Act and Criminal Code. I think this is also based upon the Ontario human rights code, when they looked at that.
It was actually passed, and you voted in favour of it, Mr. Lametti, and right now it is in the Senate at second reading.
This was passed in the House of Commons, the specific definition that the bill had. I'll be moving that later, whether or not we deal with Ms. May's motion, which is very good as well but doesn't have the specifics related to legislation already passed through the House of Commons and just awaiting final approval by the Senate in this current Parliament.
I have copies, and at the appropriate time I can present them to members.
Thank you very much.
Green
Elizabeth May Green Saanich—Gulf Islands, BC
Since we are on my amendment, I will just say that I'm very open to anyone else moving a friendly amendment to my amendment.
I can't move it myself because, of course, I'm not a member of the committee, and this amendment of mine is deemed to have been moved by others. I have no ability to withdraw it or amend it, but I want to suggest that I would regard any of Mr. Masse's suggestions as friendly. You could either defeat my motion and move on to his, or you could amend mine now.
It's entirely a matter of options in your hands, Mr. Chair.
Conservative
Earl Dreeshen Conservative Red Deer—Mountain View, AB
I think this is something we talked about. We were at that stage last day, so perhaps if we can vote on the Green amendment, then we can continue on from there.
NDP
Brian Masse NDP Windsor West, ON
We can do that, but I'm happy to amend the motion....
It's fine. We'll just do that, and then we'll move on.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Dan Ruimy
There is no further debate on amendment PV-5.
(Amendment negatived [See Minutes of Proceedings])
We're going to move to amendment NDP-13.
Mr. Masse.