Industry Committee on Nov. 9th, 2023

[The Chair, Liberal, Joël Lightbound]

It's up to you, Mr. Généreux. If you are giving notice of the motion—

[Bernard Généreux, Conservative, Montmagny—L'Islet—Kamouraska—Rivière-du-Loup, QC]

We have to debate the motion now. Sorry, but I think we have to because we need the information in question.

[The Chair, Liberal, Joël Lightbound]

Mr. Généreux has moved a motion that deals with Bill C-27, which is before the committee today, so the motion is in order.

The motion is up for debate.

Go ahead, Mr. Lemire.

[Sébastien Lemire, Bloc, Abitibi—Témiscamingue, QC]

Thank you, Mr. Chair.

I have a couple of friendly amendments. They are minor, so the mover could even incorporate them into the motion, himself. The documents need to be translated in both official languages, which the motion doesn't specify. We could push the November 20 deadline to allow for the documents to be translated.

Here's the other question I have. Why is it necessary to make the information available on the committee's website? I don't see the reason for doing so, so I have an issue with that.

Nevertheless, I think everyone can agree on the importance of having the documents translated in both official languages.

[The Chair, Liberal, Joël Lightbound]

Mr. Lemire is proposing an amendment to the motion. I understand the purpose, but I think we need the specific language.

[Sébastien Lemire, Bloc, Abitibi—Témiscamingue, QC]

I'll ask the clerk, who should be able to help us. How much time would it take to translate the documents in question? What deadline should we use?

[The Chair, Liberal, Joël Lightbound]

Without knowing how many documents will come in, I think it's a bit tough to say how much time is needed. I think it's safe to assume that it could take quite a while. Nobody knows.

[Sébastien Lemire, Bloc, Abitibi—Témiscamingue, QC]

As far as I'm concerned, the documents can't be submitted until they are available in both official languages. Therefore, I wouldn't specify a date, unless the Conservatives have something to suggest.

[The Chair, Liberal, Joël Lightbound]

Mr. Lemire is proposing an amendment to remove the wording “no later then November 20th, 2023”.

[Sébastien Lemire, Bloc, Abitibi—Témiscamingue, QC]

The phrase: “that this information be deposited with the Clerk of the Committee for distribution to members“ should also be added.

[The Chair, Liberal, Joël Lightbound]

I imagine that includes publishing the information in the Committee’s digital binder.

Here, then, is Mr. Lemire’s proposed amendment.

Just to inform our witnesses, I apologize for that, but I warned you before the meeting that given there was a motion on the floor, it was up for debate.

I understand that you have a flight to catch, Madam Piovesan.

[Carole Piovesan]

Actually, I just wanted to correct the record, because I understood that you were asking me, “Were you part of drafting?”, but if you were asking, “Are you part of any of the consultation processes?”, I was part of some of the consultations, but I was not part of drafting. I just wanted to correct the record.

[The Chair, Liberal, Joël Lightbound]

I appreciate that.

In all likelihood.... Okay, we'll see if this will be quick. I'm always doubtful of that. I'm thinking of maybe discharging our witnesses, given that we have 15 more minutes—

[Rick Perkins, Conservative, South Shore—St. Margarets, NS]

Is that all we have left?

[The Chair, Liberal, Joël Lightbound]

I don't think this will be settled in 15 minutes, however optimistic you are, Mr. Perkins, so if I have your consent, colleagues, I will thank the witnesses for joining us today.

If you wish to hear us debate this motion, you may very well stay. You're more than welcome. However, if you want to leave, know that your testimony has been appreciated, and if there are things that you want to submit to committee members, please do so via the clerk. The documents will be revised as we continue the study of Bill C-27.

Thank you very much.

[Bernard Généreux, Conservative, Montmagny—L'Islet—Kamouraska—Rivière-du-Loup, QC]

Thank you all. I apologize.

[The Chair, Liberal, Joël Lightbound]

We have 15 minutes left of our two-hour meeting.

Mr. Lemire’s amendment is under consideration.

Is there—

Order. An amendment is under consideration.

Are there any further comments?

If there aren't any more comments, we'll put the amendment to the vote.

[Ryan Turnbull, Liberal, Whitby, ON]

Our witnesses are leaving. Do you want me to jump right in?

[The Chair, Liberal, Joël Lightbound]

You can jump right in, yes.

[Ryan Turnbull, Liberal, Whitby, ON]

I guess what I'm trying to understand is if it is the case that people are disputing whether the government has done consultation work. Is that what the whole point of this is? It seems to me that we're listening to—

Pardon me?

[An hon. member]

[Inaudible—Editor]

[Ryan Turnbull, Liberal, Whitby, ON]

The way this was brought forward, Mr. Généreux, your points seem to call into question whether the government had done the 300 consultations that were very clearly, in my view, conducted.

I'm just not sure why you think this is important to us as members of the committee in order to be able to move forward. I think we're doing some great work. I'm sad that we had to let our witnesses go early here, because we were having such good, in-depth conversations. Could you maybe enlighten us as to why you think all these materials are necessary for this committee to continue the work that it's doing, which I think is going quite well?

[The Chair, Liberal, Joël Lightbound]

Just before I defer to other members, I want to remind everyone that right now we are debating the amendment proposed by Mr. Lemire, which is to remove everything after “be deposited to the clerk of the committee”. We remove “no later than November 20”.

Instead, it would be “deposited to the clerk of the committee for communication to members”.

[Sébastien Lemire, Bloc, Abitibi—Témiscamingue, QC]

Did you add “translated into both official languages“?

[The Chair, Liberal, Joël Lightbound]

“and also translated in both official languages”.

It goes without saying. That would be added somewhere relevant in the lengthy text of the motion.