Evidence of meeting #36 for International Trade in the 39th Parliament, 1st Session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was chair.
A recording is available from Parliament.
2:25 p.m.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Leon Benoit
Mr. Julian, I had a conversation with the clerk in the time it took you to cast your vote. I would encourage you to please speed up the procedure.
Have you voted, Mr. Julian?
2:25 p.m.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Leon Benoit
Thank you.
Shall clause 23 carry...?
Debate, Mr. Julian, for one minute.
November 7th, 2006 / 2:25 p.m.
NDP
Peter Julian NDP Burnaby—New Westminster, BC
This is absolutely incredible. I thought I'd seen it all, but I haven't. I've seen a government that is hell-bent on driving the softwood industry right over the cliff, without any attention to any of the details. There's the poor drafting of Bill C-24, and there is the shutting off of television cameras so the public can't be aware of what this government is doing, with the assistance of two opposition parties. That's something I can certainly understand, because if the public knew what this government was doing, there'd be an even greater cost, in British Columbia particularly.
What we have is a bad bill that is being made worse by the lack of attention to detail by members of this committee, who are ramming through amendments that make it even worse than it was before.
For Bill C-24, clause 24, amendment NDP-17, which I move, we add that “registered mail” should be added to the cancellation and effective dates so they're not simply set by fiat of the minister; they are set by registered mail.
2:25 p.m.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Leon Benoit
Your time is up, Mr. Julian.
Does anybody else want to speak on clause 23, which is unamended?
2:25 p.m.
NDP
Peter Julian NDP Burnaby—New Westminster, BC
Just for clarification, are we now voting on amendment 17?
2:25 p.m.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Leon Benoit
We were on NDP-16 that amends clause 23. We are now voting on clause 23.
Have you voted, Mr. Julian?
2:25 p.m.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Leon Benoit
Did you vote no just now, or you're telling me you haven't voted?
2:25 p.m.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Leon Benoit
Please vote, Mr. Julian.
(Clause 23 agreed to: yeas 10; nays 1)
(On clause 24--Cancellation)
2:25 p.m.
Conservative
2:25 p.m.
NDP
Peter Julian NDP Burnaby—New Westminster, BC
Thank you, Mr. Chair.
Through this comical circus it is actually supposed to be called due clause-by-clause consideration of Bill C-24, and we haven't had that. What we've had is a bit of a kangaroo court, ramming through amendments that are going to hurt lumber remanufacturers in British Columbia and the softwood industry, particularly those companies that were so cash short they had to sign up to the EDC. That's only 25% of the companies, but nonetheless they're important.
Here we have a situation in clause 24 where the minister notifies of cancellation, but without any real substantial direction. In our amendment we're saying it has to happen by registered mail. Essentially we are saying that this egregiously bad bill, which is being rammed through at lightning speed without due consideration, has to be changed.
2:30 p.m.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Leon Benoit
Thank you, Mr. Julian. Your time is up.
Would anyone else like to speak to NDP-17?
Ms. Guergis.
2:30 p.m.
Conservative
Helena Guergis Conservative Simcoe—Grey, ON
Thank you.
We do not support this amendment. Of course, it takes away the discretion of the minister. I note that registered mail is only available through Canada Post, so this amendment pretty much takes away the flexibility of the government and the minister to use the most efficient and cost-effective mail service. I think that's just wrong.
Thank you.
2:30 p.m.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Leon Benoit
Thank you, Ms. Guergis.
(Amendment negatived [See Minutes of Proceedings])
2:30 p.m.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Leon Benoit
We now go to the vote on clause 24. Shall clause 24 carry?
Mr. Julian, you have one minute on clause 17.
2:30 p.m.
NDP
Peter Julian NDP Burnaby—New Westminster, BC
I'm moving the following amendment....
I'm sorry, you said clause 17, Mr. Chair. Would you please verify where we are? We're going through this at such a breakneck pace.
Did you say clause 17?
2:30 p.m.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Leon Benoit
Your time is ticking, Mr. Julian. You know it's clause 24. You should, if you're speaking on it.
2:30 p.m.
NDP
Peter Julian NDP Burnaby—New Westminster, BC
No, you said clause 17, and given the lightning speed with which we're demolishing the softwood industry, it stands to reason that I would at least ask which clause you are pushing us through next.
I'm moving that in clause 25 we amend by replacing lines 35 to 41, on page 16, with the following:
The Minister shall, when so requested by a provincial or territorial government, provide that government with all relevant information in the Minister's possession that the Minister may lawfully provide in relation to any person who has applied to that government for certification as an independent—
2:30 p.m.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Leon Benoit
Mr. Julian, that's out of order. We're on clause 24, for one thing, and second, you haven't—
2:30 p.m.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Leon Benoit
No, we are now debating clause 24, Mr. Julian. I'm surprised you don't know that.