International Trade Committee on Nov. 7th, 2006

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.

On the agenda

Bill C-24, An Act to impose a charge on the export of certain softwood lumber products to the United States and a charge on refunds of certain duty deposits paid to the United States, to authorize certain payments, to amend the Export and Import Permits Act and to amend other Acts as a consequence

MPs speaking

Also speaking

Dennis Seebach Director, Administration and Technology Services, Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade

Marc Toupin Procedural Clerk

Clerk

Mary McMahon Senior Counsel, Legal Services Branch, Canada Revenue Agency

Michael Solursh Counsel, Trade Law Bureau, Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade

Cindy Negus Manager, Legislative Policy Directorate, Canada Revenue Agency

Paul Robertson Director General, North America Trade Policy, Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade

3:55 p.m.

NDP

Peter Julian NDP Burnaby—New Westminster, BC

Mr. Chair, this is a question of the committee's credibility and this is a question of credibility beyond some members' comfort level. Obviously this is flawed legislation, and obviously it required some responsible approaches to how it was being addressed. What we are seeing--

3:55 p.m.

Conservative

The Chair Conservative Leon Benoit

Are you speaking to the amendment to the motion? Get to it quickly then, because I haven't heard that.

3:55 p.m.

NDP

Peter Julian NDP Burnaby—New Westminster, BC

What we are doing is enforcing how a parliamentarian should vote. This is something that is, again, without precedent in Canadian parliamentary history. This committee has been meeting now for seven hours. For a bill of this nature, we should be taking 20 to 25 hours. That's how most committees deal with complex legislation.

Instead, what we've seen from the Conservatives and the Liberals is a cutting back, a slicing and dicing of time, so we have no serious consideration of any of these motions. Now we have an enforced vote. The enforced vote is an abstention. You're absolutely forced to it. This is without precedent and it violates parliamentary procedure.

3:55 p.m.

Conservative

The Chair Conservative Leon Benoit

Time is up, Mr. Julian. We will now go to the vote on the amendment to the motion.

The amendment is “and if no individual vote is cast, the member shall be deemed to have abstained.”

3:55 p.m.

NDP

Peter Julian NDP Burnaby—New Westminster, BC

On a point of order, Mr. Chair, could I have the subamendment in writing, please?

3:55 p.m.

Conservative

The Chair Conservative Leon Benoit

We have it right here, Mr. Julian. So let's go to the vote on the amendment to the motion.

3:55 p.m.

NDP

Peter Julian NDP Burnaby—New Westminster, BC

Yes, Mr. Chair, I'm considering the vote.

Mr. Chair, I indicated to you I was considering the vote, and I vote no.

(Amendment agreed to: yeas 9; nays 1)

3:55 p.m.

Conservative

The Chair Conservative Leon Benoit

Now, on the motion as amended, Mr. Julian.

3:55 p.m.

NDP

Peter Julian NDP Burnaby—New Westminster, BC

I'd like to offer an amendment to the subamendment that has just been offered: “unless the member indicates otherwise.”

3:55 p.m.

Conservative

The Chair Conservative Leon Benoit

Can you read that proposed amendment, Mr. Julian?

3:55 p.m.

NDP

Peter Julian NDP Burnaby—New Westminster, BC

It would read, “and if no individual vote is cast, the member shall be deemed to have abstained unless the member indicates otherwise.”

3:55 p.m.

Conservative

The Chair Conservative Leon Benoit

That's out of order, Mr. Julian.

4 p.m.

NDP

Peter Julian NDP Burnaby—New Westminster, BC

That's very clearly in order, Mr. Chair.

4 p.m.

Conservative

The Chair Conservative Leon Benoit

Let's go to the vote on the motion.

4 p.m.

NDP

Peter Julian NDP Burnaby—New Westminster, BC

On a point of order, Mr. Chair, I challenge your decision on this. It's inappropriate.

4 p.m.

Conservative

The Chair Conservative Leon Benoit

We will go to a vote that the ruling of the chair be sustained.

(Chair's ruling sustained: yeas 10; nays 1)

4 p.m.

NDP

Peter Julian NDP Burnaby—New Westminster, BC

Mr. Chair, that was on sustaining the chair?

4 p.m.

Conservative

The Chair Conservative Leon Benoit

The ruling is upheld, yes.

Oh my gosh, were we still on that one?

4 p.m.

NDP

Peter Julian NDP Burnaby—New Westminster, BC

Yes.

4 p.m.

Conservative

The Chair Conservative Leon Benoit

After a wait like that, I'd forgotten we were there.

Mr. Julian.

4 p.m.

NDP

Peter Julian NDP Burnaby—New Westminster, BC

That's quite all right, Mr. Chair. I'm pleased to help you along.

On the motion itself, I'd like to move the following--

4 p.m.

Conservative

The Chair Conservative Leon Benoit

We're going now to the vote on the motion.

4 p.m.

NDP

Peter Julian NDP Burnaby—New Westminster, BC

Mr. Chair, on the motion itself, I'd like to move the following--

4 p.m.

Conservative

The Chair Conservative Leon Benoit

I've already called the question.

4 p.m.

NDP

Peter Julian NDP Burnaby—New Westminster, BC

Mr. Chair, I had very clearly indicated--