International Trade Committee on Nov. 7th, 2006

[The Chair, Conservative, Leon Benoit]

Good morning, everyone. We're here this morning, honourable members, to proceed with clause-by-clause consideration of Bill C-24.

As members are aware, the committee adopted a motion at its meeting of October 31, 2006, to limit the amount of time allotted for the consideration of this bill. Pursuant to the third paragraph of the motion we will first vote on all of the clauses that do not have any proposed amendments. These clauses are 7, 8, 9, 16, 20, 21, 22, 27, 29, 30, 31, 35 to 39, 42 to 47, 51, 52, 53, 58 to 63, 71, 74, 79, 80, 85, 90, 91, 92, 97, 101, 102, 103, 110, 112, 115 to 119, and 121 to 125.

On the other clauses of the bill for which we have received amendments, each member may speak once to each amendment for no more than three minutes. Since subamendments are amendments to amendments, each member may also speak once to each subamendment for three minutes.

After all of the amendments to a clause have been adopted, each member may speak once to the clause, amended or not, for a total of three minutes. Should there be any motions moved related to this bill, each member may only speak once for three minutes. Motions not related to the bill cannot be moved.

The motion states that the committee must finish consideration of the bill before the end of the day, and the end of the day is midnight. Therefore, should we get toward the end of the day, I will use my discretion on how long I believe it'll take to vote on the remaining amendments. We'll start doing that at the time that seems appropriate to ensure that we are finished by midnight, should we be approaching midnight. I remind all members that 12 noon would work fine too.

Let's start with the procedure. We're going—

Mr. Julian.

[Peter Julian, NDP, Burnaby—New Westminster, BC]

I would like to move that the BC First Nations Forestry Council be invited to testify before this committee. I will speak to the motion.

As you know, Mr. Chair, this week the BC First Nations Forestry Council, which is an organization sanctioned by the B.C. First Nations Leadership Council, representing virtually all B.C. first nations, heard that the Standing Committee on International Trade was moving forward to clause-by-clause consideration of Bill C-24.

[The Chair, Conservative, Leon Benoit]

Mr. Julian, I would argue that this motion is out of order, based on the motion that was passed at the last meeting.

We'll go now to the clauses that we determined would be voted on. We'll do that first and vote on all clauses that don't have amendments.

[Peter Julian, NDP, Burnaby—New Westminster, BC]

On a point of order, there is absolutely no doubt that we have the ability to move motions here. You're right that we have the handcuff of the three-minute limit, but we do have the right to move motions. This motion is perfectly in order. Could you please consult the head table?

[The Chair, Conservative, Leon Benoit]

I have ruled this out of order. In the motion we passed we said, “That clause-by-clause consideration of Bill C-24 be completed before considering any other committee business”. This is other committee business, Mr. Julian.

[Peter Julian, NDP, Burnaby—New Westminster, BC]

But this is a hearing on Bill C-24.

[The Chair, Conservative, Leon Benoit]

No, we are dealing with clause-by-clause, Mr. Julian, and I will proceed. Please. Let's retain order here.

Mr. Julian, you may be allowed to bring this motion at the end of the meeting, but the motion we passed at the last meeting clearly says that we'll deal first of all with all of the clauses that have no amendments. It also says “That the clause by clause consideration for Bill C-24 be completed before considering any other committee business”.

After that, you may bring your motion.

[Peter Julian, NDP, Burnaby—New Westminster, BC]

Mr. Chair, it is very clear that the motion that we adopted does not preclude motions being raised at the beginning of this meeting, and this is directly related to Bill C-24. The First Nations Leadership Council has directly requested to appear before the committee on Bill C-24.

[The Chair, Conservative, Leon Benoit]

Mr. Julian, I've made my ruling on this. You know there are options available to you, but I will proceed. I believe my ruling is the appropriate one.

[Peter Julian, NDP, Burnaby—New Westminster, BC]

On a point of order, Mr. Chair, I do challenge your decision, and I would request a recorded vote.

[The Chair, Conservative, Leon Benoit]

It will be a recorded vote. There is no debate on this. I believe the wording is that the ruling of the chair be sustained. If you vote in favour of this, it means you're supporting the decision of the chair.

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

[The Chair, Conservative, Leon Benoit]

As agreed, we will now go directly to the clauses with no amendments. Could we go to a vote on that, to the clauses with no amendments?

Mr. Julian has requested recorded division on all clauses, so we will do that.

(Clauses 7, 8, 9, 16, 20, 21, 22, 27, 29, 30, 31, 35, 36, 37, 38 39, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 51, 52, 53, 58, 59, 60, 61, 62, 63, 71, 74, 79, 80, 85, 90, 91, 92, 97, 101, 102, 103, 110, 112, 115, 116, 117, 118, 119, 121, 122, 123, 124, and 125 agreed to on division: yeas 10; nays 1)

[The Chair, Conservative, Leon Benoit]

Mr. Cannan.

[Ron Cannan, Conservative, Kelowna—Lake Country, BC]

Thank you, Mr. Chair.

In continuing to try to streamline the process and for the logical flow of debate, I'd like to propose the following motion: That the amendments pertaining to the Atlantic exemption be considered as a group, to be debated and voted on individually and in the correct order. These amendments are as follows: 5, 6, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 22, 23, 24, 25, and 26.

[The Chair, Conservative, Leon Benoit]

Any problem with that? Is that supported?

As I understand it, Mr. Cannan, you're saying that we will still debate them one by one and vote on them one by one. We'll just deal with them, starting now, in that order.

[Ron Cannan, Conservative, Kelowna—Lake Country, BC]

It makes more sense to do them in sequential order.

[The Chair, Conservative, Leon Benoit]

Yes, Mr. Julian.

[Peter Julian, NDP, Burnaby—New Westminster, BC]

I'd like to see a written copy of that motion, please. It should be circulated to all members of the committee before we vote on it.

[The Chair, Conservative, Leon Benoit]

Yes, we have that. Of course, as you understand, it was read into the record so that it would be in both official languages, through the interpreters. The members provide that as a courtesy.

Mr. Cannan, do you want to speak to that up front?

[Ron Cannan, Conservative, Kelowna—Lake Country, BC]

Thank you, Mr. Chair.

As I mentioned, it makes sense to have a sequential amendment order that groups all of the Atlantic amendments together. It just helps, I think, to have a sequential debate. It's a better use of our time and it makes more sense.

[The Chair, Conservative, Leon Benoit]

Have copies now been distributed?

Okay.

Let's begin with the first amendment on that list, amendment 5.

Yes, Mr. Menzies.

[Ted Menzies, Conservative, Macleod, AB]

Are we ready to table this amendment, then? Is that the point?

[The Chair, Conservative, Leon Benoit]

Yes, we're on amendment 5 now, so someone—

[Ted Menzies, Conservative, Macleod, AB]

Since Mr. Casey has been called away, I would ask for the indulgence of the committee, Mr. Chair, to move forward with that, if I can.

I would like to explain--because I have the floor at this time--the reason for this.

[The Chair, Conservative, Leon Benoit]

Did we not vote on...?

Oh, my apologies. I was jumping ahead, Mr. Menzies. We have to pass the motion.