Evidence of meeting #44 for International Trade in the 41st Parliament, 1st Session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was japan.
A recording is available from Parliament.
Conservative
Conservative
Ed Holder Conservative London West, ON
Thank you, Chair.
I think I understand what Mr. Easter is doing. He's trying to lay his full argument out in public before we get to the point of the motion. I would like to ask you to.... If there's a motion on the floor, let's deal with it. If there's debate, then do that within the context of that and not before.
Can I ask you to rule on that, Chair?
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Rob Merrifield
That's fair enough. He's introducing the motion.
Are you done, Mr. Easter, on introducing?
Liberal
Wayne Easter Liberal Malpeque, PE
Just about, Mr. Chair.
This will be all I need to say on it, Ed, really. I think the motion speaks for itself.
There are a number of recommendations at this stage from witnesses. I do think it establishes.... When Canada didn't live up to its part of the implementation act, it set a bad example, even for Colombia.
I would like to pass the motion now, and it would give our research staff the time to prepare a short submission. Then we can put it to the government, because this may be our last meeting. I don't know, maybe we'll meet on Thursday. Then we could have a look at it over the summer and pass it in the fall.
I so move.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Rob Merrifield
We have a motion on the floor. Is there debate on the motion?
Mr. Davies—
Conservative
Ed Holder Conservative London West, ON
Can I ask what the question is? The preamble was so huge that I don't recall the question, Chair.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Rob Merrifield
I believe he's asking for support for the motion.
Mr. Davies, discussion on the motion.
NDP
Don Davies NDP Vancouver Kingsway, BC
Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
The motion is in front of us. I just want to speak in support of the motion.
It was the official opposition New Democrats who moved the motion to have the study. I want to thank all members of the committee for agreeing to that, because I think it turned out to be helpful.
I think we should have a brief study, for a few quick reasons. As Mr. Easter just pointed out, we have had two days of hearings and we received some pretty good testimony. Most importantly, though, I think all of us were somewhat disappointed that the report that came forward did not really have a human rights impact assessment, and I think we all want to make sure that it does have one next time.
It will be good to be able to give some direction to the government on maybe why that report was not done and what kinds of suggestions we may give to the government to ensure that a report is completed in a manner that complies with the legislation and satisfies the desire of all members of this committee to have such a study.
To me, it's just finishing off the logical conclusion of the study that we had with some concrete recommendations. This is not about politics. This is about making sure that the government does provide the report it agreed to, and which, I'm sure, it wants to produce for all Canadians.
Conservative
Gerald Keddy Conservative South Shore—St. Margaret's, NS
It's a complete change of position from the official opposition. When they asked to have the study, there was to be no report. We realized we only had four and a half months into this agreement. It was a very preliminary look at a study that we expect to see out next year. It's a totally different position from when the motion came to this place.
I say we have the vote and move on.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Rob Merrifield
Let's put the vote. We have to go in camera; we have to get some stuff done.
Do you have further debate?
NDP
Don Davies NDP Vancouver Kingsway, BC
Yes, I do.
Mr. Keddy, I think those remarks are totally uncalled for.
NDP
Don Davies NDP Vancouver Kingsway, BC
Mr. Keddy is labouring under an illusion that this is the official opposition's motion. This is not. This is a Liberal motion.
At the time we made our motion, it was to have a study. We had that study.
I can't control what another party does. Mr. Easter has, on his own, put forth a motion here to have a report that frankly was not part of our original motion.
It's not contradictory; this is complementary and in addition to. So I wouldn't want the record to falsely depict that there was any contradiction on behalf of the official opposition at all.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Rob Merrifield
Let's put it to the test of the committee.
(Motion negatived)
It's defeated.
We'll suspend very quickly to move in camera.