International Trade Committee on May 28th, 2021

[Rachel Bendayan, Liberal, Outremont, QC]

Thank you, Madam Chair.

I'm glad we were able to hear from Mr. Sarai. I know that this issue is important right across the country, but particularly so in British Columbia, and many members of our caucus are from British Columbia, including on this committee.

I think what you have before you, Madam Chair, if I can summarize, is what sounds like general agreement that the softwood lumber issue should be studied.

I understand what our colleague Monsieur Savard-Tremblay is proposing, but I wonder if I might propose to him and to all colleagues that, rather than engaging in what might be a truncated study, we first address the private member's bill, Bill C-216. I believe the discussion around the table was revolving around either two or possibly three meetings. I'm happy to have that discussion again to see where members stand on this, but we should complete the review of Bill C-216 and go to softwood lumber thereafter.

That would be my suggestion, and I would be happy to move a formal amendment, but if you would like to hear from others first, I'm fine with that as well, Madam Chair.

[The Chair, Liberal, Judy Sgro]

Go ahead, Ms. Gray.

[Tracy Gray, Conservative, Kelowna—Lake Country, BC]

Thank you, Madam Chair.

I think, for the amendment that Mr. Savard-Tremblay proposed, I would be fine with that, absolutely, so that it still, as I said earlier, stays within our original timelines. It addresses this very pressing and urgent issue that is important to Canadians, and it still stays within the timelines we've already all agreed to. I would be fine with Mr. Savard-Tremblay's amendment.

[The Chair, Liberal, Judy Sgro]

Madam Clerk, I may need your assistance here.

In advance of knowing that there was a lot of interest from all committee members on the softwood lumber, the clerk reached out to the minister as to her availability. She has confirmed that she would be available on June 4.

I'm going to ask the clerk to make sure I'm following things. As I understood it from Mr. Savard-Tremblay and everyone else, if we were to adopt the motion as is, as Ms. Gray put forward, understanding that the minister would appear on June 4, that satisfies the requirements.

I had already put together a schedule based on the responses to the email that went out, which suggested that on June 7 we would deal with Bill C-216, that June 11 would be Bill C-216 with officials, and that June 14 would be clause-by-clause consideration of Bill C-216.

If I put that out there, if everybody is in agreement with this—

Ms. Bendayan.

[Rachel Bendayan, Liberal, Outremont, QC]

I'm sorry. I'm terribly confused as to what is on the table at the moment.

Mr. Savard-Tremblay had proposed something, I had proposed something and we were discussing it.

With all due respect, Madam Chair, I don't think the amendment before you is very clear.

I think it would be better if we came to an agreement on how to move forward. I can propose an amendment, if you like, and send it out. However, I move that we start with the study of Bill C-216, and then move on to the softwood lumber study.

I think the Conservative motion put forward by Ms. Gray would need amending only in relation to the June 4 deadline. The deadline would need to be pushed back until after the Bill C-216 study.

Mr. Savard-Tremblay, you can propose the amendment or I can, if you prefer, but I think, at this point, it's important to have things laid out clearly so we know what exactly we are voting on.

[The Chair, Liberal, Judy Sgro]

I was trying to clarify that.

Mr. Savard-Tremblay wanted to move an amendment to Ms. Gray's motion, adding that we would for sure start with Bill C-216 on June 7. What I reiterated was exactly how that might work. I'm very conscious of time, as well, so if we can come to an agreement on how we want to do this....

I have Ms. Gray and then Mr. Aboultaif.

Go ahead, Ms. Gray.

[Tracy Gray, Conservative, Kelowna—Lake Country, BC]

Thank you, Madam Chair.

I was just going to say, before something else is brought forth, that from the procedural standpoint we have a motion and we have an amendment that we've accepted to the motion, but which we haven't considered. That's what we're addressing here first.

[The Chair, Liberal, Judy Sgro]

Yes. My understanding is that the motion as amended would have to go first.

Mr. Aboultaif.

[Ziad Aboultaif, Conservative, Edmonton Manning, AB]

Thank you, Madam Chair. I thought the amendment came from the Bloc Québécois. I'm surprised that Ms. Bendayan is jumping to propose it, and as to the procedural facts, Ms. Gray has already spoken about those. I hope that as soon as the minister is available on June 4, that will be enough. It will be easy and it will be important to get the lumber issue dealt with. I think it is quite critical. In this way we can hit two birds with one stone.

I thought to clarify that.

[The Chair, Liberal, Judy Sgro]

Thank you very much.

Mr. Arya.

[Chandra Arya, Liberal, Nepean, ON]

Madam Chair, if my understanding of the amendment is correct, Mr. Savard-Tremblay is proposing that his bill be discussed on June 7. It appears that it will be limited to only June 7, if my understanding of this amendment is correct. When I listened to you, it appeared that we are agreeing to three days of sitting for his private member's bill.

I don't know. Can somebody clarify this, please?

[The Chair, Liberal, Judy Sgro]

Okay, hold on.

Mr. Savard-Tremblay, your amendment—

[Simon-Pierre Savard-Tremblay, Bloc, Saint-Hyacinthe—Bagot, QC]

I can go ahead and add the clarification. Instead of referring to June 7, the amendment should indicate all three dates. The honourable member made a good point.

[The Chair, Liberal, Judy Sgro]

Just to clarify your motion, Mr. Savard-Tremblay, your amendment to Ms. Gray's motion is to add that on June 7 we would start Bill C-216. Is that correct?

[Simon-Pierre Savard-Tremblay, Bloc, Saint-Hyacinthe—Bagot, QC]

The purpose of my amendment is to secure the specified dates for the study of Bill C-216. I am open to hearing Ms. Bendayan's amendment to change the June 4 deadline, but I still want to add my comments. After that, we can discuss another amendment, but I do want to secure the three dates.

I will read the amendment. At the end of the motion, the following wording would be added: “whereas the meetings of June 7, June 11 and June 14 be devoted to Bill C-216”.

[The Chair, Liberal, Judy Sgro]

Yes, that is, I believe, where we're heading.

I have Mr. Dhaliwal, but I need to move on this issue.

[Matthew Green, NDP, Hamilton Centre, ON]

I have a point of order. I believe you overlooked me in the last one. I was going to wait, but—

[The Chair, Liberal, Judy Sgro]

Did I? You weren't on the screen. Thank you. I didn't even see you.

[Matthew Green, NDP, Hamilton Centre, ON]

On a point of order, could I just ask to have the whole motion read? It feels as though there's a lot on the table right now.

I just want to state that, from our perspective, we were looking at the Wednesday or Thursday for softwood, but now I'm hearing a bunch of different things. I just want to make sure I know what's being voted on. Can we get the motion as proposed, with the amendment? That would give me a clearer picture.

[The Chair, Liberal, Judy Sgro]

Okay. Madam Clerk, I will read out the motion Ms. Gray moved, but we will be voting on Monsieur Savard-Tremblay's amendment to start Bill C-216 on June 7. Is that correct?

[The Clerk of the Committee, Ms. Christine Lafrance]

Mr. Savard-Tremblay just added that June 7, 11 and 14 be devoted to Bill C-216.

[The Chair, Liberal, Judy Sgro]

Yes. They would be devoted to Bill C-216.

Not seeing any further discussion, I will ask all those in favour of the amendment to the main motion to signify. Can I see some hands?

Madam Clerk, can you record this, please?

[The Clerk]

This is very difficult. Can we do a recorded vote? It's rare that the clerk would ask that, but at this point it is difficult.

[The Chair, Liberal, Judy Sgro]

Yes. You need a recorded vote.

[The Clerk]

Yes, just for clarity. The question is on Mr. Savard-Tremblay's motion to devote June 7, 11 and 14 to Bill C-216.

(Amendment agreed to: yeas 10; nays 0)