Evidence of meeting #23 for Justice and Human Rights in the 39th Parliament, 1st Session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was amendment.
A recording is available from Parliament.
4:55 p.m.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Art Hanger
Thank you, Mr. Petit.
Is there any further debate? Monsieur Ménard.
4:55 p.m.
Bloc
Réal Ménard Bloc Hochelaga, QC
Mr. Chairman, I would like to make a clarification. First, the Bloc Québécois will be supporting the government's motion, but I would ask that Mr. Petit make an important distinction. If I understand correctly—and someone will correct me if I am wrong—this applies after the date of royal assent. So the six-month period will come into play once our Parliament, which has two chambers, has finished its work in both places. So this has nothing to do with the time the Senate may take, since the bill will come into effect six months after royal assent.
I would ask our colleague not to confuse the role of the Senate and royal assent; they are two different things. That does not mean that we cannot rail against the Senate. I certainly understand that. Ideally, we need an elected Senate—that is another debate— but we should not confuse the two concepts.
I know it is very rare for you to confuse the two concepts, but since you just did so, I wanted to make that clarification. But it is really not like you to do this.
4:55 p.m.
Conservative
Daniel Petit Conservative Charlesbourg—Haute-Saint-Charles, QC
If I may, Mr. Chairman, I did not confuse the two concepts. All I am saying is that to all intents and purposes the six months will be meaningless. We do not even know how long the Senate will take to send the bill back. Bill C-2 has been stuck there for over six months. That is all I was saying. I am not confusing anything.
4:55 p.m.
Conservative
5 p.m.
Some hon. members
Agreed.
5 p.m.
Some hon. members
Agreed.
5 p.m.
Conservative
5 p.m.
Some hon. members
Agreed.
5 p.m.
Conservative
5 p.m.
Some hon. members
Agreed.
5 p.m.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Art Hanger
That's the end of the debate and the clause-by-clause. Thank you.
Mr. Ménard.
5 p.m.
Bloc
Réal Ménard Bloc Hochelaga, QC
I would like to ask a question, if I could. Is it your impression, Mr. Chairman, after checking, that the government intends to bring the amended bill back to the House? Perhaps my question is more to the parliamentary secretary. Do you think that the government will be reintroducing the bill in the House as amended?
5 p.m.
Conservative
Rob Moore Conservative Fundy Royal, NB
Well, we just voted to report it back to the House as amended. That's the job of the committee.
5 p.m.
Bloc
Réal Ménard Bloc Hochelaga, QC
Reporting the bill back is one thing, but reintroducing the bill as amended is the government's prerogative. Would you check with your leader to find out whether he intends to reintroduce the amended bill? The report is a different matter.
5 p.m.
Conservative
Rob Moore Conservative Fundy Royal, NB
Sure, but appreciate that we saw the amendments for the first time an hour ago.
5:05 p.m.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Art Hanger
We'll continue with committee business.
I believe there's a notice of motion from Réal Ménard before every member here.
5:05 p.m.
Bloc
Réal Ménard Bloc Hochelaga, QC
My motion contains three points, Mr. Chairman.
First, I would like to point out that my whip instructed me that the Bloc Québécois does not want committees to meet more than twice a week, generally speaking, because the workload has been shared among all our members. This instruction does not apply specifically to the Standing Committee on Justice and Human Rights, but rather to all committees. In fact, I'm told that this principle was adopted by all the whips, including the government whip. We agreed with respect to our study of the bill to amend the Judges Act. I think we must continue with that, but once the study of Bill C-17 is completed, I do not think our whips will authorize us to sit on the same committee more than twice a week. I am bound by this decision. If your whip wants to raise this matter at the meeting of all the whips, that is his prerogative.
Mr. Chairman, do you want to study my motion point by point, or shall I explain all three points at once?
