Justice Committee on Nov. 27th, 2006

[The Chair, Conservative, Art Hanger]

We'll deal with one at a time. Let's deal with the motion you submitted last Thursday.

Is there discussion? None? Then we'll go to the vote.

[Myron Thompson, Conservative, Wild Rose, AB]

I just wonder what the rush is, Mr. Chairman.

[The Chair, Conservative, Art Hanger]

Well, the motion has been—

[Myron Thompson, Conservative, Wild Rose, AB]

We have so much legislation to deal with before Christmas that I'm just trying to figure out why we're rushing this one.

[The Chair, Conservative, Art Hanger]

Be that as it may, Mr. Thompson, I know that's part of debate, but I think we moved into the vote on the issue, so if I may....

(Motion agreed to [See Minutes of Proceedings])

[Réal Ménard, Bloc, Hochelaga, QC]

Mr. Chair, I quickly give notice of the second motion, which reads as follows:

Whereas various important witnesses have indicated to the Committee that there is a significant link between armed offences, street gangs and organized crime;

Whereas parliamentarians have an obligation to legislate on the basis of meaningful and conclusive information;

It is proposed that the Standing Committee on Justice and Human Rights not begin the clause-by-clause review of Bill C-10 until it has devoted two more meetings to the issue of street gangs, and two more meetings to examine the overall effect on gangsterism of Bills C-95 and C-24, adopted in 1997 and 2001;

It is also proposed, with respect to gangsterism, that the research assistants produce a summary of the case law and provide Committee members with a file comprising the court judgments in full.

We could discuss it at the next committee meeting. I hope to have the support of all committee members.

Mr. Thompson, I'm a friend.

[The Chair, Conservative, Art Hanger]

Okay. Notice of motion has been served.

Mr. Lee, go ahead on a point of order.

[Derek Lee, Liberal, Scarborough—Rouge River, ON]

Mr. Chairman, on a point of order, there's been some chitchat on this side of the table about the meeting coming up on Wednesday. A number of us are going to have a very difficult time to attend the meeting. There are some really important witnesses.

I have been able to arrange it so I will be here for at least a portion of the meeting time, but there are colleagues who have not. It's a very difficult thing to deal with, because we don't have a lot of time. The best I could think of was to reschedule the meeting, but rescheduling pushes out the time for clause-by-clause consideration.

I wanted to make that point to see if there are any creative ways of accommodating the apparent absence of some of the members from the committee on Wednesday.

[The Chair, Conservative, Art Hanger]

Will all members be here?

Monsieur Ménard, will you be here on Wednesday?

[Réal Ménard, Bloc, Hochelaga, QC]

I can be present, but it can be cancelled as well. I know there's going to be a Liberal leadership conference. I don't see any problem in cancelling it.

[The Chair, Conservative, Art Hanger]

Monsieur Lemay, what do you think?

[Marc Lemay, Bloc, Abitibi—Témiscamingue, QC]

There's no problem; we can cancel it.

[The Chair, Conservative, Art Hanger]

Mr. Bagnell, what is your position?

[Larry Bagnell, Liberal, Yukon, YT]

I'd prefer to cancel it.

[Derek Lee, Liberal, Scarborough—Rouge River, ON]

Mr. Comartin had a difficulty as well.

[The Chair, Conservative, Art Hanger]

You have agreed to attend, obviously, but you're concerned about the length of time.

[Derek Lee, Liberal, Scarborough—Rouge River, ON]

I don't think there's any easy way to solve the problem.

[The Chair, Conservative, Art Hanger]

No, I don't think so, not at this short notice.

[Derek Lee, Liberal, Scarborough—Rouge River, ON]

If there were, I'd surely be presenting it. We'll do our best.

[The Chair, Conservative, Art Hanger]

We will work with it as well as we can, Mr. Lee. If it means possibly concluding a little early, we might end up doing that, too, if there aren't a sufficient number of members around.

[Derek Lee, Liberal, Scarborough—Rouge River, ON]

It was a coming together of two separate problems for members on the opposition side. There are different causes and different solutions, but thank you for considering it.

[The Chair, Conservative, Art Hanger]

Understood.

Mr. Petit.

[Daniel Petit, Conservative, Charlesbourg—Haute-Saint-Charles, QC]

If the meeting is postponed, shortened or cancelled, it's to promote democracy within the Liberal Party. Did I understand correctly?

[Derek Lee, Liberal, Scarborough—Rouge River, ON]

One of the reasons was to improve the democracy.

[Daniel Petit, Conservative, Charlesbourg—Haute-Saint-Charles, QC]

If that promotes democracy within the Liberal Party—