Evidence of meeting #48 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 amendments.
A recording is available from Parliament.
NDP
Joe Comartin NDP Windsor—Tecumseh, ON
I tried to get this on, and then we were debating your ruling last time, Mr. Chair, so I just want to get it on the record. I think your ruling in fact would be proper if the fourth “whereas” didn't use the term “commit serious or repeat offences” but said “commit serious and repeat offences”. I think there's a broad enough opening that makes these amendments admissible because of that. I know that's nitpicking, but I think that's the reality of the way the bill has been drafted. That's why I'm supporting the motion to challenge your ruling, only because of that.
Conservative
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Art Hanger
Thank you.
The matter now is the vote on the chair's ruling.
(Ruling of the chair overturned)
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Art Hanger
Oh, I'm far from depressed, Mr. Bagnell.
Shall the amendment carry?
(Amendment negatived [See Minutes of Proceedings])
(Clause 10 negatived)
(On clause 11)
Conservative
Liberal
Marlene Jennings Liberal Notre-Dame-de-Grâce—Lachine, QC
Yes. I move Liberal amendment 4, which would increase the current minimum mandatory, which is now one year, to two years. There's already a maximum, which we don't change.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Art Hanger
I rule the amendment inadmissible. Again, it's against the principle. It removes escalating sentencing and reduces the minimum sentence.
Liberal
Marlene Jennings Liberal Notre-Dame-de-Grâce—Lachine, QC
Unfortunately, I don't support the Chair's decision. With all due respect, Mr. Chairman, I just can't endorse your ruling.
Bloc
Réal Ménard Bloc Hochelaga, QC
It's nothing personal, Mr. Chairman, but you have made so many ill-advised rulings that I'm happy to see one of them overturned.
(The Chair's ruling is overturned.)
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Art Hanger
The decision is overturned.
All those in favour of Liberal amendment 4.
(Amendment negatived)
(Clause 11 negatived)
(On clause 12)
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Art Hanger
There is a government amendment. That amendment is inadmissible. It is simply a matter of voting against the clause.
Shall clause 12 carry? Our amendment was to delete.
Conservative
Conservative
Rob Moore Conservative Fundy Royal, NB
I'll address that. Some of the government amendments were brought forward to bridge a gap and were a compromise between our Bill C-10, which I feel is a good bill, and what the opposition members were proposing—opposition members who felt the bill went too far. We tried to bridge that gap with some government amendments. Now that it is clear that opposition members will not support the bill, even as amended by the government, we are certainly going to be supporting the bill as it was introduced. I hope that clarifies any confusion there may have been.
Conservative
Joe Comartin NDP Windsor—Tecumseh, ON
In response, Mr. Chair, to that comment from the parliamentary secretary, I believe these amendments that were proposed by the government were in response to amendments I had proposed, and I think the government should stick with the compromise that I believe we had worked out, rather than changing midstream, even though the other two opposition parties are not going along.
Conservative
Rob Moore Conservative Fundy Royal, NB
That's fine, except that the government amendments were ruled out of order. Of course, I would support our amendments if they weren't ruled out of order by the chair. I think there's been enough of that today.
