Justice Committee on Feb. 20th, 2007

[The Chair, Conservative, Art Hanger]

I call the Standing Committee on Justice and Human Rights to order with our continued deliberation on the clause-by-clause of Bill C-10.

We will pick up where we left off, which is at clause 14. Does everyone have their information in front of them?

(On clause 14)

[The Chair, Conservative, Art Hanger]

There's a government amendment and that government amendment is inadmissible. Simply, there's no need for an amendment. You just vote against the clause. It does indicate that it attempts to delete a clause.

On the amendment—?

[Marlene Jennings, Liberal, Notre-Dame-de-Grâce—Lachine, QC]

Are we now at the Liberal amendment?

[The Chair, Conservative, Art Hanger]

I am now on the government amendment on clause 14. If you're looking at your package, I think it's on page 4.

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

Are you looking for a challenge? If it's out of order, why are we dealing with it?

[The Chair, Conservative, Art Hanger]

It's inadmissible.

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

Good, so we move on.

[The Chair, Conservative, Art Hanger]

Yes, we'll go on to vote on the clause.

[Marlene Jennings, Liberal, Notre-Dame-de-Grâce—Lachine, QC]

Excuse me, Chair, I have a point of order. There is a Liberal amendment. Initially, the amendment was our amendment 18, which has been labelled L-6 on page 5, and the corrections by the clerk and researchers have been to make that amendment to clause 14 of the bill.

[The Chair, Conservative, Art Hanger]

Ms. Jennings, that Liberal amendment is actually the next clause on the list, 14.1.

Mr. Comartin.

[Joe Comartin, NDP, Windsor—Tecumseh, ON]

Are we voting on the government's amendment?

[The Chair, Conservative, Art Hanger]

No. It's inadmissible. We're voting on clause 14.

(Clause 14 negatived)

[The Chair, Conservative, Art Hanger]

The new clause 14.1—Ms. Jennings' amendment.

[Marlene Jennings, Liberal, Notre-Dame-de-Grâce—Lachine, QC]

I'll move a Liberal amendment, which is labelled as L-6 and found on page 5 of the group of amendments that the clerk has just passed out today. Essentially, these amendments would reinforce the provisions of the Criminal Code that pertain to the firearm registry.

[The Chair, Conservative, Art Hanger]

This amendment actually seeks to amend section 117.07 of the Criminal Code, and we're actually dealing with subsection 117.01(3). For that reason, it's inadmissible, given the fact that it amends a statute that is not before the committee--or a section of that statute.

[Marlene Jennings, Liberal, Notre-Dame-de-Grâce—Lachine, QC]

I challenge the chair's ruling.

[The Chair, Conservative, Art Hanger]

Challenge of the chair.

[The Clerk of the Committee, Ms. Diane Diotte]

Is the chair's ruling sustained—?

[Réal Ménard, Bloc, Hochelaga, QC]

Before we move to the vote, may I ask a question, Mr. Chairman?

[The Chair, Conservative, Art Hanger]

What is the question, Monsieur Ménard?

[Réal Ménard, Bloc, Hochelaga, QC]

Mr. Chairman, you essentially said it is inadmissible because it amends a section which is not part of the bill. Is that the rationale behind your decision?

[The Chair, Conservative, Art Hanger]

Yes.

[Marlene Jennings, Liberal, Notre-Dame-de-Grâce—Lachine, QC]

Point of order, Mr. Chair.

[The Chair, Conservative, Art Hanger]

This particular clause or section is not amending any part of the bill itself.

[Marlene Jennings, Liberal, Notre-Dame-de-Grâce—Lachine, QC]

I have a question before we proceed to the vote.