Evidence of meeting #9 for Justice and Human Rights in the 39th Parliament, 2nd Session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was amendment.
A recording is available from Parliament.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Art Hanger
Thank you, Mr. Lee.
Now we'll go to clause-by-clause consideration.
I would first like to thank the witnesses for their attention to the committee's concerns. We appreciate your appearance here again today. I'll certainly excuse you all. Again, we appreciate your comments.
(On clause 1)
Clause 1 is a government amendment--
Liberal
Derek Lee Liberal Scarborough—Rouge River, ON
Mr. Chairman, I'm sorry if I'm wrong about this, but this is absolutely not a government amendment. We're dealing with a private member's bill. The government has no role in this at all. If there's a member of the committee who wishes to input, move an amendment, vote, or not vote, that's fine, but I must insist that this procedure--
Liberal
Derek Lee Liberal Scarborough—Rouge River, ON
We're in a different ballpark here now. We're Parliament, sitting as a committee of Parliament, and there is no government at the switch here. There's no government bill.
Am I right about that?
Conservative
Liberal
Conservative
Liberal
Conservative
Rob Moore Conservative Fundy Royal, NB
There's been a lot of discussion. As Mr. Lee had said, I hadn't formally moved the amendment, but there has been a lot of discussion.
I think members have seen the amendment, and I gather from the discussions we've had today that members also understand the amendment. It does flow from debate that took place on this bill. I think it was recognized by all parties that there was some support for the intent of the bill. It was acknowledged by the member who moved the bill as well as by all parties that there would be required some amendments. I think the concerns that were reflected in testimony have been addressed by this amendment.
If there are any questions about the amendment, I'd be happy to answer them. The amendment adds importation and clarifies the concern that was raised about mens rea, that an individual would have to know that the materials they had would be used in the production of methamphetamines.
So the amendment is moved.
NDP
Libby Davies NDP Vancouver East, BC
Mr. Chairperson, in the original information we got from the government, there was amendment 1. So we're only dealing with the one amendment that would replace lines 7 to 13. Is it clear, then, that the lines that are currently in the bill--about any equipment or other material that is intended for use in trafficking--are all gone?
Basically, this bill has now been in effect superseded by this government amendment that's now being moved by a committee member.
Liberal
Derek Lee Liberal Scarborough—Rouge River, ON
Again, on a point of order, it's not a government amendment.
Liberal
Derek Lee Liberal Scarborough—Rouge River, ON
No, it didn't. The paper would be out of order if it said that.
NDP
Libby Davies NDP Vancouver East, BC
That's what I have on my paper, “Government amendments on C-428”.
Liberal
Derek Lee Liberal Scarborough—Rouge River, ON
I don't have that. Obviously the paper's in gross error.