Justice Committee on Dec. 6th, 2012

[Françoise Boivin, NDP, Gatineau, QC]

Pardon me?

[Brian Jean, Conservative, Fort McMurray—Athabasca, AB]

I'm sorry—you weren't listening?

[Françoise Boivin, NDP, Gatineau, QC]

It was a little taste of some medicine. Pardon me.

[The Chair, Conservative, Dave MacKenzie]

We will take a three- or four-minute break and see if we can some up with some—

[Françoise Boivin, NDP, Gatineau, QC]

I have no problem with that.

[The Chair, Conservative, Dave MacKenzie]

Okay. We will stand down for five minutes.

[The Chair, Conservative, Dave MacKenzie]

We'll resume the meeting.

I was somewhat hopeful that there would be some discussions, but I'm not sure that occurred.

I have Mr. Jean next.

[Brian Jean, Conservative, Fort McMurray—Athabasca, AB]

Mr. Chair, we've already had one clause pass, clause 1, and some subclauses, I believe, if I'm correct on that. If I can clarify—

[The Chair, Conservative, Dave MacKenzie]

Are you speaking to the amendment?

[Brian Jean, Conservative, Fort McMurray—Athabasca, AB]

Just to clarify, am I speaking to the amendment or to the motion?

[The Chair, Conservative, Dave MacKenzie]

To the motion....

[Brian Jean, Conservative, Fort McMurray—Athabasca, AB]

I'm speaking to the motion, am I not?

[The Chair, Conservative, Dave MacKenzie]

You're speaking to the amendment of the motion that....

[Brian Jean, Conservative, Fort McMurray—Athabasca, AB]

Yes, but I'm speaking to the motion itself, and to the amendment of that motion.

What I'm curious about is this. If at this stage this matter is not concluded by 5:30 p.m., the clause that was passed.... I understand that it goes back to report stage, and more amendments can be put forward at that stage.

I want that clarified as well, but I also want to understand if clause 1—

[The Chair, Conservative, Dave MacKenzie]

That would be up to the Speaker. That is my understanding.

[Brian Jean, Conservative, Fort McMurray—Athabasca, AB]

Okay, so if the Speaker allowed that to go back and the amendments to come forward, would clause 1 continue to stand, or would it go back so that clause 1 would have never been voted on in this committee?

[The Chair, Conservative, Dave MacKenzie]

There would be no report to the House.

[Brian Jean, Conservative, Fort McMurray—Athabasca, AB]

There would be no report on clause 1 being passed at this committee level?

[The Chair, Conservative, Dave MacKenzie]

It would be reported without amendments.

[Brian Jean, Conservative, Fort McMurray—Athabasca, AB]

It would be without amendments. Okay. Then whatever was passed today would have no significance. For instance, if we were in favour of one of the amendments put forward by Mr. Rathgeber, which is clause 1 in particular, at this stage we're stuck with clause 1 no matter what. Therefore, to have it go back to the House, we would be able to revisit clause 1. Is that fair to say?

[The Chair, Conservative, Dave MacKenzie]

That would be my understanding.

[Brian Jean, Conservative, Fort McMurray—Athabasca, AB]

And then there might be....

[Françoise Boivin, NDP, Gatineau, QC]

It's up to the Speaker, so you can't be sure of that.

[The Chair, Conservative, Dave MacKenzie]

Right, but it would go back....

[Christine Lafrance, Procedural Clerk]

Usually, what could have been done in committee is not done at report stage.