Justice Committee on Dec. 6th, 2012

[The Chair, Conservative, Dave MacKenzie]

I call the meeting to order.

This is meeting number 55 of the Standing Committee on Justice and Human Rights, pursuant to the order of reference of Wednesday, June 6, 2012, for clause-by-clause consideration of Bill C-279, An Act to amend the Canadian Human Rights Act and the Criminal Code (gender identity and gender expression).

When we adjourned last, we were in clause-by-clause study, and amendment NDP-1 had been presented by Mr. Garrison. I believe we were at Mr. Garrison on his clause.

Before we begin, I should tell you that we have two representatives from the ministry here, Ms. Stone and Mr. Zaluski, to help with any of the legal issues.

[Randall Garrison, NDP, Esquimalt—Juan de Fuca, BC]

Thank you very much, Mr. Chair. I will be very brief. We have had a lot of discussion already.

Amendment NDP-1 would remove “gender expression” as a proposed addition to the Canadian Human Rights Act. On our side we have had enough discussion to be able to proceed to a vote on this amendment at this point.

[The Chair, Conservative, Dave MacKenzie]

Okay.

Go ahead, Mr. Rathgeber.

[Brent Rathgeber, Conservative, Edmonton—St. Albert, AB]

Just to make sure that we are all on the same page here, what I am looking at, which is the first page of my stapled amendments, is called “NDP-9”. It's on page 1. Am I looking at the right amendment? I thought the chair mentioned something about NDP-1.

[The Chair, Conservative, Dave MacKenzie]

It's on page 3. What you see on page 1 and page 2 we will come back to.

[Françoise Boivin, NDP, Gatineau, QC]

We were on NDP-1.

[The Chair, Conservative, Dave MacKenzie]

It's NDP-1.

[Brent Rathgeber, Conservative, Edmonton—St. Albert, AB]

Are you sure that's the same NDP-1 that we started vetting when we last met?

[The Chair, Conservative, Dave MacKenzie]

Yes.

[Brent Rathgeber, Conservative, Edmonton—St. Albert, AB]

Thank you.

[The Chair, Conservative, Dave MacKenzie]

Those in favour of amendment NDP-1?

(Amendment agreed to [See Minutes of Proceedings])

NDP-1 being carried, the process is that CPC-2, CPC-3, CPC-4, CPC-5, CPC-6, CPC-7, and NDP-1.1 cannot be put because they all deal with the same line. The same line cannot be amended more than once in the bill.

We are now at amendment NDP-2 on page 10.

[Randall Garrison, NDP, Esquimalt—Juan de Fuca, BC]

I would like to move NDP-2 from page 10.

[David Anderson, Conservative, Cypress Hills—Grasslands, SK]

On a point of order—

[The Chair, Conservative, Dave MacKenzie]

I have a bit of a problem, sir. You are not signed in.

[David Anderson, Conservative, Cypress Hills—Grasslands, SK]

What I am asking for is actually permission to be able to speak to the issues today, and I understand I am not signed in. I realize that. I am asking permission to be able to address the issues as we go through.

[The Chair, Conservative, Dave MacKenzie]

I will need the consent of the committee.

[A voice]

No.

[Robert Goguen, Conservative, Moncton—Riverview—Dieppe, NB]

I move that he be able to speak.

[Françoise Boivin, NDP, Gatineau, QC]

Do you need unanimous consent for that?

[The Chair, Conservative, Dave MacKenzie]

No. It's a majority, so we need to have a vote on that.

Those in favour of Mr. Anderson being....

(Motion agreed to [See Minutes of Proceedings])

[Françoise Boivin, NDP, Gatineau, QC]

That's the first time I've seen that. I haven't been here very long, but what does that mean? It's not a seventh member on their....

[The Chair, Conservative, Dave MacKenzie]

He cannot vote.

[Françoise Boivin, NDP, Gatineau, QC]

He cannot vote.

Can anybody just come to our committee and not be a member, not be signed in, and just...?

[An hon. member]

If the majority agrees.

[An hon. member]

Any member of Parliament.