Justice Committee on May 11th, 2016

[Murray Rankin, NDP, Victoria, BC]

I want to say again that it was a collaborative piece of work, and I'm proud of the result.

It builds on the three or four separate preamble suggestions that we brought forward and puts them together in one “whereas” clause, which I'd like to read: “And whereas the Government of Canada recognizes that there are diverse circumstances in the living conditions of Canadians and that different groups have unique needs, it commits to working with provinces, territories, and civil society to facilitate access to each of the following: (a) palliative and end of life care; (b) care and services for individuals living with Alzheimer's and dementia; (c) appropriate mental health supports and services, and (d) culturally and spiritually appropriate end of life care for indigenous patients.”

[The Chair, Liberal, Anthony Housefather]

Good. Is there debate?

Ms. Khalid.

[Iqra Khalid, Liberal, Mississauga—Erin Mills, ON]

Although I'm not really debating on the provisions of what you've stated in the preamble, I want to congratulate the committee. Just watching all of you huddle over there provided a great feeling, to know that democracy is truly at play here.

Thank you very much.

[The Chair, Liberal, Anthony Housefather]

Let the record show that.

Is there any further debate?

(Amendment agreed to [See Minutes of Proceedings])

Mr. Rankin, can you give a copy to the clerk, please?

[Murray Rankin, NDP, Victoria, BC]

Yes, of course.

[Colin Fraser, Liberal, West Nova, NS]

I guess the only thing that I don't know is clear is where it would be inserted in the preamble. After line 12 is where we were originally going to put it, on page 2.

[Murray Rankin, NDP, Victoria, BC]

Yes, that would be right. It would become line 13.

Then the last part would continue “And whereas”, so I think it fits perfectly.

[The Chair, Liberal, Anthony Housefather]

Is there anybody who wishes to debate the preamble?

(Preamble as amended agreed to [See Minutes of Proceedings])

That was unanimously adopted. Excellent.

Now, Mr. Viersen's proposed amendment to the title is not receivable, because his amendments tied to it were not receivable.

Now we move to a vote on the title of the bill, which is:

An Act to amend the Criminal Code and to make related amendments to other Acts (medical assistance in dying)

Can I have unanimous consent to keep sitting while the bells start ringing?

Thank you.

Shall the title carry?

[Ted Falk, Conservative, Provencher, MB]

On division.

[The Chair, Liberal, Anthony Housefather]

The title is carried on division.

Mr. Fraser.

[Colin Fraser, Liberal, West Nova, NS]

It was only brought to my attention just a moment ago from one of the department officials, in fact, who caught it, that the blues that were circulated.... I haven't had a chance to read them, but in what the clerk had adopted, I guess, as the amendments that were passed yesterday, there seems to be some conflict under the regulations that the minister may make. I inserted “(iv) for information to be collected by coroners and medical examiners“

There apparently is a conflict between the blues and what I actually said and how it's actually written, in what seems to be the interpretation of the clerk.

I don't have a copy of any of this, so I don't know what the problem is, but there seems to be a conflict there.

[The Chair, Liberal, Anthony Housefather]

Colin, isn't it by adding “after line 28, on page 9, the following: “the collection of information from coroners and medical examiners”?

I believe that's correct.

[Colin Fraser, Liberal, West Nova, NS]

We were adding number (iv).

[The Chair, Liberal, Anthony Housefather]

Yes, it's here: by adding after 28 on page 9 the following “(iv) the collection of information from coroners and medical examiners” in the middle of page 2.

[Colin Fraser, Liberal, West Nova, NS]

Yes.

[The Chair, Liberal, Anthony Housefather]

That was the last resolution, I believe.

[Colin Fraser, Liberal, West Nova, NS]

Yes, but it's different. I verbally amended this amendment LIB-9, on the record. Although it was in the pack, it's not what I was advancing; I did amend it.

[The Chair, Liberal, Anthony Housefather]

What was in the package was not what you put forward?

[Colin Fraser, Liberal, West Nova, NS]

That's correct.

[The Chair, Liberal, Anthony Housefather]

You put forward—

[Colin Fraser, Liberal, West Nova, NS]

Yes, I put forward the amendment verbally.

[The Chair, Liberal, Anthony Housefather]

Yes.

[Colin Fraser, Liberal, West Nova, NS]

I'll just ask Ms. Klineberg.

Are you seeing something I'm not, here?

[Joanne Klineberg, Senior Counsel, Criminal Law Policy Section, Department of Justice]

Well, we received a document that has a list of all the amendments that were adopted, and the list seems to show that the committee adopted your amendment LIB-9 as it was originally drafted, plus subparagraph (iv)—

[Colin Fraser, Liberal, West Nova, NS]

Oh, I see. Yes, I get you now.