Evidence of meeting #49 for Justice and Human Rights in the 42nd Parliament, 1st Session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was group.
A recording is available from Parliament.
NDP
Alistair MacGregor NDP Cowichan—Malahat—Langford, BC
I can understand your concerns about being too liberal with our definitions.
I just want to say that I will vote in favour of this. I respect the will of the committee and that the majority rules. I still want to put on the record my earlier reasons that I think we're in danger of excluding some people because of the language. But if this is the best that we can arrive at, so be it.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Anthony Housefather
Thank you very much.
We have finished our debate.
(Amendment agreed to)
Are there any other proposed amendments to other lines of clause 1? I ask because LIB-3 would be create clause 2, a new clause.
(Clause 1 agreed to as amended)
(On clause 2)
Now we will move to the new clause 2, which LIB-3 proposes to create.
Mr. Boissonnault.
Liberal
Randy Boissonnault Liberal Edmonton Centre, AB
Mr. Chair, we had a discussion about where we should have the expression of gender diversity and it was important to make sure that we have “gender identity” and “expression” in the final law, and the coordinating amendment makes sense if we assume that the Senate will pass this. We don't know. It's an independent body. I would encourage my honourable colleagues across the way, as elected officials, to work with the counterparts of their party in the Senate to make sure that this human rights legislation passes in the Senate. We are doing our work with both independents and Liberals and so if we can get Bill C-16 across the goal line in the Senate, then this coordinating amendment would put the new legislation in line with Bill C-16, and that is the spirit of this clause.
Liberal
Conservative
Ted Falk Conservative Provencher, MB
Mr. Chair, as you know, I'm not a supporter of Bill C-16, but as it's in the Senate, and if it finds its way successfully through the Senate and receives royal assent and becomes law, this just makes sense.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Anthony Housefather
Thank you very much.
I don't think there is much more debate.
(Amendment agreed to [See Minutes of Proceedings])
Is there any other proposed amendment to create any other proposed new clause in this bill?
Because clause 1 as amended carried, and the new clause 2 was amendment LIB-3, we don't need another vote on clause 2 because it was carried by amendment LIB-2.
Shall the title of the bill carry?
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Anthony Housefather
Shall the committee order a reprint of the bill as amended for the use of the House at report stage?
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Anthony Housefather
We have now finished our work on this bill. I'd like to congratulate the members of the committee for their excellent work,
May I ask that we have a short in camera session to talk about our upcoming agenda, if that's okay?
Mr. MacGregor, before we go in camera.
NDP
Alistair MacGregor NDP Cowichan—Malahat—Langford, BC
Before we go in camera what is our progress in getting the minister to come before the committee to talk about the supplementary estimates? I know there was some discussion on that. I would just appreciate having an update from you on that.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Anthony Housefather
Thank you very much. That's an excellent question.
We have the minister coming on May 4.
NDP
Alistair MacGregor NDP Cowichan—Malahat—Langford, BC
What will she be discussing at that time specifically?
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Anthony Housefather
The minister will come on the main estimates, but you can feel free at that point to ask her questions on the supplementary estimates as well, and I will receive them.
NDP
Alistair MacGregor NDP Cowichan—Malahat—Langford, BC
Okay, Mr. Chair, can we ensure that when the minister appears before the committee to discuss the main estimates, she also comes with her plans and priorities, because I would like to see what the Department of Justice's plans are as we go forward. There are a lot of big things heading our way. I'd like to see what their plans are for implementing the legalization of and regulatory framework for marijuana. That issue is very important to me on the west coast. I want to ensure that the minister comes with those plans and priorities, and not just the main estimates.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Anthony Housefather
Okay, I will be liberal with the type of questions you can ask the minister. What the minister is able or chooses to answer, I can't control, but we will certainly ask the minister. We will pass on that message.
NDP
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Anthony Housefather
I can't answer that question. It's the date the minister has given us to discuss the main estimates, and at that point, again, I will be pretty liberal with the questions you ask. As our former justice minister would say, they answer as best they can.
I want to congratulate the committee in one respect. We did send that letter about zombie clauses in the Criminal Code, and legislation is now at least tabled to deal with some of those clauses, including the one that interested Bret McCann, the constituent of Mr. Cooper. I'm happy about that.
Now we'll pause the meeting briefly to go in camera. I would ask everybody who is not a part of the committee to exit as soon as you can.
[Proceedings continue in camera]