Evidence of meeting #88 for Justice and Human Rights in the 44th Parliament, 1st Session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was c-40.

A recording is available from Parliament.

On the agenda

MPs speaking

Also speaking

Clerk of the Committee  Mr. Jean-François Lafleur
Julie Besner  Senior Counsel, Public Law and Legislative Services Sector, Department of Justice

4:05 p.m.

Liberal

The Chair Liberal Lena Metlege Diab

Actually, that's what I've been told here. Yes, we have to go to a vote.

4:05 p.m.

Conservative

Rob Moore Conservative Fundy Royal, NB

Madam Chair, for a motion to adjourn, we would go to a vote.

4:05 p.m.

Liberal

The Chair Liberal Lena Metlege Diab

Yes.

4:05 p.m.

Conservative

Rob Moore Conservative Fundy Royal, NB

Are motions not debatable now?

4:05 p.m.

Liberal

The Chair Liberal Lena Metlege Diab

No, not this particular one. We will have a vote on the motion and then deal with whatever afterwards.

4:05 p.m.

Conservative

Rob Moore Conservative Fundy Royal, NB

Are we going to debate the motion?

4:05 p.m.

Liberal

The Chair Liberal Lena Metlege Diab

No. It's non-debatable.

Do you want a recorded vote?

4:05 p.m.

Some hon. members

Yes.

4:05 p.m.

Conservative

Rob Moore Conservative Fundy Royal, NB

What is the motion again?

4:05 p.m.

Liberal

The Chair Liberal Lena Metlege Diab

The motion is that we proceed with clause-by-clause for Bill C-40.

(Motion agreed to: yeas 7; nays 4)

The motion is adopted.

I want to correct something before we go to clause 2. I have two members of Parliament here virtually today, and both are females, so I'm not alone. Both have considerable legal and litigation experience. I want to ensure that we have that on record.

4:05 p.m.

Bloc

Rhéal Fortin Bloc Rivière-du-Nord, QC

Madam Chair, given the situation at the beginning of the meeting, I didn't ask you whether the audio tests had been successfully completed. You're signalling that they were, but I see that Mrs. Brière doesn't have her headset on.

4:05 p.m.

Liberal

The Chair Liberal Lena Metlege Diab

She can vote without a headset. It's fine.

4:05 p.m.

Bloc

Rhéal Fortin Bloc Rivière-du-Nord, QC

I'm not sure I understand. Are you saying that she's not going to speak?

4:05 p.m.

Liberal

The Chair Liberal Lena Metlege Diab

That's correct. She doesn't need one if she's not going to speak.

4:05 p.m.

Bloc

Rhéal Fortin Bloc Rivière-du-Nord, QC

All right. Thank you, Madam Chair.

4:05 p.m.

Liberal

The Chair Liberal Lena Metlege Diab

We're going to clause 2.

4:05 p.m.

Conservative

Frank Caputo Conservative Kamloops—Thompson—Cariboo, BC

On a point of order, Madam Chair, we had two points of order. Do they just evaporate into the ether at this point? Neither of them was heard.

4:05 p.m.

Liberal

The Chair Liberal Lena Metlege Diab

I already answered them.

Okay, tell me. What is it that you want, again?

4:05 p.m.

Conservative

Frank Caputo Conservative Kamloops—Thompson—Cariboo, BC

With all due respect, he was speaking about the requirement in the motion that the minister appear and why that didn't happen. It was not a permissive motion. It was a mandatory motion that he appear by that date. We didn't even hear Mr. Van Popta's point of order.

That's my point. What happens? People raise points of order and they aren't heard.

4:05 p.m.

Conservative

Rob Moore Conservative Fundy Royal, NB

Madam Chair, I have a point of order. I would like to raise it now, as is proper.

The motion was that the minister appear “for no fewer than two hours regarding the Supplementary Estimates” and that the meeting take place “as soon as possible, and no later than December 7”.

It's December 7 and the minister isn't here to—

4:05 p.m.

Liberal

James Maloney Liberal Etobicoke—Lakeshore, ON

I'm sorry, but I'm going to interrupt again.

Madam Chair, with all due respect, these points of order have all been spoken about, addressed and ruled on. We just voted to move to clause-by-clause. Hearing from Mr. Moore or anybody else on issues we already went over extensively today is out of order.

4:10 p.m.

Conservative

Rob Moore Conservative Fundy Royal, NB

Madam Chair, with all due respect to Mr. Maloney's comments, I don't have an answer to my point of order.

The question was, when is the minister going to abide by the motion we passed unanimously as a committee? This committee passed a motion that the minister be here today. The minister is not here today. My question, Madam Chair, is this: When is the minister going to be here? This is ignoring the will of this committee.

4:10 p.m.

Liberal

The Chair Liberal Lena Metlege Diab

The modified notice of motion was sent to all members and clearly indicates that we are doing Bill C-40.

We will be issuing an invitation to the minister to appear as soon as this committee can arrive at a point where we can have someone appear.

4:10 p.m.

Conservative

Rob Moore Conservative Fundy Royal, NB

On that point of order, I have no doubt we will get there.

4:10 p.m.

Liberal

The Chair Liberal Lena Metlege Diab

I hope so too.