Evidence of meeting #90 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 commission.
A recording is available from Parliament.
December 14th, 2023 / 3:50 p.m.
Liberal
Élisabeth Brière Liberal Sherbrooke, QC
I have a point of order, Madam Chair.
I apologize for interrupting the member, but we are probably going to be listening to this type of thing for hours, so would it be possible to ask Mr. Caputo to stop sniffing into the microphone? The interpreters must find it unpleasant—I know I do.
I can repeat what I said in English, if necessary.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Lena Metlege Diab
Yes, could you please say it again, in English, Mrs. Brière? Mr. Caputo said he didn't catch it.
Conservative
Frank Caputo Conservative Kamloops—Thompson—Cariboo, BC
Maybe my volume wasn't up. I'm sorry about that.
Conservative
Frank Caputo Conservative Kamloops—Thompson—Cariboo, BC
I'm so sorry, but my volume wasn't up. That's my fault.
I'm not sure what the point of order was.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Lena Metlege Diab
Can you repeat what you said, Mrs. Brière? Mr. Caputo didn't hear.
Liberal
Élisabeth Brière Liberal Sherbrooke, QC
I said that it was already awful to have to listen to that filibustering for I don't know how many hours, and perhaps you could please stop sniffling into the mic, for us and for the translators.
Conservative
Conservative
Rob Moore Conservative Fundy Royal, NB
On a point of order, Madam Chair, Madame Brière just mentioned the length of time that we're meeting. The normal meeting time for the Standing Committee on Justice and Human Rights is Tuesdays and Thursdays from 3:30 to 5:30. We're currently looking at Bill C-40, which, as I mentioned, creates an entirely new commission, an entirely new body to deal with wrongful conviction.
I don't want anyone to be under any illusion. We're going to take the time necessary to look at this bill. We're going to look at every sentence, every word, of this bill, because it all has meaning. It's going into the Criminal Code. It's part of our duty.
If Madame Brière has an issue with the timing of the meeting or the length of the meeting, I would urge her to raise it not with Mr. Caputo, who did not schedule the meeting and did not set the time, but through you, Madam Chair. She should raise the issue with you, because I received a notice—
Liberal
Conservative
Rob Moore Conservative Fundy Royal, NB
What is it, then? If it's a point about this meeting, then it is a point of order. It's dealing with the timing of the meeting.
The meeting is scheduled from 3:30 to 11:30. It's you who scheduled that, so maybe you could explain that to Ms. Brière—
Conservative
Liberal
Conservative
Rob Moore Conservative Fundy Royal, NB
On the point of order, could you explain why you scheduled it from 3:30 to 11:30?
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Lena Metlege Diab
It was to allow members the opportunity to look at each and every clause and be satisfied with the amendments that were brought up.
Now I'm going to move on to the next speaker.
Conservative
Conservative
Conservative
Rob Moore Conservative Fundy Royal, NB
On this point of order, this committee is a standing committee of this House of Commons. We can meet at our regularly scheduled meeting time until we finish any number of studies or bills. We had a study on wrongful conviction. We had a study on this bill. We had a study on the federal government's obligation to victims of crime. We've passed different pieces of legislation.
My point, Madam Chair, is that there is no obligation on this committee and there is no directive from the House that we would finish Bill C-40 today, so there's no reason to schedule a meeting for eight hours straight. Therefore, if someone has an issue with the meeting being eight hours, they should take it up with you, because this committee is scheduled to meet again in the new year, when we will pick up on Bill C-40, I'm sure.