Evidence of meeting #12 for Justice and Human Rights in the 45th Parliament, 1st session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was amendment.
A recording is available from Parliament.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Marc Miller
We are suspended until Thursday.
[The meeting was suspended at 6:25 p.m., Tuesday, November 18]
[The meeting resumed at 3:40 p.m., Thursday, November 20]
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Marc Miller
I call this meeting back to order.
Welcome to the extended resuming of meeting number 12 of the House of Commons Standing Committee on Justice and Human Rights.
Today's meeting is being held in hybrid format with Mr. Housefather, I see, attending remotely. He's aware of all the rules regarding Zoom, so I won't go over those laboriously.
Before proceeding, I confirm once again that the sound tests have been conducted successfully.
Out of respect for the interpreters, I also ask all participants to continue to refer to the guidelines outlined on the cards in front of them.
Again, we are resuming the debate on the subamendment that was put forth by Mr. Lawton.
The floor is yours, Andrew.
Conservative
Andrew Lawton Conservative Elgin—St. Thomas—London South, ON
Thank you, Mr. Chair.
This is the third meeting we have devoted to what should be very simple: a denunciation across party lines of child sexual exploitation and a call on the House of Commons to reinstate mandatory minimum sentences so people are not given shamefully lenient sentences, as was the case in the two extremely egregious criminal offences that went ultimately before the Supreme Court and led to the decision that triggered this.
Now, the subamendment, assuming it is adopted and the amendment and the motion are adopted, is very simple. It is a call that the government invoke the notwithstanding clause and reinstate the mandatory minimums, and that this committee's call to such is reported to the House. This is an important procedural tool that allows the House of Commons to give this issue due consideration. I believe that we should vote on this immediately. I call on all committee members to pass the subamendment and then the motion.
Thank you, Chair.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Marc Miller
For the sake of clarity, Andrew and the rest of the members, I will have the clerk formally read out the subamendment so we all know what we're voting on. Then, absent any other hands, I'll ask the committee to proceed to a vote.
Mr. Clerk, I give you the floor.
The Clerk
Thank you, Mr. Chair.
Ms. Lattanzio’s amendment is as follows:
That the motion be amended by replacing all the words after “to“, with the following: “table legislation to address child sexual exploitation reaffirming Parliament’s unwavering commitment to protecting children and ensuring that offenders face the toughest sentences our justice system allows. “
The subamendment from Mr. Lawton that was moved is as follows:
That the amendment be amended by adding after the word “allows” the following: “provided that the government table its legislative response to this Supreme Court of Canada ruling before the end of 2025, and that this motion be reported to the House.”
Bloc
Rhéal Fortin Bloc Rivière-du-Nord, QC
Mr. Chair, would it be possible for the clerk to read the motion in full, including the amendments, please?
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Marc Miller
We will do it in English or in French.
Mr. Clerk, let’s read everything, because we are dealing with subamendments to amendments, which can be confusing.
I would ask you to read the motion in its entirety, the amendment, and the subamendments, please.
The Clerk
Thank you, Mr. Chair.
Mr. Brock’s motion reads as follows:
That, given that the Supreme Court of Canada removed mandatory minimum sentences for offences related to child sexual exploitation, and incorrectly ruled that these mandatory minimum sentences were cruel and unusual; and given that the premiers of Alberta, Saskatchewan, and Ontario, as well as the Leader of the Official Opposition in Manitoba, have all publicly called for the use of the notwithstanding clause to overturn this decision; the committee call on the government to invoke the notwithstanding clause to reinstate these mandatory minimum sentences for child sexual exploitation, and that this be reported to the House.
I will now read Ms. Lattanzio’s amendment.
Ms. Lattanzio proposes that the motion be amended by replacing all the words after “to” in the third paragraph, with the following:
table legislation to address child sexual exploitation reaffirming Parliament’s unwavering commitment to protecting children and ensuring that offenders face the toughest sentences our justice system allows.
Mr. Lawton’s subamendment proposes that Ms. Lattanzio’s amendment be amended by adding, after the word “allows” the following:
provided that the government table its legislative response to this Supreme Court of Canada ruling before the end of 2025, and that this motion be reported to the House.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Marc Miller
We will now vote by show of hands on the subamendment.
(Subamendment agreed to [See Minutes of Proceedings])
Liberal
Patricia Lattanzio Liberal Saint-Léonard—Saint-Michel, QC
I would like to propose an amendment. It was sent last week, but I could resend it to the clerk. I have the English version in front of me.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Marc Miller
Ms. Lattanzio, please wait a moment.
I want to make sure this is a new subamendment.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Marc Miller
We’ll resume the meeting.
I ask members to perhaps forget the last six minutes. Ms. Lattanzio is withdrawing the subamendment as it stands.
Where we stand now technically is on the discussion and vote on the amendment to the motion. I'm glad to have the clerk read it entirely back to everyone as amended just for clarity or we could proceed to debate and a vote.
Conservative
Larry Brock Conservative Brantford—Brant South—Six Nations, ON
There's no new subamendment. You're withdrawing.
Liberal
Liberal
Patricia Lattanzio Liberal Saint-Léonard—Saint-Michel, QC
I'm sorry if I led to confusion. If the clerk wants to read that amendment, we're ready to vote on the amendment.
Bloc
Rhéal Fortin Bloc Rivière-du-Nord, QC
We are keeping the amendment, but there is no subamendment.
Is that right?
Liberal
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Marc Miller
We will now vote on the motion as it has been amended. I will ask the clerk to read everything again.
The Clerk
Mr. Chair, I will read the motion with the amendment slowly, as amended. At the end of the motion, it says:
The committee call on the government to table legislation to address child sexual exploitation reaffirming Parliament’s unwavering commitment to protecting children and ensuring that offenders face the toughest sentences our justice system allows, provided that the government table its legislative response to this Supreme Court of Canada ruling before the end of 2025, and that this motion be reported to the House.
This is therefore the amendment, as it has been amended.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Marc Miller
I'm looking around for debate and discussion. I see none.
(Amendment agreed to)
Liberal
Patricia Lattanzio Liberal Saint-Léonard—Saint-Michel, QC
Mr. Chair, I'd like to introduce an amendment.