Evidence of meeting #27 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 ruling.
A recording is available from Parliament.
Conservative
Conservative
Andrew Lawton Conservative Elgin—St. Thomas—London South, ON
I'd like to comment on this.
I cited earlier the comments from the minister on this. May I ask whether you considered those in making your decision?
What's happening now is that you are making rulings that.... Our attempt is to do what the minister claims this bill is supposed to do, which is restore mandatory minimums to the Criminal Code. You're making that impossible by not even allowing debate or a vote on these. It would be helpful to know what you relied on in reaching this series of out-of-scope declarations.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal James Maloney
I read the amendment. I read the rules. I considered all information that I consider relevant, including listening to you and Mr. Brock today, Mr. Lawton.
Conservative
Larry Brock Conservative Brantford—Brant South—Six Nations, ON
How about the minister? Did you rely upon the minister?
Liberal
Conservative
Conservative
Larry Brock Conservative Brantford—Brant South—Six Nations, ON
Mr. Chair, did you take into consideration the Minister of Justice's comments?
Liberal
The Chair Liberal James Maloney
I just answered that question, Mr. Brock, in response to Mr. Lawton's question, so yes.
CPC-8 can't be moved at all because it's identical to CPC-6. That takes us to CPC-9, which is identical to CPC-5, which was also ruled out of scope.
(On clause 4)
We're now on PV-2.
Ms. May.
Green
Elizabeth May Green Saanich—Gulf Islands, BC
Thank you, Mr. Chair. I hope this lightens the mood and makes your heart glad. If—
Conservative
Andrew Lawton Conservative Elgin—St. Thomas—London South, ON
I have a point of order.
I feel like we breezed past clause 3.1.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal James Maloney
No, we voted on clause 3. All of these proposed amendments that we just went through were proposing a new clause. Because they were ruled out of scope—
Conservative
Andrew Lawton Conservative Elgin—St. Thomas—London South, ON
Was G-2 not adopted as part of clause 3.1? Did G-2 not establish the creation of clause 3.1?
Liberal
The Chair Liberal James Maloney
The amendment itself created the new clause. We don't need to vote on it again, but thank you.
Ms. May, you had the floor.
Green
Elizabeth May Green Saanich—Gulf Islands, BC
I'm in an awkward position here, so I'm going to look to you for guidance.
Now that Mr. Housefather has again drawn my attention to G-35, I've been considering it before showing up here today. I am encouraged to see the government effort, as Mr. Housefather has put it, to study it and consider. I know I have a lot of amendments, 11 amendments, to one point only. Under the terms of the motion passed by this committee—not to belabour the point—I have no rights here to suggest that I'd like to withdraw my amendments, knowing that G-35 may actually solve the problem and mean that the voices of so many wonderful groups, like the seniors organizations, the Canadian Network for the Prevention of Elder Abuse and so on, have been heard. If I had the right, I would now say that I would like to withdraw my amendments to save the committee time, because I can confidently expect—I think, but I don't assume—that all my amendments will be defeated. There's no point in taking the committee's time for that, now that I'm particularly encouraged by G-35.
Mr. Chair, they are deemed moved. I'm not allowed to do anything about them at this stage.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal James Maloney
I believe that if I get unanimous consent from the voting members of the committee, it can be withdrawn.
Green
Elizabeth May Green Saanich—Gulf Islands, BC
That's correct. I request that the committee consider withdrawing all of my amendments. They all speak to the same point.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal James Maloney
Is everybody clear on that? Do I have unanimous consent from the committee to have all of the Green Party-proposed amendments withdrawn?
Liberal
The Chair Liberal James Maloney
(Amendments withdrawn)
Thank you, Ms. May.
Shall clauses 4 and 5 carry?
(Clauses 4 and 5 agreed to)
(On clause 6)
We're into clause 6.
We'll go to G-3, which is Ms. Lattanzio.
Liberal
Liberal
Anju Dhillon Liberal Dorval—Lachine—LaSalle, QC
It's to amend the bill by replacing line 11 on page 3 with the following:
“sexual organs” includes genital organs
Liberal
The Chair Liberal James Maloney
Are there any comments on G-3?
Shall G-3 carry?
(Amendment agreed to [See Minutes of Proceedings])
(Clause 6 as amended agreed to)
(Clauses 7 to 11 agreed to)
(On clause 12)
We're on clause 12, which is NDP-2.
Ms. Gazan, I believe that's yours.
