Evidence of meeting #15 for Natural Resources in the 43rd Parliament, 2nd session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was mining.
A recording is available from Parliament.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal James Maloney
Thank you.
Would anybody like to speak to this motion?
Mr. May, you have your hand up.
Liberal
Bryan May Liberal Cambridge, ON
Thank you, Mr. Chair.
I do have something to add to this debate, but this may take a bit and we have about 20 minutes left before the committee wraps up here.
Mr. Chair, do we think we'll be getting back to the witnesses, or should we maybe thank them for their time and allow them to be dismissed at this point?
Liberal
The Chair Liberal James Maloney
Yes, I was going to get to that, Mr. May. The answer to that question depends entirely on how many hands go up and how long people choose to talk. I don't have a crystal ball to determine that right now.
For the witnesses, we have about 25 minutes left in the meeting. Just so you're aware, what's happening right now is that Mr. Simard has—and he's within his rights to do so—introduced a motion to the committee for consideration, which we will discuss right now, which means we're going to delay further questions to you. To Mr. May's point, I don't know how long that delay is going to take, so I don't know if we'll get back to you or not. I just ask you, for a few minutes, anyway, to bear with us and patiently watch us discuss this.
Mr. May, was that your only submission, or did you have other comments?
Liberal
Bryan May Liberal Cambridge, ON
Yes, I'd like to further comment.
Just to clarify which motion we're talking about here, this is the motion regarding the translation bureau specifically.
First of all, I want to thank Mr. Simard for bringing these forward. As a chair myself, I think it's incredibly important that we hold ourselves to an incredibly high standard when it comes to documents and motions being able to be understood in both official languages. I think it's a very important part of this process, and we need to make sure that if there are ways to improve it we make those changes.
That being said, I do have a question that maybe the clerk and the analysts can weigh in on in terms of whether this is being done right now. I know that many offices, not just those of members of Parliament but also the analysts and the clerk, have the ability to translate documents themselves. I'm wondering if this motion would stop that from happening or, in other words, create a really big logjam at the translation bureau. We've all had to send documents over to be translated, and there are delays in that.
A lot of MPs and the folks who help us, whether it's the clerk or the analysts, do a lot of their own translation. The way the motion is written right now would suggest to me that this can't happen anymore, and I would argue that it would be an unintended consequence of this motion. I'm wondering if Mr. Simard could maybe comment on that, and maybe the analysts or the clerk could comment on it as well.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal James Maloney
Why don't we do this? We have a speaking list. If the clerk or the analysts have a response to that, we'll hear from them now and then I can move to Mr. Lloyd and Mr. Simard.
Sophie Leduc Committee Researcher
Mr. Chair, I'd like to make a comment.
All our documents are translated by professional translators from the Translation Bureau. This wouldn't affect the translation of our documents, such as the briefing notes provided to the committee, for example.
Conservative
Dane Lloyd Conservative Sturgeon River—Parkland, AB
Thank you, Mr. Chair.
I largely agree with my colleague Mr. May's intervention on this, but to condense it. Other committees have accepted an amendment, which I will move right now, that after the words “federal department”, we add “members' offices”, so that if members' offices provide things they translate, that it will also be reflected.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal James Maloney
Just so I'm clear, would it say “do not come from a federal department or members' offices” or “and”?
Conservative
Dane Lloyd Conservative Sturgeon River—Parkland, AB
Yes. It would be “from a federal department, members' offices, or that have not been translated by the Translation Bureau”.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal James Maloney
That's perfect. Thank you.
Do you have anything else to add to that, Mr. Lloyd?
Conservative
Dane Lloyd Conservative Sturgeon River—Parkland, AB
I guess we would have debate on this amendment, and then we have to vote on that.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal James Maloney
We'll debate this amendment, but I wanted to make sure you were finished making your submission on the amendment. That's all.
If you guys don't mind taking your hands down when you're finished making your point, it's easier for me. Thank you.
The next person to speak is Mr. Simard, but we're now discussing Mr. Lloyd's amendment.
Mr. Simard, it's appropriate that we move to you next.
Bloc
Mario Simard Bloc Jonquière, QC
I fully support this amendment, which has also been adopted in other committees. I have no issue with it.
Liberal
Liberal
Paul Lefebvre Liberal Sudbury, ON
Thank you, Mr. Chair.
I don't have any issue with Mr. Lloyd's amendment either. However, I want to ask the analyst whether this isn't already common practice. I just want to know whether we're adding something new. I don't think so.
Isn't this already common practice?
Committee Researcher
Mr. Chair, I can confirm that this is the usual practice.
Liberal
Liberal
Bryan May Liberal Cambridge, ON
Thank you, Mr. Chair.
My hand is up for the greater debate. I would suggest that you move on from me and maybe come back to me after we've dealt with the amendment.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal James Maloney
Okay.
Does anybody else have any comments, questions or input on Mr. Lloyd's amendment?
I see none.
Madam Clerk, can we then vote on the amendment?
Conservative
Dane Lloyd Conservative Sturgeon River—Parkland, AB
I have a point of order, Mr. Chair.
I haven't heard anyone say anything against the amendment. I'm wondering if we can just pass the amendment. I believe it would pass on division without having to have a roll call.
The Clerk of the Committee Ms. Hilary Jane Powell
I believe we can. Yes.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal James Maloney
Thank you.
There's no need for a recorded vote.
(Amendment agreed to on division)
Let's go back to our discussion on the motion as amended.
Mr. May, you are next, and then we have Mr. Simard.