Natural Resources Committee on Dec. 15th, 2021

[Chris Warkentin, Conservative, Grande Prairie—Mackenzie, AB]

Thank you.

I agree with Mr. Angus. It would be difficult for members who weren't part of the study to be able to step in at the last minute as it's crossing the finish line. Of course, we worked diligently to get our reports done.

There was some information and some evidence that had been brought forward at the ethics committee with regard to the WE scandal. Mr. Maloney was at that committee because the Liberals said that they wouldn't allow that testimony to be brought forward in this Parliament, making the argument that it was outside the current work of the committee. I think it's important for us to be consistent. I think we have a good work plan. Mr. Angus's motion has now been passed, and I think we can all get behind that. I think that any other effort to try to delay or to stall would be difficult to now agree to, having just passed that motion.

I will be opposing Mr. Maloney's motion.

[The Chair, Liberal, John Aldag]

Mr. Angus.

[Charlie Angus, NDP, Timmins—James Bay, ON]

Okay, thank you.

In response to my colleague Mr. Simard, I am prepared to find a compromise. I think it is important for the subcommittee to consider this situation in order to develop a plan. Voting on the motion now worries me, but it is important to recognize this committee's good work and the witnesses' efforts. I am prepared to discuss this issue in subcommittee to prepare a work plan to help the committee find a solution.

[The Chair, Liberal, John Aldag]

Ms. Dabrusin.

[Julie Dabrusin, Liberal, Toronto—Danforth, ON]

Thank you very much, Mr. Angus. I appreciate the fact that we could work with the subcommittee.

I just wanted to make sure that we can.

move the amendment that I proposed to remove the date. I say that just so that it's on the record.

This will make life easier for the subcommittee

[The Chair, Liberal, John Aldag]

Okay.

Mr. Angus.

[Charlie Angus, NDP, Timmins—James Bay, ON]

I'm not sure what the amendment would be if we simply remove the date. I think the amendment would be that we'd have to remove the date and send it to the subcommittee, and then return it to our committee with recommendations on how to deal with this unfinished business.

[The Chair, Liberal, John Aldag]

Are you making a subamendment, then?

[Charlie Angus, NDP, Timmins—James Bay, ON]

I wanted to know if she had an amendment that simply removed the date because that would not be sufficient. We would need to remove the date, and then we would actually have to say that we will refer it to subcommittee to bring back a recommendation to the larger committee.

If necessary I'll make the subamendment to Madam Dabrusin's amendment. Does that make sense?

[The Chair, Liberal, John Aldag]

Ms. Dabrusin, would you like to add that to your amendment, the sending to the subcommittee as well as removing the date? If not, then we'll treat it as a subamendment.

[Julie Dabrusin, Liberal, Toronto—Danforth, ON]

I guess it was an assumption that we'd send everything to the subcommittee, so I'm a bit confused as to the need to specifically state it. I don't have a problem with it going to subcommittee, but it seems like we're going to talk in circles forever if we do it.

[Mario Simard, Bloc, Jonquière, QC]

Sorry, I have a point of order.

[The Chair, Liberal, John Aldag]

Go ahead, Mr. Simard.

[Mario Simard, Bloc, Jonquière, QC]

We no longer have access to the interpretation.

It's okay, it has been resolved.

[The Chair, Liberal, John Aldag]

We missed the translation.

[Julie Dabrusin, Liberal, Toronto—Danforth, ON]

I assumed that everything went to the subcommittee, but if Mr. Angus wants that to be written into the motion, I agree with his proposal. We can say that we are removing the date and that this will be also sent to the subcommittee.

[The Chair, Liberal, John Aldag]

We will then put the question on this one as amended, removing the date and sending it to subcommittee. Do you want a recorded division?

(Amendment agreed to: yeas 11; nays 0)

Mr. Chahal has his hand up.

Mr. Chahal, you have the floor.

[George Chahal, Liberal, Calgary Skyview, AB]

Thank you, Chair.

I also have a motion to request a response to the critical minerals study—

[Michelle Rempel, Conservative, Calgary Nose Hill, AB]

On a point of order, Chair, you can't move a new substantive motion when there is a motion on the floor.

[The Chair, Liberal, John Aldag]

Didn't we just dispense with that motion?

[Michelle Rempel, Conservative, Calgary Nose Hill, AB]

No, we dispensed with the amendment.

[The Chair, Liberal, John Aldag]

I apologize.

[George Chahal, Liberal, Calgary Skyview, AB]

I apologize.

[The Chair, Liberal, John Aldag]

I stand corrected. The amendment was carried.

Now we will go to the vote on the amended motion that Mr. Maloney brought forward.

(Motion agreed to: yeas 7; nays 4)

[The Chair, Liberal, John Aldag]

Now Mr. Chahal, I recognize you.