Evidence of meeting #38 for Official Languages in the 44th Parliament, 1st session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was point.

A recording is available from Parliament.

pointamendmentsubamendmentbeaulieuchairgodinunanimous consentsubamendmentswitnessesnovember 24treasury board

On the agenda

MPs speaking

Also speaking

Denis Chartrand  President, Association des conseils scolaires des écoles publiques de l'Ontario
Sophie Bouffard  President, Université de Saint-Boniface
Clerk of the Committee  Ms. Michelle Legault

The Clerk

It may be better. We'll try it like this.

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12:50 p.m.

Conservative

Joël Godin Conservative Portneuf—Jacques-Cartier, QC

Thank you, Madam Clerk.

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The Clerk

All right.

You may continue, Mr. Godin.

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12:50 p.m.

Conservative

Joël Godin Conservative Portneuf—Jacques-Cartier, QC

Mr. Chair, I think that before we go any further—

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The Chair Liberal René Arseneault

Just a minute, Mr. Godin. I spoke to you without realizing my microphone was on mute.

Turn your camera off, because I'm told the quality seems poor.

Before we come back to you, we will finish the debate on Mr. Beaulieu's first subamendment. After Mr. Beaulieu finishes, then I will come back to you.

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12:50 p.m.

Conservative

Joël Godin Conservative Portneuf—Jacques-Cartier, QC

I would like to check something, Mr. Chair.

If I raise my hand, will you still see it during the meeting?

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The Chair Liberal René Arseneault

Yes.

However, Mr. Beaulieu has a series of subamendments. We will go through them one by one, and as agreed, after his first one, I will come back to you where we left off because of technical problems.

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12:50 p.m.

Conservative

Joël Godin Conservative Portneuf—Jacques-Cartier, QC

In fact, Mr. Chair, we may be working for nothing. I have something to suggest to you.

I would like to see whether the committee—

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The Chair Liberal René Arseneault

Mr. Godin, I'm just asking you for a few moments.

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12:50 p.m.

Conservative

Joël Godin Conservative Portneuf—Jacques-Cartier, QC

In fact, if I withdraw my amendment, Mr. Beaulieu's subamendment will no longer be relevant, nor necessary.

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The Chair Liberal René Arseneault

In that case, I think we need unanimous consent.

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12:50 p.m.

Conservative

Joël Godin Conservative Portneuf—Jacques-Cartier, QC

Yes.

Shall I make my request, Mr. Chair?

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The Chair Liberal René Arseneault

Wait a moment. There are several procedures involved. There is a subamendment to your amendment, and, now, you want to withdraw your amendment.

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The Chair Liberal René Arseneault

Forgive me for wanting to err on the side of caution rather than omission, but, indeed, Mr. Beaulieu, if the subamendment you are proposing to Mr. Godin's amendment is maintained, and Mr. Godin then withdraws that amendment, your subamendment becomes, so to speak, obsolete or unnecessary.

If I may, Mr. Beaulieu, I will go back to Mr. Godin, and see if—

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Mario Beaulieu Bloc La Pointe-de-l'Île, QC

Mr. Chair, I would like to speak.

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The Chair Liberal René Arseneault

Go ahead, Mr. Beaulieu.

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Mario Beaulieu Bloc La Pointe-de-l'Île, QC

There's one thing I wanted to know.

When Mr. Serré withdraws his amendment, can he—

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The Chair Liberal René Arseneault

No, Mr. Beaulieu, it is Mr. Godin.

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Mario Beaulieu Bloc La Pointe-de-l'Île, QC

Yes, it is Mr. Godin. I'm sorry. I didn't mean to add to your confusion. We're at sixes and sevens here.

I think that Mr. Godin wants to do this because he wants to amend his amendment himself. In that case, could he submit a new amendment?

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The Chair Liberal René Arseneault

Mr. Godin cannot amend his own amendment except by unanimous consent. We cannot guess what Mr. Godin wants to do. Based on one comment we heard, Mr. Godin simply wanted to withdraw his amendment. There is a request for unanimous consent to withdraw his amendment. That is where we are at.

So, I'm going to give the floor to Mr. Godin.

We are listening, Mr. Godin.

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Marc Serré Liberal Nickel Belt, ON

Mr. Chair—

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The Chair Liberal René Arseneault

Yes, Mr. Serré.

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Marc Serré Liberal Nickel Belt, ON

Mr. Chair, we did not obtain unanimous consent.

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The Chair Liberal René Arseneault

No. I asked Mr. Godin to explain exactly what he wanted to do. We'll proceed from there.

Mr. Godin, you have the floor.

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12:50 p.m.

Conservative

Joël Godin Conservative Portneuf—Jacques-Cartier, QC

Mr. Chair, to demonstrate our goodwill in moving the bill forward, I would ask for unanimous consent to withdraw my amendment to Mr. Serré's motion, as it is no longer required.

To make sure that all members understand the situation and why I am doing this, I will add that since the beginning of this debate, my objective has been to make sure that we base it on the number of hearings rather than on dates. I have been saying this since last June—

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