Evidence of meeting #7 for Subcommittee on Private Members' Business in the 41st Parliament, 1st Session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was criteria.

A recording is available from Parliament.

On the agenda

MPs speaking

Also speaking

Michel Bédard  Committee Researcher

10:15 a.m.

Conservative

The Chair Conservative Dave MacKenzie

Okay.

Is it deemed votable?

10:15 a.m.

Some hon. members

Agreed.

10:15 a.m.

Committee Researcher

Michel Bédard

Bill C-478 would amend the Criminal Code to provide that an offender convicted of the abduction, sexual assault and murder of one victim would be sentenced to imprisonment and their parole eligibility would be affected.

This bill clearly falls under federal jurisdiction and clearly does not violate the Constitution. There is no similar bill that is currently on the order paper.

10:20 a.m.

Conservative

The Chair Conservative Dave MacKenzie

Okay.

Mr. Toone, Mr. Armstrong, is it deemed votable?

10:20 a.m.

Some hon. members

Agreed.

March 21st, 2013 / 10:20 a.m.

Committee Researcher

Michel Bédard

Bill C-480 would amend the Old Age Security Act where the Income Supplement and funeral arrangements are concerned. The bill states that if a person withdraws money from their RRSP account in order to pay for funeral arrangements, the person would not be penalized by way of the Income Supplement.

This bill falls under federal jurisdiction and clearly does not violate the Constitution. There is no similar bill that is currently on the order paper or the notice paper. This bill falls within federal jurisdiction. It clearly does not violate the Constitution. There is no similar bill currently on the order paper.

10:20 a.m.

Conservative

The Chair Conservative Dave MacKenzie

Okay.

Is it deemed votable?

10:20 a.m.

Some hon. members

Agreed.

10:20 a.m.

Committee Researcher

Michel Bédard

Bill C-476 would amend the Parliament of Canada Act to make the Parliamentary Budget Officer an independent officer of Parliament. The bill falls within federal jurisdiction. There is no clear violation of the Constitution. There is no similar legislation on the order paper right now.

I would like to specify that a similar bill is before the House, but it is not on the order of precedence. If we go by what the criteria say, this bill should then not be taken into consideration. Only bills that are on the order of precedence should be considered.

10:20 a.m.

Liberal

Stéphane Dion Liberal Saint-Laurent—Cartierville, QC

It is the other one that would be potentially redundant if it became—

10:20 a.m.

Committee Researcher

Michel Bédard

Exactly.

If the other bill were to be added to the order of precedence, the subcommittee would be able to designate it as a non-votable item.

10:20 a.m.

NDP

Philip Toone NDP Gaspésie—Îles-de-la-Madeleine, QC

Would a member usually be advised that there was a risk of redundancy? We should make sure people are notified before the issue goes before committee.

10:20 a.m.

Committee Researcher

Michel Bédard

Since they are usually members from the same party...

10:20 a.m.

NDP

Philip Toone NDP Gaspésie—Îles-de-la-Madeleine, QC

In any case, the whip's office...

10:20 a.m.

Committee Researcher

Michel Bédard

...people are already aware.

10:20 a.m.

Conservative

The Chair Conservative Dave MacKenzie

Okay.

10:20 a.m.

Committee Researcher

Michel Bédard

Motion M-425 is on the long-term health risks and costs of obesity in Canada.

This motion falls within federal jurisdiction. It does not clearly offend the Constitution. No similar motion was passed during this session. Actually, there is another motion on child obesity but its goals and the means it seeks to establish are different. The motions are not similar but both mention obesity.

10:20 a.m.

Conservative

The Chair Conservative Dave MacKenzie

Mr. Toone and Mr. Armstrong? It's votable?

10:20 a.m.

Some hon. members

Agreed.

10:20 a.m.

Committee Researcher

Michel Bédard

Motion M-428 will instruct the Standing Committee on Procedure and House Affairs to examine electronic petitions. This is clearly within federal jurisdiction. It does not clearly offend the Constitution. No similar motion was voted on and none is currently on the Order Paper.

10:20 a.m.

Conservative

The Chair Conservative Dave MacKenzie

Is it votable? Okay?

10:20 a.m.

Some hon. members

Agreed.

10:20 a.m.

Committee Researcher

Michel Bédard

Motion M-430 seeks the government's endorsement of the report of the Panel on Labour Market Opportunities for Persons with Disabilities entitled "Rethinking disAbility in the Private Sector." This working group was created by the government and issued findings on employment access for persons with disabilities. There are not really any problems with this motion.

It is within federal jurisdiction. It does not clearly offend the Constitution. No similar motion was voted on during the session and none is currently on the Notice Paper or the Order Paper.

10:20 a.m.

Conservative

The Chair Conservative Dave MacKenzie

And we have one addition?

10:20 a.m.

Committee Researcher

Michel Bédard

Yes.

Bill S-213, which you received earlier this week, was first tabled in the Senate and then in the House of Commons. Only one of the four criteria applies to Senate bills, that is, whether a similar bill was voted on during the current Parliament.

Bill S-213 seeks to designate July 27 as a day to remember and honour veterans of the Korean War.

No other bill on this issue was voted on during this session.