Public Safety Committee on May 10th, 2012

[Brent Rathgeber, Conservative, Edmonton—St. Albert, AB]

An example, Mr. Chair and Mr. Garrison, is that if an individual who is incarcerated had—unrelated to the reasons why he was incarcerated—been in a motor vehicle accident and injured me or my client, and has insurance, and I successfully sue that individual, I have a judgment against that individual pursuant to my damages for the motor vehicle accident. Let's say this individual suddenly comes into a settlement pursuant to—I don't know—maybe his suit against the director of CSC for mistreatment while he's inside prison.

So if paragraph (d) is in place, I, on behalf of the motor vehicle injury victim, can attach the proceeds he gets from his successful lawsuit against the director of CSC. If Mr. Garrison deletes paragraph (d), the only things that are covered are child support, spousal support, restitution, and victim surcharges.

So you're quite right. Ms. Hoeppner's quite right: it narrows it significantly for other classes of legitimate victims that the sponsor of this bill clearly intended.

[The Chair, Conservative, Kevin Sorenson]

Thank you.

When we start saying “outside the scope of the bill”, that's when I start to get a little concerned.

I don't see any other speakers on the subamendment, so I'll call the question. All in favour of the subamendment to delete paragraph (d)?

(Subamendment negatived)

Now we'll go back to amendment G-1. All those in favour of amendment G-1, brought forward by the government, please signify.

Oh, I'm sorry, Ms. Murray. We didn't have you on the list here. I'm sorry.

[Joyce Murray, Liberal, Vancouver Quadra, BC]

I was asking to speak generally to this amendment, as opposed to the subamendment.

[The Chair, Conservative, Kevin Sorenson]

I got you—then for certain we'll hear you.

[Joyce Murray, Liberal, Vancouver Quadra, BC]

Thank you very much, Mr. Chair.

I have to say that the spirit of cooperation and working together in this committee is very impressive. I much appreciate that.

I haven't been with you in the weeks you've spent on this private member's bill, but it was startling to see this comprehensive a set of changes put in front of us essentially minutes before the final vote on this piece of legislation. That makes it difficult for me, on behalf of the Liberals, to wholeheartedly support these amendments or this bill.

Even though we're in support of the principles of this bill—and I think we have been constructive members of the debate going forward—I would say that I'm not able to support this amendment, not because it isn't per se a positive change, as the NDP appeared to be indicating, but because the process makes it impossible to do due diligence.

So my request would be this. Can the kind of consultation that has led to this amendment be done in future in an earlier stage of the bill so that we're not seeing this 45 minutes before the deadline for the vote on the bill?

[The Chair, Conservative, Kevin Sorenson]

I appreciate that, but I also would remind each one of you that clause-by-clause amendments can come right from the floor. Amendments, subamendments, all these can come....

The fact that it was printed out.... As you know, sometimes we come here and there are amendments on the fly. We rely heavily on our clerks to run out, make copies, and bring them back. So yes, it would have.... I'll take that as a good point, Ms. Murray.

Any other comments on the amendment? Seeing none, all in favour of government amendment G-1?

(Amendment agreed to)

All right. Shall clause 2 carry as amended?

(Clause 2 as amended agreed to)

Shall the title carry?

[Some hon. members]

Agreed.

[The Chair, Conservative, Kevin Sorenson]

Shall the bill as amended carry?

[Some hon. members]

Agreed.

[The Chair, Conservative, Kevin Sorenson]

Shall I report the bill as amended to the House?

[Some hon. members]

Agreed.

[The Chair, Conservative, Kevin Sorenson]

Shall the committee order a reprint of the bill?

[Some hon. members]

Agreed.

[The Chair, Conservative, Kevin Sorenson]

Folks, I think we're done.

I want to thank you for that spirit of cooperation. It's good to have this completed.

We are adjourned.