Public Safety Committee on Nov. 29th, 2018

[Matthew Dubé, NDP, Beloeil—Chambly, QC]

I have a point of order, Mr. Chair.

[The Chair, Liberal, John McKay]

Go ahead.

[Matthew Dubé, NDP, Beloeil—Chambly, QC]

The member has a right to present his amendments. He could read them out, for all we care. He doesn't even need to have them in writing. It's obviously a courtesy.

We set an amendment deadline. We got amendments from Liberals this morning, as well, with little to no notice. At some point, if he just wants to move his amendments....

I understand the sense from the member. I have to leave at 5:30, as I have other commitments. Someone is going to replace me. I don't get to move my amendments. That's just the reality of government ramming through legislation. If Mr. Motz wants to read his amendment for the record, we can just take it from there.

[The Chair, Liberal, John McKay]

I don't think that's the issue, though. The issue is whether we want to suspend while people look at this new stuff and then come back and plow on with it, or whether we want to just move forward. I think we're actually making fairly good progress.

[Glen Motz, Conservative, Medicine Hat—Cardston—Warner, AB]

Is this push that we need to have it done by Monday from the minister?

[The Chair, Liberal, John McKay]

This push has been in existence since this bill was introduced, because of the apparent drive of the court cases. This is not new.

[Pierre Paul-Hus, Conservative, Charlesbourg—Haute-Saint-Charles, QC]

The government has asked that the deadline be pushed back.

[The Chair, Liberal, John McKay]

What's that?

[Pierre Paul-Hus, Conservative, Charlesbourg—Haute-Saint-Charles, QC]

The government has asked that the deadline be pushed back.

[Glen Motz, Conservative, Medicine Hat—Cardston—Warner, AB]

The committee decides when to report back. The minister doesn't decide that, Mr. Chair.

[The Chair, Liberal, John McKay]

No. The committee decides how quickly it will do that, but the chair has the prerogative of extending hours when bills are before the committee.

I sent a note to everybody earlier in the week saying that there would be a reasonable anticipation that we might go beyond 5:30. We are at 5:30, so the simple question is whether you want to suspend for a few minutes while you absorb these new amendments or to keep on moving forward.

[Glen Motz, Conservative, Medicine Hat—Cardston—Warner, AB]

Let's keep on moving forward.

[The Chair, Liberal, John McKay]

Okay. That's Mr. Motz's view.

Ms. Dabrusin is next, and then Ms. Damoff.

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

I would like to suspend. I'm enough of a law geek that I'd like to actually see how it fits in and try to figure out what it is. I would ask for a brief suspension.

[Pam Damoff, Liberal, Oakville North—Burlington, ON]

I agree with Ms. Dabrusin.

[The Chair, Liberal, John McKay]

I take the guidance of my colleagues. We will suspend for 10 minutes and reconvene. First up will be Mr. Motz, and it will be what I have as CPC-2.31, which is adding text after line 21 on page 5.

With that, we are suspended for 10 minutes.

[The Chair, Liberal, John McKay]

Ladies and gentlemen, let's come back to order.

In the interest of peace, order and good government and the desire to have peace, order and good government, I apologize for confusing you. The clerks had assigned a number, CPC-2.31, to reference number 10222178, and that confused Mr. Motz.

I sincerely regret confusing Mr. Motz, although it does seem to be a fairly easy task.

Mr. Motz, you're on.

[Glen Motz, Conservative, Medicine Hat—Cardston—Warner, AB]

I have a point of order, Mr. Chair.

I would move this new language after line 21 on page 5. We're suggesting, or moving, that the following be added:

(1.1) The institutional head may, after consultation with qualified persons, develop alternative means to fulfill the obligation referred to in subsection (1) if those means mitigate the impact of confinement in a structured intervention unit on the mental health of inmates while improving the safety of persons or the security of the penitentiary.

We have written in absolute rules and attempted to define a meaningful relationship for human contact under the law, which is challenging without consideration of its being a prison. Bill C-83, though, doesn't leave much room for considering alternative treatments in the future, which is concerning. I believe that if a technology comes along and we universally accept that meaningful human contact can be achieved, thus meeting the terms of the act while being implemented through other means, the act should be ready for that.

Therefore, I would move that the minister and correctional service staff have the ability to implement new technologies or systems to meet the requirements of the act.

[The Chair, Liberal, John McKay]

Is there any debate?

(Amendment negatived)

[Glen Motz, Conservative, Medicine Hat—Cardston—Warner, AB]

I'm ready for—

[The Chair, Liberal, John McKay]

We have Mr. Dubé on NDP-11.

[Glen Motz, Conservative, Medicine Hat—Cardston—Warner, AB]

I have another one. I have two.

[The Chair, Liberal, John McKay]

Yes, you do, but you're not on until after two more amendments.

[Glen Motz, Conservative, Medicine Hat—Cardston—Warner, AB]

You just let me know when you're ready for me, Mr. Chair, and I'll be here waiting for you.

[The Chair, Liberal, John McKay]

I will. Don't take any time off, Mr. Motz. We're ready for you.