Evidence of meeting #114 for Public Safety and National Security in the 44th Parliament, 1st Session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was chair.

A recording is available from Parliament.

On the agenda

MPs speaking

Also speaking

Clerk of the Committee  Ms. Dancella Boyi
Mark Scrivens  Senior Counsel, Department of Justice
Richard Bilodeau  Director General, Department of Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness
Saskia van Battum  Director, Department of Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness

6:20 p.m.

Bloc

René Villemure Bloc Trois-Rivières, QC

Thank you very much, Mr. Chair.

I thank my colleague for her comments. I totally agree with conforming to current practice and extending the deadline to 120 days. However, her proposal to delete paragraph 32 (2) proposed by our amendment is absolutely not acceptable, because I would like the minister to be forced to respond. The response time should not be left to the minister's discretion, because the response could then be postponed indefinitely.

6:20 p.m.

Liberal

The Chair Liberal Ron McKinnon

Do I see any further discussion?

Seeing none, shall Ms. O'Connell's subamendment carry?

(Subamendment agreed to on division [See Minutes of Proceedings])

(Amendment as amended agreed to [See Minutes of Proceedings])

That brings us to G-2.

Ms. O'Connell or Mr. Gaheer, do you want to move G-2?

6:20 p.m.

Liberal

Iqwinder Gaheer Liberal Mississauga—Malton, ON

Yes.

This would amend the foreign influence transparency and accountability act. It'll ensure that all pre-existing foreign influence arrangements are covered and that existing relationships won't be grandfathered in due to a lack of transitional provisions.

It is quite lengthy, so I won't read it into the record, but it's been provided.

Maybe we can get the officials' word on this.

6:20 p.m.

Director General, Department of Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness

Richard Bilodeau

Thank you, Chair.

This amendment is proposed because we noticed during the clause-by-clause preparation that existing agreements may not have been captured by the registration requirements of the act. The intent was to ensure that individuals who may have had an agreement on the day that the act comes into force are required to register it within a two-month period. That's consistent with what was done in the past in, for example, the Lobbying Act.

It also avoids a situation in which individuals may seek to enter into arrangements or conclude arrangements prior to the coming into force and therefore not be required to register their agreements.

6:20 p.m.

Liberal

The Chair Liberal Ron McKinnon

Mr. MacGregor is next.

6:20 p.m.

NDP

Alistair MacGregor NDP Cowichan—Malahat—Langford, BC

I'm just assuming that because we did pass BQ-19, these are going to be renumbered as a consequence. We've added a new proposed section 32, so....

6:20 p.m.

Liberal

The Chair Liberal Ron McKinnon

The answer is yes. I like yes.

Is there any further discussion on G-2?

Seeing none, shall G-2 carry?

(Amendment agreed to [See Minutes of Proceedings])

(Clause 113 as amended agreed to)

There are no amendments submitted for clauses 114 to 117. Do we have unanimous consent to group them?

6:20 p.m.

Some hon. members

Agreed.

6:20 p.m.

Liberal

The Chair Liberal Ron McKinnon

(Clauses 114 to 117 inclusive agreed to)

Look at that. We've done all the amendments and it's five minutes before we turn into pumpkins.

Shall the short title carry?

6:20 p.m.

Some hon. members

Agreed.

6:20 p.m.

Liberal

The Chair Liberal Ron McKinnon

Shall schedule 1 carry?

(Schedule 1 agreed to)

Shall schedule 2 carry?

(Schedule 2 agreed to)

Shall the title carry?

6:20 p.m.

Some hon. members

Agreed.

6:20 p.m.

Liberal

The Chair Liberal Ron McKinnon

Shall the bill as amended carry?

6:20 p.m.

Some hon. members

Agreed.

6:20 p.m.

Liberal

The Chair Liberal Ron McKinnon

Shall the chair report the bill as amended to the House?

6:20 p.m.

Some hon. members

Agreed.

6:20 p.m.

Liberal

The Chair Liberal Ron McKinnon

Shall the committee order a reprint of the bill as amended for the use of the House at report stage?

6:20 p.m.

Some hon. members

Agreed.

6:20 p.m.

Liberal

The Chair Liberal Ron McKinnon

That brings us to a close.

Thank you all for your rapt attention and your dedication to getting it done in a hurry.

6:20 p.m.

Conservative

Michael Chong Conservative Wellington—Halton Hills, ON

I have a point of order, Mr. Chair.

Thank you for all your work over the last week and a half and to all the other members of the committee and officials for all the work.

6:20 p.m.

Liberal

The Chair Liberal Ron McKinnon

Thank you to all the officials.

We have this marvellous piece of software here that's going to keep track of our five minutes per party too. We won't get to use it this time.

It's an open question on what we should be doing on Thursday at 8:15 and what action we should take—whether we should sit or whether we should meet on whatever.

I'll be looking for the committee's input tomorrow to see if there are any ideas for what we should carry on with. Personally, after this long week, I'm okay with not sitting on Thursday.

Please let me know and we'll carry on.

With that, and with all thanks—

6:25 p.m.

Conservative

Frank Caputo Conservative Kamloops—Thompson—Cariboo, BC

I was going to move a motion here, Mr. Chair.

6:25 p.m.

Liberal

The Chair Liberal Ron McKinnon

We'll go to Mr. Caputo to move a motion.

6:25 p.m.

Conservative

Frank Caputo Conservative Kamloops—Thompson—Cariboo, BC

Yes. I hate to be a stick-in-the-mud.

I believe Ms. O'Connell is trying to get your attention, so I'll....

6:25 p.m.

Liberal

The Chair Liberal Ron McKinnon

Ms. O'Connell, go ahead.