Public Safety Committee on June 16th, 2022

[Ron McKinnon, Liberal, Coquitlam—Port Coquitlam, BC]

Thank you, Chair.

I'd certainly like to support Mr. MacGregor's subamendment. I'd actually like us to be able to vote on that particular subamendment, because I'd like to move a further subamendment, which I believe I can't do as long as that's on the floor. I'm going to propose an amendment so that instead of three one-hour meetings, we have one meeting, without being too specific about the panels.

Anyway, I can't move that until we deal with this subamendment.

[The Chair, Liberal, Jim Carr]

Go ahead, Mr. Van Popta.

[Tako Van Popta, Conservative, Langley—Aldergrove, BC]

Thank you.

I'm generally in favour of Mr. MacGregor's amendment. I think it's important that we have Mr. Brennan at the meeting. He was part of the call, and we want to hear from him.

I would also underline the fact that our investigation is going to be quite different from the Mass Casualty Commission investigation going on in Nova Scotia right now, which is really looking at operational matters—what happened on the ground, what didn't happen on the ground and timing issues. Our investigation is going to be more into allegations of political interference, which I think definitely falls within the realm of what this public safety committee needs to be doing.

I think it's an urgent matter. I think we need to move along just as quickly as we can. I understand that House of Commons resources will be limited over the next couple of weeks, but it is also my understanding that, for an emergency meeting, they can be made available. I think we need to use whatever tools are available to us, provided by the House of Commons, to conduct these meetings as soon as we can.

Thank you.

[The Chair, Liberal, Jim Carr]

Go ahead, Ms. Damoff.

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

Just for clarification, Mr. MacGregor's subamendment is to add the deputy commissioner to the motion. That's what we're voting on. Is that it?

Okay. Let's vote on that.

[Raquel Dancho, Conservative, Kildonan—St. Paul, MB]

It's also about timing, Mr. Chair.

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

I think we should deal with those separately, if we could.

[Raquel Dancho, Conservative, Kildonan—St. Paul, MB]

It depends on what the subamendment was.

[The Chair, Liberal, Jim Carr]

I didn't hear any reference to timing when Mr. MacGregor read his subamendment.

[Alistair MacGregor, NDP, Cowichan—Malahat—Langford, BC]

Yes, Mr. Chair, and I'll confirm that. It's just to add the deputy commissioner at this point, because I think we're going to have a discussion on the timing after we pass the subamendment.

[The Chair, Liberal, Jim Carr]

Okay.

Colleagues, I'm looking at my clock. We vote in 11 minutes.

Clerk, how much time do we have to leave for members to vote in a timely way? How far do we run this clock down?

[The Clerk]

I would say 10 minutes, Mr. Chair.

[The Chair, Liberal, Jim Carr]

We have 10 minutes left, do you mean?

[The Clerk]

Yes.

[The Chair, Liberal, Jim Carr]

Why don't we stop the discussion now, vote, come back and then sort out the voting on the subamendment and the amendment?

Is that all right with everybody?

[The Clerk]

Mr. Chair, we are doing the vote right now before suspending. Is that correct?

[Ron McKinnon, Liberal, Coquitlam—Port Coquitlam, BC]

Mr. Chair, can we have clarification? Can we have the vote on the subamendment now and then suspend?

[The Chair, Liberal, Jim Carr]

Is that the will of the committee?

[Some hon. members]

Yes.

[The Chair, Liberal, Jim Carr]

Let's take a vote on Mr. MacGregor's subamendment.

Mr. MacGregor, do you want to quickly read it, please?

[Alistair MacGregor, NDP, Cowichan—Malahat—Langford, BC]

My subamendment is that the amendment be amended by adding Deputy Commissioner Brian Brennan of the RCMP to the panel with Commissioner Brenda Lucki.

[The Chair, Liberal, Jim Carr]

That's clear.

(Subamendment agreed to: yeas 11, nays 0 [See Minutes of Proceedings])

Very good. Thank you, colleagues. The subamendment passes.

Now we're within the period where we should bear down on the vote.

[Ron McKinnon, Liberal, Coquitlam—Port Coquitlam, BC]

Mr. Chair, I would like to move a subamendment as soon as we get back.

[The Chair, Liberal, Jim Carr]

One thing at a time, Mr. McKinnon. Let's get the votes out of the way. There are a number of minutes left. I believe we have to wait 10 minutes after the vote has been announced in the House before we resume our deliberations. I will look to the clerk for a cue when those 10 minutes have passed, and then we will resume discussion of this item.

We'll see you in a few minutes.

[The Chair, Liberal, Jim Carr]

Colleagues, I call the meeting back to order.

Just before we took the break to vote, we approved a subamendment by Mr. MacGregor. Just as we left the meeting, Mr. McKinnon wanted the floor.

Mr. McKinnon, go ahead.