Evidence of meeting #74 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 point.
A video is available from Parliament.
5:35 p.m.
An hon. member
[Inaudible—Editor]
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Conservative
5:35 p.m.
An hon. member
Relax.
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Conservative
The Vice-Chair Conservative Doug Shipley
Mr. Bittle and Mr. Genuis, it's been a long afternoon, gentlemen. It's going to be a longer afternoon. Let's try to keep it civil. We all have our differences of opinion here. Let's not be talking back and forth across the table, please, both of you. Thank you.
(Ruling of the chair overturned: nays 7; yeas 3)
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Conservative
5:35 p.m.
An hon. member
Point of order....
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Conservative
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Conservative
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Conservative
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Liberal
Jennifer O'Connell Liberal Pickering—Uxbridge, ON
Mr. Chair, can I just get some clarification? Who are the members on the Conservatives? Mr. Genuis voted last time, but Mr. Motz is the regular member. Who is being subbed in?
5:40 p.m.
Conservative
The Vice-Chair Conservative Doug Shipley
Ms. O'Connell, there has been notification sent that Mr. Genuis is replacing Mr. Motz right now.
Mr. Genuis, do you have a point of order?
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Conservative
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Conservative
Garnett Genuis Conservative Sherwood Park—Fort Saskatchewan, AB
Thank you, Chair.
I'd like to move that the committee invite additional witnesses to appear in regard to Bill C-20 and that any new amendments to the bill be submitted to the clerk within 48 hours of the completion of the agreed-upon witness meetings.
This motion is being put forward in the hope that we can do further study on Bill C-20. I think further study would be useful to set the stage on this bill, but also to allow committee members to have broader conversations about some of the other issues in terms of the committee's agenda.
As we get into this discussion of what the agenda of the committee will be going forward, it's important to note that it is always the tendency of government to want to prioritize the advancement of government legislation. That's obviously understandable. It wouldn't be government legislation if the government weren't supportive of it. It's the job of parliamentary committees to scrutinize that legislation, to review it, to consider amendments and possible improvements, to hear from various experts and to determine its agenda in terms of how many experts it hears from, on what matters and on what timeline.
However, the committee also needs to prioritize other issues before it. In particular, some members of this committee have been seized with the hope that we will actually be able to honour the desire of representatives of the families of the victims of Paul Bernardo—
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Liberal
5:40 p.m.
Conservative
Garnett Genuis Conservative Sherwood Park—Fort Saskatchewan, AB
—to come and tell their stories before the committee. These are the—
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Conservative
The Vice-Chair Conservative Doug Shipley
Just wait one moment, please, Mr. Genuis.
Go ahead, Ms. O'Connell.
5:40 p.m.
Liberal
Jennifer O'Connell Liberal Pickering—Uxbridge, ON
Thank you, Mr. Chair.
If the member's motion is about expanding the study on Bill C-20, then he's outside of the scope of his motion. I'd ask that you rule that he stay on the subject matter of his motion.
5:40 p.m.
Conservative
The Vice-Chair Conservative Doug Shipley
I will keep that in mind.
We are discussing Bill C-20 right now, Mr. Genuis. If you could keep your comments to that, it would be appreciated by all.
5:40 p.m.
Conservative
Garnett Genuis Conservative Sherwood Park—Fort Saskatchewan, AB
Mr. Chair, with great respect, I'll certainly fully stay within the rules that are established. I suspect there will be other members who will want to speak to this motion as well.
The rules prescribe that there's a certain breadth in terms of the ability of a member to address the topic of the motion. In that context, I do want to be clear about the rationale for having brought forward this motion. Why have Conservatives put forward this motion? Fundamentally, what is our goal in terms of trying to shape the agenda of this committee?
