Evidence of meeting #56 for Transport, Infrastructure and Communities in the 39th Parliament, 1st Session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was sms.
A recording is available from Parliament.
5:20 p.m.
Conservative
Brian Jean Conservative Fort McMurray—Athabasca, AB
As you may have noticed, Mr. Chair, I've spoken probably 400 or 500 times less than I usually do in an effort to move this matter along and, on the advice of colleagues, try to deal with as many things as we can. But I would like to deal with the motion we have and ask for a friendly amendment to amend that motion to extend the sitting tonight until it is done, rather than extend the meetings on Wednesday and Thursday by one hour.
5:20 p.m.
Bloc
Mario Laframboise Bloc Argenteuil—Papineau—Mirabel, QC
I'll just ask you one thing. The Bloc québécois' end of session activity takes place this evening. I agree to extend the meetings on the other days, but not this evening. I would like you to respect that.
5:20 p.m.
NDP
Peter Julian NDP Burnaby—New Westminster, BC
At 6:30 tonight we have the Canada-United States Inter-Parliamentary Group meeting. I'm a member of that, and a number of the Conservatives are members too. I understand where Mr. Jean is going, but I disagree with imposing that today. If he wants to get the bill through, we'll be doing that next week. I don't see great difficulty with that, although we'll see what the results of today are. But imposing that today wouldn't just put the Bloc members in a difficult situation; it would put a number of us in a very difficult situation.
5:20 p.m.
Liberal
Mauril Bélanger Liberal Ottawa—Vanier, ON
Mr. Chairman, in all conscience, I cannot support such a motion. You know that we all have commitments; we have to go and vote or do something else.
I am prepared to speak with the Chairman or the subcommittee to determine a time when everyone can meet for an extended period of time. I have no objection to there being additional meetings, whether it be tomorrow or Friday, if we absolutely so wish, or any time next week.
We propose to sit until 6:30 this evening, or even for an indefinite period, until consideration of this bill is completed. I cannot support that. I believe we nevertheless have to show good will on both sides. I also think we have shown that good will in moving consideration of this bill forward.
It will obviously not be debated at the report stage or at third reading before the fall. We could even continue to sit when Parliament has adjourned, because we indeed have the right to do so, ultimately, even though I don't think we need to do so. As soon as we have completed consideration of clause 12—and we're making very good progress—the rest will follow quite quickly. We can even finish on Monday, during the committee's regular meeting times.
So, in all conscience, I cannot support this motion.
5:25 p.m.
Conservative
Brian Jean Conservative Fort McMurray—Athabasca, AB
We do have a motion on the floor, Mr. Chair. Nobody has made a friendly amendment, so I would ask that we deal with it on the basis of how it is. Quite frankly, with no disrespect, especially to the Bloc members because they have been very cooperative, they have had notice of this for some period of time and it would mean that we would only be sitting until 6:45 or...anyway, one hour afterwards. Right now, I also have a function that starts at 5:30 that I want to go to as well, but I think for Canadians this is very important.
5:25 p.m.
Liberal
Joe Volpe Liberal Eglinton—Lawrence, ON
I want to offer all due respect to my own colleagues on this side of the House. I've listened for the last hour without saying anything about how important this legislation is, on amendments that I had asked you on Monday to rule on. I think that my fervour and desire to get appropriate legislation in place is as unlimited by time as it is for other members of this committee, so I'm going to ask you once again, as soon as you deal with this motion, to deal with my request. The sooner we vote on this the better, and I'm going to support it.
5:25 p.m.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Merv Tweed
The motion before the committee is that the committee extend its sitting hours by 60 minutes on Mondays and Wednesdays until the completion of Bill C-6 clause-by-clause.
5:25 p.m.
Liberal
Don Bell Liberal North Vancouver, BC
I understand that doesn't apply to tonight, then, because we have the vote tonight. So we'll be finished when we leave here, in 10 minutes or so for the vote, I presume.
5:25 p.m.
Conservative
Brian Jean Conservative Fort McMurray—Athabasca, AB
Today is Wednesday; it would apply to today. For the votes, of course, there is a standing order that takes precedent that, indeed--I think it was passed two weeks ago--we would adjourn for the votes and come back right afterwards for an hour.
5:25 p.m.
Liberal
Don Bell Liberal North Vancouver, BC
Then we would go to 6:30, because that's your hour, isn't it? On top of the normal time of 5:30. That's the reason I'm asking.
5:25 p.m.
Conservative
Brian Jean Conservative Fort McMurray—Athabasca, AB
It would extend the sitting hours by 60 minutes. I think it would be open to interpretation, but the reality is that at that stage I think it would be clear to everybody where we're going and how we're going to get there.
5:25 p.m.
NDP
Peter Julian NDP Burnaby—New Westminster, BC
I would have the amendment extend the committee's extended sitting hours by 60 minutes on Mondays and Wednesdays, starting next Monday.
June 6th, 2007 / 5:25 p.m.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Merv Tweed
That the committee extend its sitting hours by 60 minutes on Mondays and Wednesdays starting next Monday, June 11, until the completion of Bill C-6 clause-by-clause.
Mr. Jean.
5:25 p.m.
Conservative
Brian Jean Conservative Fort McMurray—Athabasca, AB
I simply want to make it clear to everybody that I don't read crystal balls, but there is the possibility, of course, that Parliament might not be sitting next Monday and Wednesday. Of course, that is beyond my pay grade for certain, and I think for most people around the table. But I'm certainly not taking that as a friendly amendment, Mr. Julian, although I do appreciate it as such.
5:25 p.m.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Merv Tweed
We have an amendment in front of us, first basically stating that the extension of 60 minutes will start on Monday, June 11, and continue Mondays and Wednesdays until that.... Is the amendment adopted?
(Amendment negatived)