Evidence of meeting #21 for Transport, Infrastructure and Communities in the 40th Parliament, 3rd Session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was amendment.

A recording is available from Parliament.

On the agenda

MPs speaking

Also speaking

Clerk of the Committee  Ms. Bonnie Charron

3:35 p.m.

Conservative

Brian Jean Conservative Fort McMurray—Athabasca, AB

Well, under clause 7, did we adopt the amendment to say, “The National Capital Commission is responsible for identifying a site that is accessible to the public at all times where the Monument will be located”?

The difficulty we have at this stage, committee, is that we do not have that unless we change “public land”, amend it to say that public land, under this act, would mean....

3:35 p.m.

Conservative

The Chair Conservative Merv Tweed

Just for clarification, I think we're going to have to deal with the first amendment and then see.

3:35 p.m.

Conservative

Brian Jean Conservative Fort McMurray—Athabasca, AB

Certainly.

3:35 p.m.

Conservative

The Chair Conservative Merv Tweed

We have G-1 and G-2 still in clause 2 that haven't been dealt with—

3:35 p.m.

Conservative

Brian Jean Conservative Fort McMurray—Athabasca, AB

Absolutely, Mr. Chair.

3:35 p.m.

Conservative

The Chair Conservative Merv Tweed

—and what you're suggesting is going to impact those, if they're acceptable.

So can I ask you, Mr. Jean, maybe just for clarity, to read into the record what you're proposing, and I'll give you back your document?

Okay. We're now proposing the G-1, which you have, but with an amendment to it.

3:40 p.m.

Conservative

Brian Jean Conservative Fort McMurray—Athabasca, AB

Thank you, Mr. Chair. I will read it into the record, just to make sure. I've been told I'll probably have to read it twice.

If you look at the original bill, this affects clause 2 in relation to the definition of “Council”. I will quote:

“Council” means the corporation incorporated in accordance with section 5 as the National Holocaust Monument Development Council established by the Minister under section 4 and directed as such by the Minister to form a legal entity in order to properly manage the functions and ensure good governance and accountability of said Council.

So I've wrapped those in.

3:40 p.m.

Conservative

The Chair Conservative Merv Tweed

Before I make any kind of ruling, I just want to make sure everybody understands the statement by the amendment. If you do, then I'll ask Mr. Jean just to share with me that piece again, so we can review it.

3:40 p.m.

Conservative

Brian Jean Conservative Fort McMurray—Athabasca, AB

Read it out one more time?

3:40 p.m.

Conservative

The Chair Conservative Merv Tweed

No. I think I just want to study it here before I make a decision.

3:40 p.m.

Conservative

Brian Jean Conservative Fort McMurray—Athabasca, AB

Okay. You'll have to just follow the one, two, three on mine.

3:45 p.m.

Conservative

The Chair Conservative Merv Tweed

If I may, with some clarification, again thanks to counsel's advice, the amendment would read:

“Council” means the National Holocaust Monument Development Council established by the Minister under Section 4 and directed as such by the Minister to form a legal entity in order to properly manage the functions and ensure good governance and accountability of said Council.

I just want to make sure everybody understands that. Again I will have to rule it as out of order, as inadmissible, Mr. Jean.

3:45 p.m.

Conservative

Brian Jean Conservative Fort McMurray—Athabasca, AB

I'll do the same thing as usual, Mr. Chair. I challenge for the final time, I'm hoping.

3:45 p.m.

Conservative

The Chair Conservative Merv Tweed

My ruling has been challenged. There is no debate. We'll go to Bonnie to call the vote, please.

3:45 p.m.

The Clerk

The question is, shall the decision of the chair be sustained?

3:45 p.m.

Conservative

The Chair Conservative Merv Tweed

(Ruling of the chair overturned: nays 7; yeas 4)

It seems to be a refrain I'm repeating often, but the ruling of the chair has been overruled. The amendment is up for debate. So you can have a point of order, but we now have debate.

The floor is open.

Mrs. Crombie.

3:45 p.m.

Liberal

Bonnie Crombie Liberal Mississauga—Streetsville, ON

Thank you, Mr. Chairman.

It's not that I may agree or disagree with the amendment; it's that I haven't had a chance to review it, and I know my colleagues in the Bloc haven't had it presented to them in French. I feel like we're writing legislation on the fly, on the back of a napkin, and I don't think that's the way we should be conducting our business as parliamentarians. I think that's just wrong.

I'm a visual person. I need to see it written before me. I don't think I want to vote on something I don't have a chance to look at, something that has just been read out, on the back of a napkin, that was created by the parliamentary secretary just moments ago, without thoughtful consideration and mindfulness. It hasn't been translated either, so I'm not prepared to vote for this, no.

3:45 p.m.

Conservative

The Chair Conservative Merv Tweed

Monsieur Laframboise.

3:45 p.m.

Bloc

Mario Laframboise Bloc Argenteuil—Papineau—Mirabel, QC

Mr. Chair, I leave it to your wisdom to give us your opinion, but, to my knowledge, we are allowed to move amendments in committee. I received the French version from translation services, and it is fine with me. I understand what the amendment is about. Otherwise, I would have said something.

3:45 p.m.

Conservative

The Chair Conservative Merv Tweed

Thank you.

Mr. Volpe.

3:45 p.m.

Liberal

Joe Volpe Liberal Eglinton—Lawrence, ON

I'm sure he wanted to add, Mr. Chairman, that this is not precedent-setting, the decision to accept something that hasn't been in both official languages, and I would applaud him in saying that it isn't precedent-setting. Having said that, call the question.

3:45 p.m.

Conservative

The Chair Conservative Merv Tweed

Thank you, Mr. Volpe.

(Amendment agreed to)

Mr. Jean, you have one more amendment.

3:50 p.m.

Conservative

Brian Jean Conservative Fort McMurray—Athabasca, AB

I do.

It was just in relation to the location. I think you have the paperwork.

3:50 p.m.

Bloc

Mario Laframboise Bloc Argenteuil—Papineau—Mirabel, QC

The G-2 amendment.

3:50 p.m.

Conservative

Brian Jean Conservative Fort McMurray—Athabasca, AB

No, that's not it.

What outstanding amendments do we have? G-1?