Transport Committee on June 3rd, 2010

[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....

[The Chair, Conservative, Merv Tweed]

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

[Brian Jean, Conservative, Fort McMurray—Athabasca, AB]

Certainly.

[The Chair, Conservative, Merv Tweed]

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

[Brian Jean, Conservative, Fort McMurray—Athabasca, AB]

Absolutely, Mr. Chair.

[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.

[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.

[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.

[Brian Jean, Conservative, Fort McMurray—Athabasca, AB]

Read it out one more time?

[The Chair, Conservative, Merv Tweed]

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

[Brian Jean, Conservative, Fort McMurray—Athabasca, AB]

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

[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.

[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.

[The Chair, Conservative, Merv Tweed]

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

[The Clerk]

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

[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.

[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.

[The Chair, Conservative, Merv Tweed]

Monsieur Laframboise.

[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.

[The Chair, Conservative, Merv Tweed]

Thank you.

Mr. Volpe.

[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.

[The Chair, Conservative, Merv Tweed]

Thank you, Mr. Volpe.

(Amendment agreed to)

Mr. Jean, you have one more amendment.

[Brian Jean, Conservative, Fort McMurray—Athabasca, AB]

I do.

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

[Mario Laframboise, Bloc, Argenteuil—Papineau—Mirabel, QC]

The G-2 amendment.

[Brian Jean, Conservative, Fort McMurray—Athabasca, AB]

No, that's not it.

What outstanding amendments do we have? G-1?