Veterans Affairs Committee on April 24th, 2007

[Betty Hinton, Conservative, Kamloops—Thompson—Cariboo, BC]

We need to discuss it as a committee.

[Brent St. Denis, Liberal, Algoma—Manitoulin—Kapuskasing, ON]

I don't disagree with that.

[The Chair, Conservative, Rob Anders]

We're going to go on to Mr. Stoffer.

[Peter Stoffer, NDP, Sackville—Eastern Shore, NS]

Is it possible to move a friendly amendment to the effect that this bill will be debated on Tuesday?

[The Chair, Conservative, Rob Anders]

Is that considered a friendly amendment?

[Betty Hinton, Conservative, Kamloops—Thompson—Cariboo, BC]

Well, I don't think you can amend this part. This is just a technicality. I'm putting it forward in this format because it's the normal format in which to put it forward. I have no problem, and I don't think anybody has a problem, with discussing it next week, but it can't be a friendly amendment because it's a specific—

[The Chair, Conservative, Rob Anders]

Go ahead, Monsieur Perron.

[Gilles-A. Perron, Bloc, Rivière-des-Mille-Îles, QC]

I have a question for the clerk. You control the schedule of our meetings. Can we discuss this next Tuesday or Thursday? If not, when would the earliest opportunity be to discuss the bill?

[The Clerk]

It all depends on how much time the committee needs to discuss it.

[Gilles-A. Perron, Bloc, Rivière-des-Mille-Îles, QC]

I suppose it could take a couple of hours, but probably no more than that, because this bill—

[The Clerk]

We could spend an entire meeting on the bill. We could also discuss it at the end of a meeting, for perhaps half an hour or so. However, if the motion is not adopted, it will be automatically reported to the House, without amendment or debate, which would imply that it has been debated. Do you understand what I mean?

[Gilles-A. Perron, Bloc, Rivière-des-Mille-Îles, QC]

I understand. There are several technical details I am not familiar with. That's your area.

[The Clerk]

Fine. I hope I answered your question.

[The Chair, Conservative, Rob Anders]

Okay, now hold on. We're going to recognize Mr. St. Denis and then Mr. Stoffer.

[Brent St. Denis, Liberal, Algoma—Manitoulin—Kapuskasing, ON]

If I understand Betty's motion, it's just to protect the committee's right to have something to say about the bill. With the understanding that it's on the Tuesday schedule, we all agree to the extension, which we may not need. It's there as a backstop. It doesn't need to be in a friendly amendment, although I appreciate Peter's amendment. Then I'm okay.

[Betty Hinton, Conservative, Kamloops—Thompson—Cariboo, BC]

Right. There's no underhanded stuff here. It's straightforward.

[The Chair, Conservative, Rob Anders]

Mr. Sweet.

[David Sweet, Conservative, Ancaster—Dundas—Flamborough—Westdale, ON]

The conversation's pretty well if all of the members feel, as Mr. St. Denis does, that we can go ahead and approve this, put it on for Tuesday. I mean, that was my concern: if we put it on for Tuesday, we don't approve this, we don't have any latitude if we do get into a discussion--there's a couple of things I'd like to discuss about the bill--then we can't reschedule it. So if everybody feels that way, and if we're ready to move on that, I'm fine.

[The Chair, Conservative, Rob Anders]

Mr. Stoffer.

[Peter Stoffer, NDP, Sackville—Eastern Shore, NS]

I'm just wondering, why the 30 days? Is there a technical reason why it has to be 30 and not seven, for example? Is there a specific reason for that?

[The Chair, Conservative, Rob Anders]

I think it's just a standard form.

[Peter Stoffer, NDP, Sackville—Eastern Shore, NS]

Oh, it's standard.

[A voice]

It's in the Standing Orders.

[The Chair, Conservative, Rob Anders]

Okay. So I think we have an understanding about this, that we'll be dealing with this on Tuesday.

[Betty Hinton, Conservative, Kamloops—Thompson—Cariboo, BC]

Is there unanimous consent?