Veterans Affairs Committee on May 23rd, 2013

[The Chair, Conservative, Greg Kerr]

I think Mr. Casey and Mr. O'Toole are next.

Mr. Casey.

[Sean Casey, Liberal, Charlottetown, PE]

You indicate that we can't propose amendments here, but I wonder if you could reread the sentences in your letter where you reference amendments.

If we are precluded from putting forth amendments, I don't think that we should say to the committee that we are putting the bill back to them without amendments because amendments, apparently, aren't within our power.

Why would we even suggest that we're not going to amend something we're not allowed to amend?

[The Chair, Conservative, Greg Kerr]

I'm trying to get some professional advice here as we move along.

I get your point that if we took out the reference that there are no amendments and just say we're providing commentary, which is what we're asked to do and not reference the amendments, then you're free, through your colleagues, to talk about amendments. I have no problem taking the sense out that there are no amendments because you are technically correct. That's your brilliant legal training, I'm sure, that's coming to light here.

I understand your point. If the committee's comfortable, we can take out the reference to no amendments and just say we're providing commentary that we've.... Would it be better to pass along the recommendations with that minor adjustment and leave the amendments out?

Then we're not dealing with amendments at all. Is that a reasonable thing to do? Then you're free to make commentary to the finance committee as you see fit. Is that reasonable?

[Sean Casey, Liberal, Charlottetown, PE]

Yes.

I think that for us to say we're handing them back without amendments, when we're not allowed to make amendments—

[The Chair, Conservative, Greg Kerr]

That's fair enough.

I was up all night drafting this letter, as you can appreciate.

The legal side who understands what's going on says that's appropriate.

Yes, Mr. O'Toole?

[Erin O'Toole, Conservative, Durham, ON]

Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Thank you for staying up all night crafting that. It's appreciated.

Some of us were in the House until midnight last night, so we're all putting the hours in.

[The Chair, Conservative, Greg Kerr]

That's where I did it.

[Erin O'Toole, Conservative, Durham, ON]

I think you're spelling out very well the option that Mr. Casey has...we proceed with a vote. Mr. Casey is free to provide his commentary to the finance committee.

I would recommend that he consult with some of his caucus colleagues who were part of the last government—it might give him some insights in that regard—but we move to a vote now.

[The Chair, Conservative, Greg Kerr]

Okay.

On Mr. Casey’s suggestion of taking out the word “amendment” so there's no reference to it at all with a cleaned up letter, we've had a pretty full discussion. I appreciate that this has been rushed and that's what we were stuck with. This wasn't trying to cut anybody off.

Anyway, there's been a call for the vote. All those in favour of adopting the letter, please indicate by show of hands.

(Motion agreed to [See Minutes of Proceedings])

You want that recorded, I assume, Mr. Casey?

[Sean Casey, Liberal, Charlottetown, PE]

Yes, please.

[The Chair, Conservative, Greg Kerr]

Show that Mr. Casey was in the negative.

You never get too old to learn, you know? That was Mr. Bishop's point too.

That takes care of the letter and the reason for the witnesses. We will get this back and make sure the finance committee has it by Monday. You will get copies of the letter, translated and cleaned up. As I said, you're free to talk to your colleagues in the finance committee. They'll be discussing the meat of it.

I'm going to suspend again for a minute. We have a couple of items to deal with in camera. I'll ask anybody not attached to the committee to please leave at this time.

Mr. Lizon, you have a comment?

[Wladyslaw Lizon, Conservative, Mississauga East—Cooksville, ON]

Before we go in camera, I would like to remind the committee or colleagues that last weekend, May 18 to be exact, marked the 69th anniversary of the battle of Monte Cassino. From January 17 to May 18, the allied troops lost over 55,000 troops including British, Canadian, French, and Polish.

I had the chance to be at the ceremony where there were four veterans in their mid-nineties and who were still able to walk. I was very honoured to be in their presence.

[The Chair, Conservative, Greg Kerr]

Thank you very much, Mr. Lizon, for pointing that out. It will be in the record that you raised that. I know that if Mr. Stoffer were here, he'd want to say that anytime you can add to the recognition of veterans anywhere, it's a positive thing.

We're going to suspend for a minute. I'll point out that we're going in camera. When we come back, we’ll deal with a couple of issues: one budget and one related to our agenda moving forward.

Anybody not part of the committee I would ask to please proceed on. Thank you for coming, it was good to have you here.

[Proceedings continue in camera]