Evidence of meeting #108 for Veterans Affairs in the 44th Parliament, 1st session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was benefits.
A video is available from Parliament.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Emmanuel Dubourg
For sure I can, as chair, accept other witnesses. I know that next week is going to be a break week, but I have to give instruction to the clerk also.
As well, we have witnesses in front of us so, members of the committee, we have to decide or—
Conservative
Conservative
Blake Richards Conservative Banff—Airdrie, AB
This seems as though it might be a discussion that we need to have in committee business, and we can allow the witnesses.... We have very little time left, and it seems there is some confusion here as to what will occur and what won't.
I would suggest that we set this aside and table it for committee business, Chair.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Emmanuel Dubourg
Thank you so much.
Now let's go to Ms. Blaney. You have the floor.
NDP
Rachel Blaney NDP North Island—Powell River, BC
Could I just call for the vote? I think the committee can make a decision. Most people want to make a decision, and I think we should just vote on it.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Emmanuel Dubourg
Before we go to a vote, Mr. Desilets would like to say something.
Bloc
Luc Desilets Bloc Rivière-des-Mille-Îles, QC
Mr. Chair, I am requesting two additional meetings, which would be four hours in total. I removed the last part of my motion regarding the witnesses. In my opinion, we can call witnesses back, as any committee can do. That is my intention, but I would send their names to the clerk. On the other hand, there are two new witnesses we would like to invite to the committee, including Alex Ruff, a Conservative MP whose thoughts on the matter I would really like to hear.
I am certainly in favour of voting on this. I am really sorry; I thought this could be dealt with in two minutes.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Emmanuel Dubourg
Thank you, Mr. Desilets.
Before talking about the witness list, we have to agree to the motion.
Mr. Richards, the floor is yours.
Conservative
Blake Richards Conservative Banff—Airdrie, AB
Chair, I will make a quick amendment to the motion. Hopefully, it can be adopted quickly, as I want to get back to the witnesses as well.
If we're going to have additional meetings, I know that the Minister of National Defence has been invited, but I would amend the motion by adding that we invite the Minister of Veterans Affairs to appear as one of the witnesses for this study as well.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Emmanuel Dubourg
That was Mr. Desilets's intention when he presented the motion.
As I see it, we can now proceed with the vote in light of Mr. Richards's remarks.
It seems that we can say that there was a unanimous decision to go with that motion. Are we agreed?
Conservative
Blake Richards Conservative Banff—Airdrie, AB
Mr. Chair, I suggested an amendment to add the Minister of Veterans Affairs as a witness. Are we voting on that first?
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Emmanuel Dubourg
Okay. First, on the amendment, are there any objections to adopting the amendment presented by Mr. Richards?
There are not.
Now, on the motion as amended, are there any objections to adopting the motion as amended?
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Emmanuel Dubourg
Okay.
For the motion as amended, I'm going to ask the clerk to take the vote to make sure that we are on the same page.
We're going to take the vote on the motion as amended.
Conservative
Conservative
Blake Richards Conservative Banff—Airdrie, AB
You clearly indicated that you were asking whether there was any objection, which means you were seeking unanimous consent. You indicated that you had received that unanimous consent. I believe that we have in fact passed the amendment.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Emmanuel Dubourg
I understand that too, Mr. Richards, but I have a lot of colleagues saying that it was not their understanding, so I think I have to find a way to permit all of you guys to intervene. I think that we can go to a vote on the amendment and after that go to the motion.
Bloc
Luc Desilets Bloc Rivière-des-Mille-Îles, QC
That's what I was saying to the clerk. I was careful to add to the last sentence a request for a one-hour meeting with the minister. That is already in the motion, so we don't need an amendment on that. Moreover, a motion to that effect was already presented two weeks ago.
