Evidence of meeting #95 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 amendment.

A recording is available from Parliament.

On the agenda

MPs speaking

Also speaking

5:15 p.m.

Liberal

The Chair Liberal Emmanuel Dubourg

Mr. Ste‑Marie, you have the floor for a point of order.

5:15 p.m.

Bloc

Gabriel Ste-Marie Bloc Joliette, QC

Thank you, Mr. Chair.

I'm not a regular member of this committee, but I had understood, based on the minutes of March 18 and the information you provided at the beginning of the meeting, that we were picking up where we left off.

5:20 p.m.

Liberal

The Chair Liberal Emmanuel Dubourg

Yes.

5:20 p.m.

Bloc

Gabriel Ste-Marie Bloc Joliette, QC

I took the floor on the assumption that we were debating this.

5:20 p.m.

Liberal

The Chair Liberal Emmanuel Dubourg

Okay.

That's not a point of order.

Mr. Casey started talking, and now we're going all over the place.

5:20 p.m.

Liberal

Bryan May Liberal Cambridge, ON

I have a point of order, Mr. Chair.

5:20 p.m.

Liberal

The Chair Liberal Emmanuel Dubourg

Mr. Brian May, please.

5:20 p.m.

Liberal

Bryan May Liberal Cambridge, ON

They may have just turned it on, but there was no interpretation for that entire exchange.

5:20 p.m.

Liberal

The Chair Liberal Emmanuel Dubourg

Okay, let us check.

Is it okay now?

5:20 p.m.

Liberal

Bryan May Liberal Cambridge, ON

Yes, thank you, Mr. Chair.

5:20 p.m.

Liberal

The Chair Liberal Emmanuel Dubourg

Thank you very much.

As I said, let's go back to Sean Casey.

Sean Casey, you have the floor.

5:20 p.m.

Liberal

Sean Casey Liberal Charlottetown, PE

Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Given that committee business is what's indicated on the notice of meeting, given that committee business affords us an opportunity to plan future business because we don't have anything planned for the rest of the calendar, at least in terms of nailing down what we're going to do, given that committee business is normally done in camera, I move that we go in camera.

5:20 p.m.

Liberal

The Chair Liberal Emmanuel Dubourg

We have to take a vote.

Well, first of all, do I have unanimous consent to go in camera?

5:20 p.m.

Conservative

Blake Richards Conservative Banff—Airdrie, AB

You certainly do not because Liberals cannot keep their word.

5:20 p.m.

Liberal

The Chair Liberal Emmanuel Dubourg

I'll turn it over to the clerk for a recorded vote.

(Motion negatived: nays 6; yeas 5)

5:20 p.m.

Liberal

The Chair Liberal Emmanuel Dubourg

We're continuing the discussion on the amendment as presented by Mr. Casey, and on which Mr. Ste‑Marie spoke.

Is there any further discussion?

5:20 p.m.

Conservative

Blake Richards Conservative Banff—Airdrie, AB

Mr. Chair, I have a point of order.

You indicated that we're on an amendment by Mr. Casey. Can you indicate what the amendment is that we're actually debating then?

5:20 p.m.

Liberal

The Chair Liberal Emmanuel Dubourg

First of all, I have to say that there was an amendment from Mr. Casey, and there were subamendments from Ms. Blaney and Mr. Sarai. Those subamendments were adopted.

5:20 p.m.

Conservative

Blake Richards Conservative Banff—Airdrie, AB

Could you read, Mr. Chair, the amendment that we are debating?

5:20 p.m.

Liberal

The Chair Liberal Emmanuel Dubourg

For the benefit of all, I'll read it in English first.

Sean Casey moved that the motion be amended by adding after paragraph (d) the following:

(e) That the committee write a letter to the National Capital Commission (NCC) in regards to their role in the construction of the National Monument to Canada's Mission in Afghanistan to assure the committee that the project will respect established deadlines and that Afghanistan war veterans who wish to see the monument built quickly will not experience additional delays.

That's the amendment we're talking about.

5:25 p.m.

Conservative

Blake Richards Conservative Banff—Airdrie, AB

For clarification, where is this being added?

5:25 p.m.

Liberal

The Chair Liberal Emmanuel Dubourg

Pardon me?

5:25 p.m.

Conservative

Blake Richards Conservative Banff—Airdrie, AB

I don't recall this amendment, so I'm trying to understand it. Where does it fit in the motion?

5:25 p.m.

Liberal

The Chair Liberal Emmanuel Dubourg

Maybe Sean can explain. Before, it said “That the committee invite”. Ms. Blaney amended it to say “That the committee write a letter to”.

After that, Mr. Sarai added, “If the response is not satisfactory to members of the committee then the NCC officials responsible be asked to appear before the committee for no more than one meeting.” That's what we have.

5:25 p.m.

Conservative

Blake Richards Conservative Banff—Airdrie, AB

I guess I'm unclear. Who are we writing a letter to, and what are we asking for? I don't recall this being ever moved, so that's why I'm trying to understand.