Veterans Affairs Committee on May 22nd, 2024

[The Chair, Liberal, Emmanuel Dubourg]

I call this meeting to order.

Welcome to meeting number 95 of the House of Commons Standing Committee on Veteran Affairs.

We are meeting today to discuss committee business.

Today's meeting is taking place in a hybrid format, pursuant to the Standing Orders. Members are attending in person in the room and remotely using the Zoom application.

As you know, it is very important to avoid acoustic incidents; we have to be careful. I would therefore ask members and those participating in the meeting in person to read the cards that are on the table to determine the guidelines to be followed in order to prevent acoustic incidents. Please keep in mind the preventive measures to protect the health and safety of all participants, including interpreters.

As you can see, there is a sticker on the table to put your earpiece on when you're not using it. When you are speaking, please refrain from bringing the earpiece close to the microphone to prevent feedback. These sound feedback events are dangerous for the interpreters. Thank you in advance for your co‑operation.

I'd also like to remind you that all comments should be addressed through the chair.

Finally, allow me to say hello to our colleagues who are replacing members of the committee.

Today, we welcome Mr. Ste‑Marie, who is here to replace Mr. Desilets. Mr. Paul‑Hus is replacing Mr. Tolmie. Mr. Kitchen is here to replace Ms. Wagantall. Lastly, Ms. Damoff is replacing Mr. Sarai and is participating in the meeting by video conference.

Welcome to you all.

The last time we met for something other than our study on women veterans, we talked about an agreement. In addition, subamendments had been proposed to the amendment introduced by Mr. Casey, and they were adopted. We will now resume debate on the motion as amended.

Mr. Ste‑Marie, the floor is yours.

[Gabriel Ste-Marie, Bloc, Joliette, QC]

Thank you, Mr. Chair.

It's a pleasure to be here today. I want to say hello to all the members of the committee. Mr. Chair, I recognize your great expertise in the art of shepherding the committee brilliantly.

At the March 18 meeting, it was agreed that, after the study on women veterans, we would return to the study of subamendments.

As the chair said, I'm replacing my colleague Luc Desilets. I support the motion as presented. I think the amendment and the subamendment may be interesting, but I think they dilute the essence of the motion, which is to shed light on the reasons why the rules of the competition were not followed to the end.

If I understand correctly, the amendment and the subamendment add another subject. In fact, we're saying that we're interested in the timeline. However, the purpose of the motion, as it stands, is to invite people who will help us understand why the process wasn't followed. That's obviously my party's position.

Since I'm loyal to my colleague and friend Luc Desilets, I will support the motion. Although I don't find the amendment and the subamendment uninteresting, I don't think they have any purpose. Therefore, I will not be voting in favour of them.

That's my position, Mr. Chair.

[The Chair, Liberal, Emmanuel Dubourg]

Thank you, Mr. Ste‑Marie.

Mr. Casey, you now have the floor.

[Sean Casey, Liberal, Charlottetown, PE]

Thank you, Mr. Chair.

I have a couple of things to start. First of all, the notice of meeting indicated that we'd be embarking on committee business today, which I took to mean the planning of future business. There's been no motion presented to resume debate on any other motion, so I think it's a bit presumptuous that we launched into that without the prerequisite required.

I presume that Mr. Richards would like to have the floor. We're all really looking forward to what he has to say when he does have the floor, but right now he doesn't have the floor.

With that, Mr. Chair, I would move that, given that the planning of future business is something that is contemplated on the notice of meeting—

[The Chair, Liberal, Emmanuel Dubourg]

Excuse me. Mr. Richards has a point of order.

[Blake Richards, Conservative, Banff—Airdrie, AB]

Mr. Chair, my understanding of the meeting, and I recognize the way the notice read, but all members of this committee will recall that when we last—

[Lisa Hepfner, Liberal, Hamilton Mountain, ON]

That's not a point of order. That's debate.

[Blake Richards, Conservative, Banff—Airdrie, AB]

If you'd like to let me finish—

[Lisa Hepfner, Liberal, Hamilton Mountain, ON]

On what standing order?

[Blake Richards, Conservative, Banff—Airdrie, AB]

The chair will determine that, please.

[The Chair, Liberal, Emmanuel Dubourg]

Yes.

[Blake Richards, Conservative, Banff—Airdrie, AB]

We had an agreement as a committee. We all agreed that we were going to finish the two things that we agreed we were going to finish—

[Lisa Hepfner, Liberal, Hamilton Mountain, ON]

This is debate. You don't have the floor.

[Blake Richards, Conservative, Banff—Airdrie, AB]

—and we were going to immediately return to this. Mr. Casey has indicated he's about to make a motion of some other kind.

Chair, you had indicated at the start of the meeting that we were going to discuss this.

[The Chair, Liberal, Emmanuel Dubourg]

Yes, I know, but—

[Blake Richards, Conservative, Banff—Airdrie, AB]

I'm asking that you rule on whether we're on the—

[Lisa Hepfner, Liberal, Hamilton Mountain, ON]

You're talking over everyone else, including the chair. You don't have the floor. It's not a point of order.

[The Chair, Liberal, Emmanuel Dubourg]

Excuse me, please.

[Blake Richards, Conservative, Banff—Airdrie, AB]

I do have the floor, thank you.

[The Chair, Liberal, Emmanuel Dubourg]

I gave the floor to Mr. Casey because he hadn't said anything about his motion yet. I can't presume what he's going to do.

[Blake Richards, Conservative, Banff—Airdrie, AB]

Chair, what I'm asking you to rule on is that you had indicated at the top of the meeting you were going to return to this. I'm asking you to rule on whether that is what we are on or not. Otherwise, Mr. Casey will be able to move a motion despite the fact that you as chair have ruled otherwise, so please tell us if your ruling is that we are—

[The Chair, Liberal, Emmanuel Dubourg]

Yes.

Mr. Richards, yes—

[Gabriel Ste-Marie, Bloc, Joliette, QC]

Mr. Chair, I also have a point of order.

[The Chair, Liberal, Emmanuel Dubourg]

Mr. Richards, as I said, I don't know his intentions, so he has to finish.

[Gabriel Ste-Marie, Bloc, Joliette, QC]

I also have a point of order.