Debates of Oct. 28th, 1997

Customs Tariff

[John Nunziata, Independent, York South—Weston, ON]

Mr. Speaker, on behalf of the residents of York South—Weston I will be voting with the government on this matter.

(The House divided on the motion, which was agreed to on the following division:)

Division No. 18

[The Speaker]

I declare the motion carried. Accordingly the bill stands referred to the Standing Committee on Industry.

(Bill read the second time and referred to a committee)

The House resumed from October 27 consideration of the motion and of the amendment.

Newfoundland School System

[The Speaker]

The next recorded division is on the amendment to Government Business No. 5 pursuant to order made Monday, October 27, 1997.

The question is as follows: Mr. Dion, seconded by Mrs. Stewart (Northumberland) moved:

That a Special Joint Committee of the House—

Shall I dispense?

[Some hon. members]

Dispense.

[The Speaker]

Mr. Manning, seconded by Miss Grey (Edmonton North) moved the following amendment:

That the motion be amended—

Shall I dispense?

[John Nunziata, Independent, York South—Weston, ON]

Mr. Speaker, I rise on a point of order. While I recognize the importance of dispensing with the necessity of reading the entire amendment and the motion, there are many people who are watching the proceedings of the House of Commons who may not be aware of exactly what we are voting on.

I would ask the Chair, in perhaps a sentence or two, to simply indicate to the public exactly what we are voting on this afternoon with respect to this matter.

[The Speaker]

With respect, the Chair is empowered to read the motion as it is or not to read it to the House. So if you would like everything read I will read it and, if not, I will proceed from there.

Shall I dispense?

[Some hon. members]

Agreed.

[An hon. member]

No.

[The Speaker]

Mr. Manning, seconded by Miss Grey (Edmonton North), moved the following amendment:

That the motion be amended

(a) by replacing the words: “Special Join Committee of the Senate and the House of Commons” in the first paragraph with the words: “Special Committee of the House of Commons”;

(b) by adding immediately after the words: “concerning the Newfoundland school system;” the following: “more specifically, the matter of applying the following three tests for such a proposed constitutional amendment:

1. The Test of Democratic Consent,

2. The Test of Canadian National Interest, and

3. The Test of the Rule of Law;”

(c) by deleting the words: “and seven Members of the Senate” in the second paragraph;

(d) by inserting after the word “Committee” in the sixth paragraph the words: “be directed and authorized to hold hearings in Newfoundland and”;

(e) by replacing all the words in the eighth paragraph with the following: “That the quorum of the committee be nine members whenever a vote, resolution or other decision is taken, and that the Chairperson be authorized to hold meetings, to receive evidence and authorize the printing thereof, whenever six members are present;”;

(f) by deleting the words “Senate and” in the ninth paragraph;

(g) by replacing all the words in the twelfth paragraph with the following: “That, notwithstanding usual practices, if the House is not sitting when the final report of the committee is completed, the report may be deposited with the Clerk of the House, and the report shall thereupon be deemed to have been presented to the House;”; and

(h) by deleting all the words in the last paragraph.

The question is on the amendment.

[Bob Kilger, Liberal, Stormont—Dundas, ON]

Mr. Speaker, I propose that you seek unanimous consent that members who voted on the previous motion be recorded as having voted on the motion now before the House, with Liberal members voting nay.

[The Speaker]

Is there the unanimous consent of the House?

[Chuck Strahl, Reform, Fraser Valley, BC]

Mr. Speaker, Reform Party members present vote yes on the amendment.

[Stéphane Bergeron, Bloc, Verchères, QC]

Mr. Speaker, the members of the Bloc Quebecois will vote against this amendment.

[John Solomon, NDP, Regina—Lumsden—Lake Centre, SK]

Mr. Speaker, NDP members present will vote yes on the amendment.

[André Harvey, Progressive Conservative, Chicoutimi, QC]

Mr. Speaker, the members of our party will be voting against the amendment.

[John Nunziata, Independent, York South—Weston, ON]

Mr. Speaker, on behalf of the residents of York South—Weston I would like to indicate for the record that I am fundamentally opposed to amending term 17. However, with respect to this amendment I will be voting in favour.

(The House divided on the amendment, which was negatived on the following division:)

Division No. 19

[The Speaker]

I declare the amendment defeated. The next question is on the main motion.

Is it the pleasure of the House to adopt the motion?

[Some hon. members]

On division.

[The Speaker]

On division.

[Bill Blaikie, NDP, Winnipeg—Transcona, MB]

Mr. Speaker, we were waiting for you to say all those in favour of the motion, all those against, and to declare who you thought had it. Then we would see if we would have a standing vote because that is the way you do it.

[The Speaker]

You are right, that is the way you do it. All those in favour of the motion will please say yea.

[Some hon. members]

Yea.

[The Speaker]

All those opposed will please say nay.