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Decentralized Democracy

House Committee

44th Parl. 1st Sess.
December 5, 2023
The Chair (Mr. John Aldag (Cloverdale—Langley City, Lib.))
  • 03:46:35 p.m.
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I call this meeting to order. Welcome to meeting number 87 of the House of Commons Standing Committee on Indigenous and Northern Affairs. We recognize that we meet on the unceded territory of the Algonquin and Anishinabe peoples. Pursuant to the House order of reference adopted on June 21, 2023, and pursuant to the motion adopted by the committee on Thursday, October 26, 2023, the committee is meeting to proceed with clause-by-clause study of Bill C-53, an act respecting the recognition of certain Métis governments in Alberta, Ontario and Saskatchewan. Our meeting is taking place in a hybrid format today. For those members who are online, you know the drill, so I'm not going to spend a lot of time on that. For those in the room, now that we've started, no photos or screenshots are allowed. I'd like to welcome back our officials. From the Department of Crown-Indigenous Relations and Northern Affairs, we have Martin Reiher, senior assistant deputy minister, treaties and aboriginal government. Welcome. We have Michael Schintz, federal negotiations manager, negotiations—central, treaties and aboriginal government, and Blake McLaughlin, director general, negotiations—central, treaties and aboriginal government. Finally, from the Department of Justice, we have Julia Redmond, legal counsel. Welcome to our officials. I'd also like to welcome Eric Melillo, and Jenica Atwin is here for the duration of this one. It's good to see you. Colleagues, I'm going to go through a bit of a script here so that we know what we're up against. To begin, I would like to provide members of the committee with some instructions and a few comments on how the committee will proceed with the clause-by-clause consideration of Bill C-53. As the name indicates, this is an examination of all the clauses in the order in which they appear in the bill. I'll call each clause successively, and each clause is subject to debate and a vote. If there are amendments to the clause in question, I will recognize the member proposing it, who may explain it. The amendment will then be open for debate. I have double clerks here today to help keep speaking order lists. When no further members wish to intervene, the amendment will be voted on. Amendments will be considered in the order in which they appear in the bill and in the package each member received from the clerk. Members should note that amendments must be submitted in writing to the clerk of the committee. That's an important consideration. We are allowed to take amendments from the floor, but they need to be in writing to the clerk. The chair will go slowly to allow members to follow the proceedings properly. Amendments have been given an alphanumeric number in the top right corner to indicate which party submitted them. There is no need for a seconder to move an amendment. Once moved, you will need unanimous consent to withdraw it. During debate on an amendment, members are permitted to move subamendments. These subamendments must be submitted in writing. They do not require the approval of the mover of the amendment. Only one subamendment may be considered at a time, and that subamendment cannot be amended. When a subamendment is moved to an amendment, it is voted on first. Then another subamendment may be moved, or the committee may consider the main amendment and vote on it. Once every clause has been voted on, the committee will consider and vote on the short title, the title and the bill itself. If amendments are adopted, an order to reprint the bill may be required so that the House has a proper copy for use at report stage. Finally, the committee will have to order the chair to report the bill to the House. That report contains only the text of adopted amendments as well as an indication of any deleted clauses. With that as the instructions for today, we're going to move right into the agenda. I have a couple of comments here to give you before we get down to business. Pursuant to Standing Order 75(1), consideration of clause 1, the short title, and of the preamble are postponed. (On clause 2) The Chair: I call clause 2. Now, since there are a couple of amendments to clause 2, the interpretation clause, I suggest that we postpone the study of clause 2 until the end. This will allow us to first consider and make a decision on amendments that could have an impact on the definitions. As a reminder, House of Commons Procedure and Practice, third edition, states on page 773 that: The interpretation clause of a bill is not the place to propose a substantive amendment to a bill unless other amendments have been adopted that would warrant amendments to the interpretation clause. Therefore, clause 2 will be considered after the schedule. (Clause 2 allowed to stand) If anybody has anything related to clause 2, hold that until we get near the very end. I have it in my notes and I will be bringing us back to that. Is there agreement that we skip to new clause 2.1? Go ahead, Arnold.
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Mr. Arnold Viersen (Peace River—Westlock, CPC)
  • 03:51:55 p.m.
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It's not so much on this. Just before we get into the clause-by-clause consideration, I was wondering if we could get some clarification around our supplements motion and the ministers appearing at the committee. Do we have any word that the minister is coming and do we have it scheduled? I expected that before we got to this meeting, we'd be hearing something, but I didn't hear anything.
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