TRAN Committee Meeting

The Standing Committee on Transport, Infrastructure and Communities met at 11:02 a.m. this day, in Room 308, West Block, the Vice-Chair, the Hon. John McCallum, presiding.

Merv Tweed made a statement and answered questions.

The Committee commenced its clause-by-clause study of the Bill.

The Chair called Clause 1.

““library materials” means books, magazines, records, CDs, CD-ROMs, audiocassettes and videocassettes, DVDs and other audiovisual”

Bonnie Crombie moved, — That the amendment be amended by

(a) replacing the word “means ” with the words “are defined as”

(b) by replacing the word “and” following “audiocassettes” with “,” and,

(c) by replacing line 10 on page 1 with the following: “materials and other similar library materials.”

After debate, the question was put on the subamendment of Bonnie Crombie and it was agreed to.

After debate, the question was put on the amendment of Brian Jean, as amended, and it was agreed to.

Clause 1, as amended, carried.

On Clause 2,

“(g.1) providing for a reduced rate of postage”

Bonnie Crombie moved, — That the amendment be amended by adding the following:

“for a period of at least 10 years”

After debate, by unanimous consent, the subamendment was withdrawn.

After debate, the question was put on the amendment of Brian Jean and it was agreed to on division.

Clause 2, as amended, carried on division.

On Clause 3,

“21.1 The Corporation may, with the approval of the Governor in Council, enter into an agreement with Her Majesty in right of Canada to continue the reduced rate of postage for library books.”

After debate, the question was put on the amendment of Brian Jean and it was agreed to.

Clause 3, as amended, carried.

On new Clause 4,

“4. The Act is amended by adding the following after section 21.1:

21.2 Parliament shall review the definition of library materials and s.19(1)(g.1) at least every 10 years.”

After debate, new clause 4 carried.

The Title carried.

The Bill, as amended, carried.

ORDERED, — That the Chair report the Bill, as amended, to the House.

ORDERED, — That Bill C-509, as amended, be reprinted for the use of the House at report stage.

At 11:49 a.m., the sitting was suspended.

At 12:02 p.m., the sitting resumed.

At 12:02 p.m., Merv Tweed took the Chair.

It was agreed, — That the Committee's study on Bill C-20 include the evidence and documentation received during the study of Bill C-37 in the 2nd Session of the 40th Parliament.

The Committee commenced its clause-by-clause study of the Bill.

Simon Dubé answered questions.

Pursuant to Standing Order 75(1), consideration of the preamble and Clause 1 are postponed.

The Chair called Clause 2.

On Clause 2,

““ecological integrity” means a condition that is determined to be characteristic of a natural region and likely to persist, including abiotic components and the composition and abundance of native species and biological communities, rates of change and supporting processes;”

After debate, the question was put on the amendment of Brian Jean and it was agreed to.

““Greenbelt” means the area whose boundaries are described in Schedule 2.1;”

The Chair ruled the proposed amendment inadmissible because it was beyond the scope of the Bill, as provided on page 766 of House of Commons Procedure and Practice, Second Edition.

Whereupon, Marcel Proulx appealed the decision of the Chair.

The question: "Shall the decision of the Chair be sustained?" was put and the decision was overturned on the following recorded division: YEAS: Lois Brown, Michel Guimond, Richard Nadeau — 3; NAYS: Dennis Bevington, Bonnie Crombie, Brian Jean, Colin Mayes, l'hon. John McCallum, Marcel Proulx, Tim Uppal, Jeff Watson — 8.

By unanimous consent, it was agreed, — That the result of the decision on the admissibility of the previous amendment be applied to the following six (6) amendments also including the concept of “Greenbelt”:

That Bill C-20, in Clause 2, be amended by replacing lines 20 to 23 on page 2 with the following:

““National Interest Land Mass” means the collection of real property and immovables, or portions of them,

(a) located in Gatineau Park or the Greenbelt, or

(b) designated by the Commission under section 10.2;”

That Bill C-20, in Clause 10, be amended by replacing line 16 on page 5 with the following:

“years. The plan must contain principles and objectives, including in respect of Gatineau Park and the Greenbelt.”

That Bill C-20, in Clause 10, be amended by replacing line 15 on page 6 with the following:

“that is an immovable located in Gatineau Park or real property located in the Greenbelt.”

That Bill C-20, in Clause 19, be amended by replacing lines 14 and 15 on page 10 with the following:

“22.1 (1) Subject to subsections (2) to (4), the Governor in Council may, by order, add a description to, or amend a description in, any of Schedules 1 to 2.1.

(2) Before an order is made in respect of Schedule 2 or 2.1, the order that is proposed to be made shall be laid before each House of Parliament.

(3) An order may not be made in respect of Schedule 2 or 2.1 before the earlier of

(a) 30 sitting days after the proposed order is laid before each House of Parliament, and

(b) 160 calendar days after the proposed order is laid before each House of Parliament.

(4) A proposed order that has been laid before each House of Parliament need not be laid before each House again before the order is made, regardless of whether it has been altered.

(5) The Commission shall provide the Governor in Council with a description of the boundaries of the Greenbelt within five years after the day on which this subsection comes into force.”

That Bill C-20 be amended by adding after line 25 on page 10 the following new clause:

“20.1 The Act is amended by adding the following after section 25:

26. The annual report that the Commission is required to submit under section 150 of the Financial Administration Act must include information respecting the Commission’s activities with regard to Gatineau Park and the Greenbelt, including the acquisition by the Commission of real property located in the Greenbelt or an immovable located in Gatineau Park.”

That Bill C-20, in the schedule, be amended by adding, after the Schedule 2 set out in the schedule, on page 36, the following :

“SCHEDULE 2.1

(Sections 2 and 22.1)

DESCRIPTION OF THE BOUNDARIES OF THE GREENBELT”

After debate, the question was put on the amendment of Brian Jean and it was agreed to, by a show of hands: YEAS: 10; NAYS: 2.

““National Interest Land Mass” means the collection of real property and immovables, or portions of them,

(a) located in Gatineau Park or the Greenbelt, or

(b) designated by the Commission under section 10.2;”

After debate, the question was put on the amendment of Brian Jean and it was agreed to, by a show of hands: YEAS: 9; NAYS: 2.

Clause 2, as amended, carried.

On Clause 3,

“15 members including a Chairperson.”

After debate, the question was put on the amendment of Marcel Proulx and it was agreed to, by a show of hands: YEAS: 6; NAYS: 5.

“(3.01) The Chairperson appointed under subsection (3) shall be fluent in both official languages at the time of the appointment.”

After debate, the question was put on the amendment of Richard Nadeau and it was agreed to, by a show of hands: YEAS: 6; NAYS: 5.

“(2.1) Paragraphs 3(4)(b) and (c) of the Act are replaced by the following:

(b) three, ordinarily resident in the National Capital Region, from local municipalities in Quebec, at least one of whom shall be from the section of the city of Gatineau that is west of the Gatineau River; and

(c) eight from Canada generally, other than from a city or municipality referred to in either of paragraphs (a) or (b), at least two of whom shall be from Quebec.”

Debate arose thereon.

At 1:00 p.m., the Committee adjourned to the call of the Chair.