CLAR Committee Meeting

Meeting No. 10

Thursday, February 24, 2000

The Legislative Committee on Bill C-20 met in a televised session at 9:42 a.m. this day, in Room 253-D, Centre Block, the Chair, Peter Milliken, presiding.

Members of the Committee present: Reg Alcock, André Bachand, Claude Bachand, Stéphane Bergeron, Bill Blaikie, Ray Bonin, Bonnie Brown, Irwin Cotler, Claude Drouin, Michel Guimond, Grant Hill, Rahim Jaffer, Marlene Jennings, Val Meredith, Peter Milliken, Dennis Mills, Bernard Patry, Marcel Proulx, Karen Redman, Andy Scott and Daniel Turp.

Witnesses: From the Alliance Quebec: William Johnson, Past-President; William T. Butcher, Chairman of the Board; Anthony Housefather, Councillor. From the Government of Quebec: The Hon. Joseph Facal, Minister of Intergovernmental Affairs. As Individual: Michael Oliver; Maurice Pinard, Professor emeritus, Department of sociology, McGill University; Robert Young, Professor, Department of Political Science, University of Western Ontario. From the Inuit Tapirisat of Canada: Okalik Eegeesiak, President; Michael McGoldrick, Special Assistant and Political Advisor to the President. As Individual: Gordon F. Gibson, Senior Fellow in the Canadian Studies, Fraser Institute; Frances Abele, Professor, School of Public Administration, Carleton University.

Pursuant to its Order of Reference of Thursday, February 10, 2000, the Committee resumed consideration of Bill C-20, An Act to give effect to the requirement for clarity as set out in the opinion of the Supreme Court of Canada in the Quebec Secession Reference (See Minutes of Proceedings, Wednesday, February 16, 2000, Meeting No. 2).

William Johnson made an opening statement and, with the witnesses, answered questions.

The Hon. Joseph Facal made an opening statement and answered questions.

At 11:25 a.m., the sitting was suspended.

At 11:35 a.m., the sitting resumed.

Michael Oliver made an opening statement and answered questions.

At 12:05 p.m., the sitting was suspended.

At 12:30 p.m., the sitting resumed.

Maurice Pinard made a statement and answered questions.

Robert Young made a statement and answered questions.

At 2:31 p.m., it was agreed to suspend the sitting to allow the Sub-Committee on Agenda and Procedure to meet.

At 3:38 p.m., the sitting resumed.

Okalik Eegeesiak made a statement and, with the other witness, answered questions.

Gordon Gibson made a statement and answered questions.

Frances Abele made a statement and answered questions.

At 5:30 p.m., the debate resumed on Mr. Alcock's motion - That the Committee may, if necessary to further accommodate the list of witnesses, continue to hear witnesses up to 5:30 p.m. on Thurday, February 24, 2000, provided that the Chair shall put, without further debate or amendment, all questions necessary to dispose of Bill C-20 no later than midnight on Thursday, February 24, 2000.

At 5:31 p.m., The Chair interrupted the debate and ruled that the Order adopted by the House which reads as follows: - That in relation to Bill C-20, An Act to give effect to the requirement for clarity as set out in the opinion of the Supreme Court of Canada in the Quebec Secession Reference, not more than ten further hours shall be allotted to the consideration of the committee stage of the Bill, and that, at the expiry of the time provided for in this Order, any proceedings before the Legislative Committee on the said Bill shall be interrupted, if required, for the purpose of this Order and, in turn, every question necessary for the disposal of the said stage of the Bill shall be put forthwith and successively, without further debate or amendment. - had superseded Mr. Alcock's motion.

Mr. Guimond moved - That the motion related to the clause by clause review, adopted on February 14^th, 2000, by the Legislative Committee, be rescinded.

And debate arising thereon;

At 10:15 p.m., the Chair, pursuant to the Order adopted by the House on February 24, 2000, interrupted the proceedings and put the following questions to a vote.

Clause 1 carried on the following recorded division:

Clause 2 carried on the following recorded division:

Clause 3 carried on the following recorded division:

The Preamble carried on the following recorded division:

The Title carried on the following recorded division:

The Bill carried on the following division:

The Committee Ordered that the Chairman report the Bill to the House on the following division:

At 10:25 p.m., the Committee adjourned to the call of the Chair.

Marc Toupin
Clerk of the Committee