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Subcommittee on Private Members' Business of the Standing Committee on Procedure and House Affairs

NUMBER 004

2nd SESSION

41st PARLIAMENT

EVIDENCE

Tuesday, May 27, 2014

[Recorded by Electronic Apparatus]

(1105)

[English]

The Chair (Mr. Dave MacKenzie (Oxford, CPC)):

This is the fourth meeting of the Subcommittee on Private Members' Business of the Standing Committee on Procedure and House Affairs for the determination of non-votable items, pursuant to Standing Order 91.1(1).

Ms. Dara Lithwick (Committee Researcher):

Today's bill is Bill S-213, An Act respecting Lincoln Alexander Day. It came from the Senate, so we will just look at one criterion here today: whether a similar matter has been voted on by the House in the same Parliament.

In this case, a similar matter has not been voted on by the House in the same Parliament. There were questions raised, as there is a bill at first reading, Bill C-563, An Act respecting a Lincoln Alexander Day, but this bill has not been voted on yet, so it does not pose a problem.

The Chair:

Does everybody agree that it's votable?

Mr. Toone.

Mr. Philip Toone (Gaspésie—Îles-de-la-Madeleine, NDP):

I just wanted to ask one quick question. Because Bill C-563 was presented at first reading, I guess this bill might have been inspired in part by that. I would be interested to see where the two bills might have conjoined each other.

In any event, I'm glad that the Senate has come up with this, seeing that the House of Commons didn't have a chance to debate it. What would be the impact of Bill C-563 if ever we got around to a second round?

Ms. Dara Lithwick:

This bill is now in the order of precedence, so this bill will precede it. If that bill were to come up, it would basically fall off the order.

Mr. Philip Toone:

Okay.

Mr. Frank Valeriote (Guelph, Lib.):

I'm just curious. You know how many bills, not unlike this one, come before us to designate a day to honour a specific person or cause. Are there any other causes on that day or events that are being celebrated? What effort do you make to investigate or determine whether it conflicts with the national celebration of some other thing?

The Chair:

I think that's our—

Mr. Frank Valeriote:

That's not our responsibility...?

The Chair:

No. You could have six of them, I understand, but it wouldn't be up to us to determine.

Mr. Frank Valeriote:

On the same day? So that could just be an issue at committee if this gets past second reading.

Ms. Dara Lithwick:

Exactly.

Mr. Frank Valeriote:

All right.

The Chair:

Yes, it's not a holiday. It's just the designation of a day. It might fall on National Tree Day, right? Is that what you're thinking?

Mr. Frank Valeriote:

That's what I'm thinking, and it won't matter.

Ms. Dara Lithwick:

Exactly.

The Chair:

Yes. It won't matter.

So the consensus is that we go ahead, right? Okay.

Now I need the subcommittee to present a report listing those items that it has determined should not be designated non-votable and recommending that they be considered by the House. All in favour?

(Motion agreed to)

The Chair: Thank you.

The meeting is adjourned.