ACVA Committee Meeting

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MINUTES OF PROCEEDINGS

Meeting No. 42

Monday, March 7, 2011

The Standing Committee on Veterans Affairs met at 3:37 p.m. this day, in Room 7-52, 131 Queen Street, the Chair, Gary Ralph Schellenberger, presiding.

Members of the Committee present: Kirsty Duncan, Greg Kerr, Kevin Lamoureux, Ben Lobb, Colin Mayes, Phil McColeman, Gary Ralph Schellenberger, Hon. Judy Sgro, Peter Stoffer and Brian Storseth.

Acting Members present: Christiane Gagnon for Guy André and Yvon Lévesque for Robert Vincent.

In attendance: Library of Parliament: James Cox, Analyst ; Jean-Rodrigue Paré, Analyst.

Witnesses: Association du Royal 22e Régiment: Elphège Renaud, President; Claude Sylvestre, First Vice-President. Office of the Veterans Ombudsman: Guy Parent, Veterans Ombudsman, Chief Warrant Officer (Retired). Department of Veterans Affairs: Keith Hillier, Assistant Deputy Minister, Service Delivery; Bernard Butler, Director General, Policy and Research.

Pursuant to the Order of Reference of Friday, March 4, 2011, the Committee commenced consideration of Bill C-55, An Act to amend the Canadian Forces Members and Veterans Re-establishment and Compensation Act and the Pension Act.

Elphège Renaud and Claude Sylvestre made statements and answered questions.

At 4:09 p.m., the sitting was suspended.

At 4:12 p.m., the sitting resumed.

Guy Parent made a statement.

At 4:21 p.m., the sitting was suspended.

At 4:22 p.m., the sitting resumed.

Bernard Butler made a statement and, with Keith Hillier, answered questions.

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

Pursuant to Standing Order 75(1), consideration of Clause 1 was postponed.

The Chair called Clause 2.

Clause 2 carried.

Clause 3 carried.

Clause 4 carried.

After debate, Clause 5 carried.

Peter Stoffer moved, — That Bill C-55, in Clause 6, be amended in line 25 on page 2 by replacing the word “may” with the word “shall”.

RULING BY THE CHAIR

The Chair ruled the proposed amendment inadmissible because it infringed on the financial initiative of the Crown, as provided on page 767 of House of Commons Procedure and Practice, Second Edition.

Clause 6 carried.

Clause 7 carried.

Clause 8 carried.

Clause 9 carried.

Clause 10 carried.

Clause 11 carried.

Clause 12 carried.

After debate, Clause 13 carried.

Clause 14 carried.

Clause 15 carried.

Clause 16 carried.

Clause 17 carried.

Clause 18 carried.

Clause 19 carried.

Clause 20 carried.

On new Clause 20.1,

Judy Sgro moved, — That Bill C-55 be amended by adding after line 6 on page 10 the following new clause:

“Within a two year period from the time of coming into force of this Act, the provisions of the Act are to be reviewed by the appropriate standing committee of the House of Commons.”

After debate, the question was put on the amendment of Judy Sgro and it was agreed to.

Clause 21 carried.

The Short Title 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-55, as amended, be reprinted for the use of the House at report stage.

At 5:28 p.m., the Committee adjourned to the call of the Chair.

Christine Holke David
Committee Clerk

2011/03/09 4:01 p.m.