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Minutes of Proceedings

44th Parliament, 1st Session
Meeting 116
Thursday, April 18, 2024, 3:32 p.m. to Tuesday, April 30, 2024, 5:39 p.m.
Televised
Presiding
Kevin Waugh, Vice-Chair (Conservative)

Library of Parliament
• Liane Tanguay, Analyst
• Marion Ménard, Analyst
• Robert Mason, Analyst
• Ron McKinnon, M.P., Coquitlam—Port Coquitlam
As an individual
• Ian Brodie, Professor, University of Calgary
• Guillaume Rousseau, Law Professor
• Geoffrey Sigalet, Assistant Professor
Department of Canadian Heritage
• David Dendooven, Assistant Deputy Minister, Strategic Policy, Planning and Corporate Affairs
• Blair McMurren, Director General, Strategic Policy and International Affairs
Court Challenges Program of Canada
• Marika Giles Samson, Director
West Coast Legal Education and Action Fund
• Humera Jabir, Staff Lawyer
Pursuant to the order of reference of Wednesday, November 22, 2023, the committee commenced consideration of Bill C-316, An Act to amend the Department of Canadian Heritage Act (Court Challenges Program).

It was agreed, — That the budget in the amount of $19,200, for the study of Bill C-316, An Act to amend the Department of Canadian Heritage Act (Court Challenges Program), be adopted.

Ron McKinnon made a statement.

Rachael Thomas gave notice of the following motion:

Given that,
according to a National Post article published on April 17th, a York University faculty committee has presented a list of antisemitic recommendations that include labelling the support of Israel as “anti-Palestinian racism”; classifying anyone who supports Israel as “anti-Palestinian, Islamophobic, and anti-Arab”; granting academic freedom and free speech to pro-Palestinian students, while revoking these same rights from Jewish students and anyone supportive of Israel; and identifying Zionism as “a settler colonial project and ethno-religious ideology” that should be isolated and destroyed, and that the Government of Canada has committed to the Canada Anti-Racism Strategy, and the Minister of Canadian Heritage is responsible for “fostering and promoting Canadian identity and values, cultural development, and heritage,” and the 2024 Canadian universities antisemitism report highlights the “serious problems our universities have with antisemitism, anti-Zionism and anti-Jewish hate”, the Committee unequivocally condemn the antisemitic conduct of this faculty committee at York University and report this to the House

Ron McKinnon answered questions.

At 4:36 p.m., the sitting was suspended.

At 4:37 p.m., the sitting resumed.

David Dendooven made a statement and, with Blair McMurren, answered questions.

Motion

Taleeb Noormohamed moved, — That, notwithstanding the motion adopted by the committee on Thursday, February 1, 2024, with respect to the review of Bill C-316, the Committee schedule 2 meetings with witnesses on April 18th and 30th respectively, that the deadline for amendments be April 26th, 2024, and the committee begin clause by clause no later than May 2nd, 2024.

Debate arose thereon.

Amendment

Martin Champoux moved, — That the motion be amended by replacing the word “two” with the words “a minimum of three”; by replacing the words “and 30th” with the words “, April 30th and May 2nd”; by replacing the words “April 26” with the words “April 30” and to replace the words “no later than May 2” with the words “no earlier than May 7”.

Debate arose thereon.

At 5:24 p.m., the sitting was suspended.

At 5:28 p.m., the sitting resumed.

Motion

Jacques Gourde moved, — That the meeting do now adjourn.

The question was put on the motion and it was negatived on the following recorded division:

YEAS: Joël Godin, Jacques Gourde, Rachael Thomas — 3;

NAYS: Niki Ashton, Martin Champoux, Michael Coteau, Anna Gainey, Tim Louis, Taleeb Noormohamed, Marc G. Serré — 7.

Subamendment

Rachael Thomas moved, — That the amendment be amended by replacing the words “April 30” with the words “May 3”.

After debate, the question was put on the subamendment of Rachael Thomas and it was negatived on the following recorded division:

YEAS: Martin Champoux, Joël Godin, Jacques Gourde, Rachael Thomas — 4;

NAYS: Niki Ashton, Michael Coteau, Anna Gainey, Tim Louis, Taleeb Noormohamed, Marc G. Serré — 6.

At 5:45 p.m., the sitting was suspended.

At 4:07 p.m. on Tuesday, April 30, 2024, the sitting resumed.

RULING BY THE CHAIR

The Chair ruled the motion inadmissible because the deadline mentioned has now expired.

It was agreed, — That the committee commence clause by clause consideration of Bill C-316, An Act to Amend the Canadian Heritage Act (Court Challenges Program), on Tuesday, May 21, 2024, and that amendments be submitted to the clerk in both official languages no later than Friday, May 10, 2024.

At 4:18 p.m., the sitting was suspended.

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

The witnesses made statements and answered questions.

At 4:54 p.m., the sitting was suspended.

At 4:59 p.m., the sitting resumed.

Questioning of the witnesses resumed.

Motion

Rachael Thomas moved, — That, pursuant to the Order of Reference from the House dated Thursday, February 29, 2024, the Committee invite the Minister of Canadian Heritage to appear for no fewer than 2 hours regarding the Main Estimates 2024-25, and that this meeting take place no later than May 31, 2024.

Debate arose thereon.

At 5:05 p.m., the sitting was suspended.

At 5:06 p.m., the sitting resumed.

On motion of Taleeb Noormohamed, it was agreed, — That the motion be modified by replacing the words “no fewer than 2 hours” with the words: “one hour and the department officials to appear for the second hour of the meeting”.

The motion, as amended, read as follows:
That, pursuant to the Order of Reference from the House dated Thursday, February 29, 2024, the Committee invite the Minister of Canadian Heritage to appear for one hour and the department officials to appear for the second hour of the meeting regarding the Main Estimates 2024-25, and that this meeting take place no later than May 31, 2024.

Questioning of the witnesses resumed.

At 5:18 p.m., pursuant to Standing Order 115(5), it was agreed that the committee continue to sit.

Questioning of the witnesses resumed.

Motion

Patricia Lattanzio moved, — That the committee do now adjourn.

The question was put on the motion and it was agreed to on the following recorded division:

YEAS: Niki Ashton, Michael Coteau, Anna Gainey, Patricia Lattanzio, Taleeb Noormohamed, Marc G. Serré — 6;

NAYS: Martin Champoux, Jacques Gourde, Shannon Stubbs, Rachael Thomas — 4.

At 5:39 p.m., the committee adjourned to the call of the Chair.



Geneviève Desjardins
Clerk of the committee