THE STANDING SENATE COMMITTEE ON AGRICULTURE AND FORESTRY
MINUTES OF PROCEEDINGS
OTTAWA, Tuesday, October 24, 2023
(56)
[English]
The Standing Senate Committee on Agriculture and Forestry met this day at 6:30 p.m., in room B45, Senate of Canada Building, the chair, the Honourable Robert Black, presiding.
Members of the committee present: The Honourable Senators Black, Burey, Cardozo, Cotter, Dalphond, Dupuis, Gold, P.C., Miville-Dechêne, Oh, Plett, Saint-Germain, Simons, Wells and Woo (14).
Participating in the meeting: Joanne Markle LaMontagne, Analyst, Library of Parliament.
Pursuant to the order of reference adopted by the Senate on Tuesday, June 13, 2023, the committee continued its consideration of Bill C-234, An Act to amend the Greenhouse Gas Pollution Pricing Act.
The committee resumed clause-by-clause consideration of Bill C-234.
Resuming debate on the motion in amendment of the Honourable Senator Woo that Bill C-234 be amended in clause 2:
(a) on page 2, by replacing lines 24 to 37 with the following:
“of the day on which this Act comes into force.”;
(b) on page 3, by deleting lines 1 to 9.
A point of order was raised concerning the procedures at the committee’s last meeting in relation to consideration of clause 2.
After debate, at 7:08 p.m., the committee suspended.
At 7:18 p.m., the committee resumed.
RULING BY THE CHAIR
Honourable senators, I am prepared to rule on the point of order raised by Senator Plett.
Page 138 of Senate Procedure in Practice states that “Rule 10-5 provides that “[a]t any time before a bill is passed, a Senator may move for the reconsideration of any clause already carried.” In addition, rule 5-8(1)(k) states that while a bill is under consideration, any element of the bill already agreed to can be reconsidered by way of a debatable motion. Based on this, even if a committee has already carried a clause, it can decide to reconsider it.”
The Rules are clear in this respect that a committee may reconsider a clause already carried. This can be agreed to by way of debatable motion and does not require leave.
I therefore rule that the procedures followed in committee last week are in order and that the committee can resume clause-by-clause consideration of the bill.
Resuming debate on the motion in amendment of the Honourable Senator Woo.
After debate, the question being put on the motion in amendment, it was negatived on the following vote:
YEAS
The Honourable Senators
Cardozo, Dalphond, Dupuis, Gold P.C., Miville-Dechêne, Saint-Germain, Woo — [7]
NAYS
The Honourable Senators
Black, Burey, Cotter, Oh, Plett, Simons, Wells — [7]
ABSTENTIONS
NIL
It was agreed that clause 2 carry.
It was agreed that the title carry.
It was agreed that the bill, as amended, carry.
It was agreed that the Law Clerk and Parliamentary Counsel be authorized to make necessary technical, grammatical, or other required non-substantive changes as a result of the amendments adopted by the committee, including updating cross-references and renumbering of provisions.
The committee discussed observations.
It was agreed that observations be appended to the committee's report.
After debate, it was agreed that an observation submitted by the Honourable Senator Simons be appended to the committee's report.
After debate, it was agreed that an observation submitted by the Honourable Senator Burey, be appended to the committee's report.
After debate, it was agreed that an observation submitted by the Honourable Senator Woo be appended to the committee's report on the following vote:
YEAS
The Honourable Senators
Black, Burey, Cardozo, Cotter, Dalphond, Dupuis, Gold P.C., Saint-Germain, Simons, Woo — [10]
NAYS
The Honourable Senators
Oh, Plett, Wells — [3]
ABSTENTIONS
Miville-Dechêne — [1]
After debate, it was agreed that an observation submitted by the Honourable Senator Woo be appended to the committee's report.
It was agreed that the Subcommittee on Agenda and Procedure be empowered to approve the final version of the observations being appended to the report, taking into consideration this meeting's discussions, and with any necessary editorial, grammatical or translation changes as required.
It was agreed that the chair report Bill C-234, with amendment and with observations, to the Senate.
At 8 p.m., the committee adjourned to the call of the chair.
ATTEST:
Ferda Simpson
Clerk of the Committee