THE STANDING SENATE COMMITTEE ON BANKING, COMMERCE AND THE ECONOMY
EVIDENCE
OTTAWA, Thursday, October 10, 2024
The Standing Senate Committee on Banking, Commerce and the Economy met this day at 11:31 a.m. [ET] for clause-by-clause consideration of Bill C-244, An Act to amend the Copyright Act (diagnosis, maintenance and repair); and Bill C-294, An Act to amend the Copyright Act (interoperability).
Senator Tony Loffreda (Deputy Chair) in the chair.
[English]
The Deputy Chair: Hello, everyone. Welcome to this meeting of the Standing Senate Committee on Banking, Commerce and the Economy.
My name is Tony Loffreda, and I serve as the deputy chair of this committee. I will let the members of the committee introduce themselves.
[Translation]
Senator Massicotte: Paul Massicotte from Quebec.
Senator Ringuette: Pierrette Ringuette from New Brunswick.
[English]
Senator Varone: Toni Varone, Ontario.
Senator C. Deacon: Colin Deacon, Nova Scotia.
Senator Marshall: Elizabeth Marshall, Newfoundland and Labrador.
Senator Martin: Yonah Martin, British Columbia.
The Deputy Chair: Today, we are proceeding to clause-by-clause consideration of Bill C-244, An Act to amend the Copyright Act (diagnosis, maintenance and repair); and Bill C-294, An Act to amend the Copyright Act (interoperability).
Before we begin, I would like to remind senators of a number of points.
If at any point a senator is not clear where we are in the process, please ask for clarification. I want to ensure that at all times we all have the same understanding of where we are in the process.
In terms of the mechanics of the process, when more than one amendment is proposed to be moved in a clause, amendments should be proposed in the order of the lines of the clause.
If a senator is opposed to an entire clause, the proper process is not to move a motion to delete the entire clause but rather to vote against the clause as standing as part of the bill.
Some amendments that are moved may have consequential effects on other parts of the bill. It is therefore useful to this process if a senator moving an amendment identifies to the committee other clauses in the bill where this amendment could have an effect. Otherwise, it would be very difficult for members of the committee to remain consistent in their decision making.
Because no notice is required to move amendments, there can, of course, have been no preliminary analysis of the amendments to establish which ones may be of consequence to others and which may be contradictory.
If committee members ever have any questions about the process or about the propriety of anything occurring, they can certainly raise a point of order. As chair, I will listen to the argument, decide when there has been sufficient discussion of a matter or order and make a ruling.
The committee is the ultimate master of its business within the bounds established by the Senate, and a ruling can be appealed to the full committee by asking whether the ruling shall be sustained.
I wish to remind honourable senators that if there is ever any uncertainty as to the results of a voice vote or a show of hands, the most effective route is to request a roll call vote which, obviously, provides unambiguous results.
Finally, senators are aware that any tied vote negates the motion in question.
Are there any questions on any of the above? If not, we can now proceed to clause by clause. I see no questions.
We will go in numerical order. We have two bills. We’ll start with clause-by-clause consideration of Bill C-244.
Is it agreed that the committee proceed to clause-by-clause consideration of Bill C-244, An Act to amend the Copyright Act (diagnosis, maintenance and repair)?
Hon. Senators: Agreed.
The Deputy Chair: Shall the title stand postponed?
Hon. Senators: Agreed.
The Deputy Chair: Shall clause 1 carry?
Hon. Senators: Agreed.
The Deputy Chair: Shall clause 2 carry?
Hon. Senators: Agreed.
The Deputy Chair: Shall the title carry?
Hon. Senators: Agreed.
The Deputy Chair: Shall the bill carry?
Hon. Senators: Agreed.
The Deputy Chair: Is it agreed that I report this bill to the Senate in both official languages?
Hon. Senators: Agreed.
The Deputy Chair: Thank you. We will proceed to Bill C-294.
Is it agreed that the committee proceed to clause-by-clause consideration of Bill C-294, An Act to amend the Copyright Act (interoperability)?
Hon. Senators: Agreed.
The Deputy Chair: Shall the title stand postponed?
Hon. Senators: Agreed.
The Deputy Chair: Shall clause 1 carry?
Hon. Senators: Agreed.
The Deputy Chair: Shall the title carry?
Hon. Senators: Agreed.
The Deputy Chair: Shall the bill carry?
Hon. Senators: Agreed.
The Deputy Chair: Is it agreed that I report this bill to the Senate in both official languages?
Hon. Senators: Agreed.
The Deputy Chair: Thank you.
(The committee adjourned.)