Proceedings of the Standing Senate Committee on
Human Rights
Issue 13 - Minutes of Proceedings - November 20, 2014
OTTAWA, Thursday, November 20, 2014
(22)
[English]
The Standing Senate Committee on Human Rights met this day at 8 a.m., in room 9, Victoria Building, the deputy chair, the Honourable Salma Ataullahjan, presiding.
Members of the committee present: The Honourable Senators Andreychuk, Ataullahjan, Cowan, Eaton, Nancy Ruth, Ngo and Tannas (7).
In attendance: Mark Palmer, Acting Procedural Clerk; Julia Nicol and Jean-Philippe Duguay, Analysts, Parliamentary Information and Research Service, Library of Parliament.
Also in attendance: The official reporters of the Senate.
Pursuant to the order of reference adopted by the Senate on Wednesday, October 29, 2014, the committee continued its study of Bill S-219, An Act respecting a national day of commemoration of the exodus of Vietnamese refugees and their acceptance in Canada after the fall of Saigon and the end of the Vietnam War. (For the complete text of the order of reference, see proceedings of the committee, Issue No. 12.)
WITNESSES:
Canadian Immigration Historical Society:
Mike Molloy, President.
Vietnamese Canadian Federation:
Can Le, Former Secretary General.
The chair made a statement.
Mr. Molloy and Mr. Le each made a statement and answered questions.
At 8:45 a.m., the committee suspended.
At 8:51 a.m., the committee resumed.
It was agreed that the committee proceed to clause-by-clause consideration of Bill S-219, An Act respecting a national day of commemoration of the exodus of Vietnamese refugees and their acceptance in Canada after the fall of Saigon and the end of the Vietnam War.
It was agreed that the title stand postponed.
It was agreed that the preamble stand postponed.
It was agreed that clause 1, which contains the short title, stand postponed.
The chair asked whether clause 2 shall carry.
The Honourable Senator Ngo moved:
That Bill S-219 be amended in clause 2, on page 2, by replacing line 37 with the following:
'"'Journey to Freedom Day''.''.
After debate, the question being put on the motion in amendment, it was adopted.
It was agreed that clause 2, as amended, carry.
The chair asked whether clause 3 shall carry.
The Honourable Senator Ngo moved:
That Bill S-219 be amended in clause 3, on page 2, by replacing line 38 with the following:
''3. For greater certainty, Journey to Freedom Day is''.
After debate, the question being put on the motion in amendment, it was adopted.
It was agreed that clause 3, as amended, carry.
The chair asked whether clause 1, which contains the short title, shall carry.
The Honourable Senator Ngo moved:
That Bill S-219 be amended in clause 1, on page 2, by replacing line 33 with the following:
''1. This Act may be cited as the Journey to Freedom''.
After debate, the question being put on the motion in amendment, it was adopted.
It was agreed that clause 1, which contains the short title, as amended, carry.
The chair asked whether the preamble shall carry.
The Honourable Senator Ngo moved:
That Bill S-219 be amended in the preamble, on page 2, by replacing line 19 with the following:
''as ''Black April Day'', or alternatively as ''Journey to Freedom Day'', and is, therefore, an''.
After debate, the question being put on the motion in amendment, it was adopted.
After debate, it was agreed that Bill S-219 be amended, on page 1, in the preamble by replacing lines 12 and 13 with the following:
''War and the establishment of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam Government;''.
After debate, the question being put on the motion in amendment, it was adopted.
It was agreed that the preamble, as amended, carry.
It was agreed that the title carry.
It was agreed that the bill, as amended, carry.
It was agreed that Bill S-219 be reported with amendments to the Senate.
At 9:02 a.m., the committee adjourned to the call of the chair.
ATTEST:
Adam Thompson
Clerk of the Committee