,
9 tweets,
2 min read
Read on Twitter
In an effort (doubtless vain) to try to stem the tide of misinformation re: C-48, let me offer up a precis, if I may. Thread your threaders.....
Today, the Senate was not voting on C-48. We were voting on whether to accept the report of the Transport Committee ABOUT C-48. (Stay with me, please....this is a bit confusing.)
The Transport committee, by a vote of 6-6, recommended that the Senate not proceed with C-48, the northwest coast tanker ban. You may recall that I caused some commotion by casting the "deciding" tie vote against C-48.
Today, we voted on whether to follow the recommendation of the committee. I voted to accept the report. So I voted "yes." But in this case, the "yes" meant "no" to C-48. Still with me?
But the motion failed. Which means that C-48 now proceeds to third reading. What happens next? Well, next I will push for amendments to the bill, looking for some kind of compromise.
I still can't support the bill, as written. I am looking at supporting a series of amendments that might make the bill less binary
Then - we'll vote on the amendments. THEN we'll vote on the bill. And then we'll send it back to the House of Commons.
I can't predict the outcome. I'm not the only Independent Senator who has serious concerns with the bill. But we are mindful of our constitutional role. We can't defeat a bill lightly.
I know I'm not the only Senator looking for some kind of middle ground. And I know the government has a lot of pressing legislation to work through. So the fate of C-48 is still very much a live issue.
