Information & Ethics Committee on May 10th, 2007

[The Chair, Liberal, Tom Wappel]

Madame Lavallée, it is for the chair to determine what is or is not a point of order. I'm trying to do that, but every time I'm interrupted by another member, I'm delayed in making a ruling. So I'd appreciate it if we could get Mr. Tilson to make his point and I'll rule on it.

[David Tilson, Conservative, Dufferin—Caledon, ON]

Now you've made me lose my place, Mr. Chairman. I've got to look for my place.

[Some hon. members]

Oh, oh!

[The Chair, Liberal, Tom Wappel]

You were looking at Mr. Leadbeater's remarks.

[David Tilson, Conservative, Dufferin—Caledon, ON]

Mr. Chairman, Mr. Peterson made some comments in the transcript with respect to--

[The Chair, Liberal, Tom Wappel]

Yes, but what is your point?

[David Tilson, Conservative, Dufferin—Caledon, ON]

My point is that the investigation that will be undertaken by this committee will prejudice the investigation by the.... We're going to essentially have two investigations going on, one of which could end up before the courts, and this investigation will prejudice not only the investigation that is under way now--according to the Information Commissioner, it's prejudicing that investigation--but could prejudice any application before the Federal Court.

[The Chair, Liberal, Tom Wappel]

Okay, so that's your point, and I rule your point--

[David Tilson, Conservative, Dufferin—Caledon, ON]

I'm entitled to explain to--

[The Chair, Liberal, Tom Wappel]

No, you're not. I've ruled your point not well taken. That's it.

Are there any other--

[David Tilson, Conservative, Dufferin—Caledon, ON]

No, I'm in the middle--

[The Chair, Liberal, Tom Wappel]

I'm sorry, you are not. I'm calling now for debate.

[David Tilson, Conservative, Dufferin—Caledon, ON]

I have some other points of order.

[The Chair, Liberal, Tom Wappel]

No. I'm calling now—

[David Tilson, Conservative, Dufferin—Caledon, ON]

You're not going to allow me to make points of order?

[The Chair, Liberal, Tom Wappel]

If you have another point of order, I want you to state what it is before you try to justify it.

What is your point?

[David Tilson, Conservative, Dufferin—Caledon, ON]

Well, Mr. Chairman....

[The Chair, Liberal, Tom Wappel]

What is the point?

[Jim Peterson, Liberal, Willowdale, ON]

It's my fault.

[David Tilson, Conservative, Dufferin—Caledon, ON]

Yes, it is your fault.

Mr. Chairman, Amnesty International and the B.C. Civil Liberties Association--

[The Chair, Liberal, Tom Wappel]

Mr. Tilson, I want you to state your point of order now.

[David Tilson, Conservative, Dufferin—Caledon, ON]

Amnesty International and the B.C. Civil Liberties Association have commenced litigation seeking an interim injunction prohibiting the transfer of detainees by the Canadian Forces in Afghanistan.

So I'm saying, Mr. Chairman, that because there are court proceedings going on now, aside from the Information Commissioner, the evidence this committee is going to call could prejudice the deliberations of that litigation.

[The Chair, Liberal, Tom Wappel]

That may be. That's not a point of order.

[David Tilson, Conservative, Dufferin—Caledon, ON]

Okay.

Mr. Chairman, my final point is that the committee has already decided.... I find it absolutely amazing that we'd agreed to proceed with this issue of identity theft, and now we're going to shuttle it aside and not deal with it. We made a decision unanimously to deal with this. Out of the blue, Madame Lavallée comes to this committee and decides to make a motion to put aside that issue and deal with this issue.

[The Chair, Liberal, Tom Wappel]

What is your point of order?