Evidence of meeting #37 for Access to Information, Privacy and Ethics in the 39th Parliament, 2nd Session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was point.
A recording is available from Parliament.
4:20 p.m.
An hon. member
Mr. Chair, I have a friendly amendment.
4:20 p.m.
Conservative
Mike Wallace Conservative Burlington, ON
Give me a break. I still have the floor, Mr. Chair. You can rule that I'm not following--
4:20 p.m.
An hon. member
It's unbelievable. It's a question of fairness.
4:20 p.m.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Paul Szabo
Order.
Mr. Poilievre had asked for a point of order during my discussion with Mr. Wallace. Now that that's completed, and before we go to Mr. Murphy, I'm going to hear Mr. Poilievre's point of order.
4:20 p.m.
Conservative
Pierre Poilievre Conservative Nepean—Carleton, ON
Thank you, Chair.
I understand that the discussion is getting heated. I'm wondering if it would perhaps be wise for us to take five minutes just to cool down.
4:20 p.m.
Conservative
4:20 p.m.
Liberal
Brian Murphy Liberal Moncton—Riverview—Dieppe, NB
I have always known Mr. Poilievre to be the voice of reason and calm. Notwithstanding that, Mr. Chair, I have a friendly amendment to make on the motion that's been made by Mr. Martin.
4:20 p.m.
Conservative
Russ Hiebert Conservative South Surrey—White Rock—Cloverdale, BC
Am I going to be recognized, Mr. Chairman?
4:20 p.m.
Liberal
Brian Murphy Liberal Moncton—Riverview—Dieppe, NB
I thought I had the floor, Mr. Chairman. Do I have the floor?
4:20 p.m.
An hon. member
Is there no such thing as a point of privilege?
4:20 p.m.
Liberal
Brian Murphy Liberal Moncton—Riverview—Dieppe, NB
Well, there's a difference between de jure having the floor, which I do, and de facto having the floor--which I don't, Mr. Chairman.
4:20 p.m.
Liberal
4:20 p.m.
Conservative
Russ Hiebert Conservative South Surrey—White Rock—Cloverdale, BC
Thank you, Mr. Chair.
I'm seeking clarification on this concept of the ability—
4:20 p.m.
Conservative
Russ Hiebert Conservative South Surrey—White Rock—Cloverdale, BC
You didn't even hear what I had to say. My point of order has to do with the privilege of a member to speak to this committee.
4:20 p.m.
Conservative
Russ Hiebert Conservative South Surrey—White Rock—Cloverdale, BC
I'd like a ruling from the clerk then.
Can you explain whether or not I can bring a point of order that relates to privilege?
4:20 p.m.
Liberal
Brian Murphy Liberal Moncton—Riverview—Dieppe, NB
Mr. Chair, I'm pleased to have the floor, de jure and de facto now, I think. De facto for a while I didn't.
I am proposing a friendly amendment to Mr. Martin's able motion. If there were no supplementary questions, there wouldn't be fodder for the inquiry that is the subject matter of what we're discussing. The nonsensical argument that there could not be any supplementary questions would in fact negate the need for the inquiry that the government still believes is necessary.
The question is not whether there are supplementary questions. The question is not whether a commission of inquiry should be established. The question is whether that commission of inquiry is going to be established, and when.
The friendly amendment therefore seeks to take the substance of Mr. Martin's motion and tweak it to a deadline that will make sure the government acts in a propitious matter and calls the commission of inquiry together by naming the chief commissioner, which they should have no problem fulfilling their function for.
So the amendment in the English version would add, in the fourth line after "Ethics recall Brian Mulroney to appear before the committee”, the words “no later than June 12, 2008”.
4:25 p.m.
Liberal
Brian Murphy Liberal Moncton—Riverview—Dieppe, NB
In support of the amendment, Mr. Martin spoke eloquently to the reason for the motion. We agree with his reasoning.
On the June 12 deadline, this should cause no fear to the government, because if they are working as assiduously as they say they are in finding a chief commissioner, this will cause no harm. If they find that chief commissioner, if they find a credible judge willing to take such a narrow inquiry, then this motion will be functus. We will watch the commission of inquiry proceed, and will more than likely stand down this motion, because the inquiry--which we all want, some more earnestly than others--will have started its work and we will have the summer off.
That's my amendment in a nutshell.