Evidence of meeting #40 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.
4:25 p.m.
An hon. member
Mr. Chair, you can't do this.
4:25 p.m.
An hon. member
You don't have the authority.
4:25 p.m.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Paul Szabo
Order.
Mr. Hiebert, on the matter of relevance, I raised it with you three times. You cannot stray from the matter before the committee. It is the motion before us. It is not a debate on whether or not this committee should do it or whether it's in order. That's been decided already. That's not before this committee right now.
With regard to Mr. Tilson, sir, with all due respect, you took the floor on a point of order, and then you started to debate the merits, and that's not a point of order, as you know, sir. So I'm moving on to the next speakers.
Mr. Wallace.
Mr. Wallace has the floor.
4:25 p.m.
Conservative
4:25 p.m.
Conservative
Russ Hiebert Conservative South Surrey—White Rock—Cloverdale, BC
You can't deny me the opportunity to convince my colleagues. You can keep yelling “Order” throughout the afternoon, but sir, I am a fully privileged member of this committee.
4:25 p.m.
Conservative
Russ Hiebert Conservative South Surrey—White Rock—Cloverdale, BC
It doesn't show, does it, because the chair is ruling me out of order.
4:25 p.m.
Liberal
4:25 p.m.
Conservative
Russ Hiebert Conservative South Surrey—White Rock—Cloverdale, BC
No, no, Mr. Proulx, he is the one who's preventing me from speaking.
4:25 p.m.
Liberal
4:25 p.m.
An hon. member
How sad.
4:25 p.m.
Some hon. members
Oh, oh.
4:25 p.m.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Paul Szabo
We shouldn't make a joke of this. Colleagues, I called for order.
I must deal with this in a way I would in any other circumstance, whether it's persistent interruption or not respecting the authority of the chair. I have the authority to move on to another speaker. I have found that too many opportunities.... If valid points of order are raised, there's no problem, but if they are debate or if they're trying to go back after someone has already done something, I can't do that. I have to do it on the basis of the way I've ruled. So I've ruled on all these matters.
Mr. Wallace has the floor, please.
4:30 p.m.
Conservative
Mike Wallace Conservative Burlington, ON
Thank you for the floor, Mr. Chair.
Can I ask you a question? I have an amendment to move. Is that okay? Can I move an amendment?
You're telling me that the notice of motion Mr. Hubbard has put forward, the motion we're dealing with is this one:
That the Standing Committee on Access to Information, Privacy and Ethics investigate the actions of the Conservative Party of Canada during the 2006 election, in relation to which Elections Canada has refused to reimburse Conservative candidates for certain election campaign expenses in order to determine if these actions meet the ethical standards expected of public office holders.
Is that correct, sir? Is that the motion that's on the floor now?
4:30 p.m.
Liberal
4:30 p.m.
Conservative
Mike Wallace Conservative Burlington, ON
I wasn't here, sir. I'm sorry. I'm here now, though. I have the floor. I'm assuming I can reconfirm that is the motion that's on the floor. Is that correct, sir?
I have an amendment. Can I move an amendment? I'm assuming I can move an amendment.
My first amendment of a number of amendments relates to “investigate the actions of the Conservative Party of Canada”. So here's the amendment, adding into the motion:
and the Liberal Party of Canada and the Bloc Québécois during the election of 2006, in relation to the Canada Elections Act.
Am I not allowed to move an amendment? I'm assuming I'm allowed to move an amendment.
4:30 p.m.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Paul Szabo
Order, please.
I heard a point of order called.
Mr. Hubbard, please get straight to the point of order.
4:30 p.m.
Liberal
Charles Hubbard Liberal Miramichi, NB
Perhaps the clerk could explain to the committee what is meant by “public office holder”.
4:30 p.m.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Paul Szabo
I'm sorry, Mr. Hubbard, that's not a point of order.
As I understand it, the amendment proposed by Mr. Wallace is to add the Liberal Party and the Bloc Québécois.
I'm going to rule this amendment out of order, Mr. Wallace, because it--
4:35 p.m.
Conservative
Mike Wallace Conservative Burlington, ON
What? How? I'm not allowed to amend the motion? I've added people to it.
