Evidence of meeting #30 for Access to Information, Privacy and Ethics in the 41st Parliament, 1st Session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was chair.

A recording is available from Parliament.

On the agenda

MPs speaking

Also speaking

11 a.m.

NDP

The Chair NDP Jean Crowder

We're in public.

Mr. Angus.

11 a.m.

NDP

Charlie Angus NDP Timmins—James Bay, ON

Yes, I would like to bring forward a motion to rescind the motion regarding Mr. Carroll.

Shall we vote on that?

As you pointed out, this was beyond the purview of our committee. You rejected this; this has been a personal witch hunt of Mr. Del Mastro's, and it has turned our committee into a circus and a farce. So we'd like to rescind that motion right now.

11 a.m.

NDP

The Chair NDP Jean Crowder

I need you to clarify that motion for the clerk.

11 a.m.

NDP

Charlie Angus NDP Timmins—James Bay, ON

Well, we would like to rescind the motion.

11 a.m.

NDP

The Chair NDP Jean Crowder

I need some clarification. We can't rescind the motion as the summons has already been served, so I need you to be more specific about what the motion is.

11 a.m.

NDP

Charlie Angus NDP Timmins—James Bay, ON

What we would like to do is rescind the motion that has been served, because it has turned our committee into a farce. It makes us look as though we are doing the personal work of Mr. Del Mastro, who uses the committee as a bully pulpit. This committee has important work to do with ethics, accountability, and privacy issues. We are trying to ensure that the government is held accountable. But we have been turned into a stage for Mr. Del Mastro to carry out his very thuggish and inappropriate activities. You had ruled before, Madam Chair, that this was beyond the purview of the committee, so I would like to put it to a vote that we cancel this summons.

11 a.m.

NDP

The Chair NDP Jean Crowder

I'm sorry, Mr. Angus. I need more clarification. We can't rescind a motion to serve a summons when the summons has already been served.

11 a.m.

NDP

Charlie Angus NDP Timmins—James Bay, ON

We are bringing forward a motion to say that this is unnecessary and it's an overreach. We'd like to vote on it.

11 a.m.

NDP

The Chair NDP Jean Crowder

I need to suspend for one moment. We need to get some information, so I'll suspend.

11:05 a.m.

NDP

The Chair NDP Jean Crowder

Thank you.

Mr. Angus, if your motion was to rescind the summons, then the motion would be in order, because the summons has already been served. So I just need clarification.

11:05 a.m.

NDP

Charlie Angus NDP Timmins—James Bay, ON

You're saying it would be in order?

11:05 a.m.

NDP

The Chair NDP Jean Crowder

It would be in order.

11:05 a.m.

NDP

Charlie Angus NDP Timmins—James Bay, ON

Yes, that's what I thought.

11:05 a.m.

NDP

The Chair NDP Jean Crowder

So there's debate. You have the floor, Mr. Angus.

Mr. Andrews.

11:05 a.m.

Liberal

Scott Andrews Liberal Avalon, NL

I have a point of order.

I just checked the speakers list. I believe when Mr. Angus made his motion I had my hand up first to speak to this, and I believe Mr. Morin did as well.

11:05 a.m.

NDP

The Chair NDP Jean Crowder

I'm sorry, Mr. Andrews. I didn't see you.

11:05 a.m.

An hon. member

[Inaudible—Editor]

11:05 a.m.

Liberal

Scott Andrews Liberal Avalon, NL

You weren't even in the room.

11:05 a.m.

An hon. member

Yeah, nice try.

11:05 a.m.

NDP

The Chair NDP Jean Crowder

Gentlemen, gentlemen.

I'm sorry, Mr. Andrews, neither I nor the clerk saw your hand.

Mr. Dusseault and Mr. Angus both had their hands up at the same time.

11:05 a.m.

NDP

Charlie Angus NDP Timmins—James Bay, ON

Yes.

11:05 a.m.

NDP

Pierre-Luc Dusseault NDP Sherbrooke, QC

I can—

11:05 a.m.

NDP

The Chair NDP Jean Crowder

No, you can't give your spot away. You had your hand up. So when Mr. Angus is finished I will come to you, and then Mr. Calkins and Mr. Butt.

Mr. Angus, continue with debate on the motion.

11:05 a.m.

NDP

Charlie Angus NDP Timmins—James Bay, ON

Thank you, Madam Chair.

I think this is an important motion to be passed so that we restore some modicum of credibility to the parliamentary process. We've seen Mr. Del Mastro use this committee as his own personal pulpit to act as a bully and a thug at our committee, to misrepresent facts time and time again.

March 15th, 2012 / 11:05 a.m.

Conservative

Dean Del Mastro Conservative Peterborough, ON

I have a point of order.