Evidence of meeting #10 for Access to Information, Privacy and Ethics in the 41st Parliament, 2nd Session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was chair.
A video is available from Parliament.
9:25 a.m.
NDP
The Chair NDP Pat Martin
Well, we'll deal with that when you actually move that motion, Mr. Ravignat, as to whether it's in order or not.
Mr. Calandra, you have the floor.
9:25 a.m.
Conservative
Paul Calandra Conservative Oak Ridges—Markham, ON
Mr. Chair, it seems to me that you're struggling to maintain some type of order in the committee, so I think I'll have a motion to move in camera to assist you in that matter.
9:25 a.m.
NDP
The Chair NDP Pat Martin
I'll take a recorded vote.
I am struggling to see what possible justification you could have, Mr. Calandra, for asking that this particular item of business be moved in camera. The in camera rule, as I understand it, is that it's to be used in cases of national security, invasion of privacy, commercial interests. It's not supposed to be the default position to save embarrassment to the government.
In my view, as the chair of this committee, it's been abused egregiously and throughout all of the standing committees, and I certainly don't want the public to think that this is normal in any way, shape, or form, because we can never allow it to become normal. It's a disgrace. In fact, it's a travesty.
I have no trouble controlling this meeting. We're having a good debate about a very important subject, Mr. Calandra, the public's right to know.
9:25 a.m.
NDP
The Chair NDP Pat Martin
They have a right to know what their legislators are doing, and they have a right to know how their legislators are voting on issues other than those with legitimate national security or some such justification. The in camera rule should not be trampled all over. It's abuse.
9:25 a.m.
NDP
Charlie Angus NDP Timmins—James Bay, ON
To protect corruption and cover-up: that's what they're doing, Mr. Chair, they're defending corruption and cover-up.
9:25 a.m.
Conservative
Paul Calandra Conservative Oak Ridges—Markham, ON
There's a motion, Mr. Chair, and you seem to be unwilling to control the committee—
9:25 a.m.
NDP
Charlie Angus NDP Timmins—James Bay, ON
They are going to use their majority to override the right of Canadians to know, just as they went after Senator Gerstein, just as they—
9:25 a.m.
Conservative
Patricia Davidson Conservative Sarnia—Lambton, ON
How does Mr. Angus get to blather on like this all the time?
9:25 a.m.
NDP
Charlie Angus NDP Timmins—James Bay, ON
I'm participating. You don't even bother to participate.
This is about a cover-up.
9:25 a.m.
Conservative
Paul Calandra Conservative Oak Ridges—Markham, ON
There's a motion on the floor. Are you going to deal with it or not?
9:25 a.m.
NDP
9:25 a.m.
NDP
The Chair NDP Pat Martin
The motion to move in camera is non-debatable. We'll have a recorded vote.
(Motion agreed to: yeas 7; nays 4)
The meeting will be suspended briefly while we clear the room of the Canadian public and go under the black shroud of secrecy once again.
[Proceedings continue in camera]
