Procedure and House Affairs Committee on March 6th, 2008

[An hon. member]

You can't accept someone if they haven't accepted the nomination.

[Scott Reid, Conservative, Lanark—Frontenac—Lennox and Addington, ON]

This meeting is in disorder.

[An hon. member]

He could resign.

[An hon. member]

No, you can't vote for him if he hasn't—

[Yvon Godin, NDP, Acadie—Bathurst, NB]

We already have six votes.

[An hon. member]

That doesn't matter. If he doesn't accept the nomination, you can't vote—

[Scott Reid, Conservative, Lanark—Frontenac—Lennox and Addington, ON]

Madam Jennings does not understand the rules of order. This meeting is in disorder and must be terminated. The meeting is in disorder.

[Yvon Godin, NDP, Acadie—Bathurst, NB]

Could we get the motion that was read and passed?

[Scott Reid, Conservative, Lanark—Frontenac—Lennox and Addington, ON]

I've advised members of the committee that the meeting is in disorder.

[Joe Preston, Conservative, Elgin—Middlesex—London, ON]

I second Mr. Reid's version of it.

[Pierre Lemieux, Conservative, Glengarry—Prescott—Russell, ON]

You may want to refer to a higher authority.

[Scott Reid, Conservative, Lanark—Frontenac—Lennox and Addington, ON]

This meeting is in disorder.

[Pierre Lemieux, Conservative, Glengarry—Prescott—Russell, ON]

If he doesn't accept a nomination, you can't vote him in.

[Scott Reid, Conservative, Lanark—Frontenac—Lennox and Addington, ON]

I don't take my orders from you, Michel.

The absence of the chair puts the meeting into disorder. That's it. The meeting is done.

[Joe Preston, Conservative, Elgin—Middlesex—London, ON]

I believe we've outlawed slavery in this country. I can't be forced to do something I don't want to do.

[Scott Reid, Conservative, Lanark—Frontenac—Lennox and Addington, ON]

This is not addressed to the chair, because there is no chair, but I invite those of you have a copy of Marleau and Montpetit to turn to page 830, chapter 20, dealing with committees. I'll give you a moment to look that up, if anybody has it.

I'm simply inviting you to listen. You're free to not listen, if you so choose. In the absence of a meeting actually being constituted, we're just having a chat.

I'm just letting you know that....

[Yvon Godin, NDP, Acadie—Bathurst, NB]

If there's no meeting, then we have no translation.

[Scott Reid, Conservative, Lanark—Frontenac—Lennox and Addington, ON]

C'est correct.

[An hon. member]

You can just read it out and the people who want to listen can listen.

[Michel Guimond, Bloc, Montmorency—Charlevoix—Haute-Côte-Nord, QC]

Start the vote.

[Pierre Lemieux, Conservative, Glengarry—Prescott—Russell, ON]

This is the sort of bully tactic I was talking about. Just strong-arm the committee. You'll have it your way, another little temper tantrum. I have a four-year-old at home; he acts better than this, I can tell you. And do you know why? It's because he is answerable to someone.

[Pauline Picard, Bloc, Drummond, QC]

It's a new MP.

[Pierre Lemieux, Conservative, Glengarry—Prescott—Russell, ON]

Now it gets abusive. This is what happened at the last meeting.

[Karen Redman, Liberal, Kitchener Centre, ON]

Joe, you know that's not allowed.

[Joe Preston, Conservative, Elgin—Middlesex—London, ON]

This isn't a meeting. I think I can take pictures in this room if it's not a meeting.