Evidence of meeting #80 for Natural Resources in the 44th Parliament, 1st Session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was point.
A recording is available from Parliament.
3:50 p.m.
Liberal
3:50 p.m.
Conservative
Garnett Genuis Conservative Sherwood Park—Fort Saskatchewan, AB
Can I have a point of order on the point of order from Mr. Patzer before we go to the next point of order? It's on the same point of order.
3:50 p.m.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal George Chahal
Mr. Genuis, you have to hold on for a second. I'm going to deal with one point of order at a time.
3:50 p.m.
Conservative
Garnett Genuis Conservative Sherwood Park—Fort Saskatchewan, AB
It's in relation to the point of order.
3:50 p.m.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal George Chahal
I know, but your colleague next to you has a point of order. I want to hear his point of order, and then I'll come back to you.
3:50 p.m.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal George Chahal
Hopefully, there are no other points of order and I can come back to you on your point of order.
I have Mr. Carrie on a point of order.
3:50 p.m.
Conservative
Garnett Genuis Conservative Sherwood Park—Fort Saskatchewan, AB
I think I had the original point of order.
3:50 p.m.
Conservative
Colin Carrie Conservative Oshawa, ON
Thank you very much, Mr. Chair.
As you know, I'm not a regular member of this committee, but I have been on the Hill for a long period of time. I find this very unusual.
I was wondering if we could ask the clerk to intercede and explain how things left off at the last meeting, so that we can be very clear on this before we vote on—
3:50 p.m.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal George Chahal
Thank you for the point of order, Mr. Carrie, and for joining us today.
The chair has made a ruling on the speaking order. If you would like to challenge that ruling, you can, but the ruling has been made that Mr. Angus has the floor.
Thank you.
3:50 p.m.
Conservative
3:50 p.m.
Liberal
3:50 p.m.
Conservative
Garnett Genuis Conservative Sherwood Park—Fort Saskatchewan, AB
I have an outstanding point of order.
3:50 p.m.
NDP
Charlie Angus NDP Timmins—James Bay, ON
Before I finish, I had the floor at that last meeting. It is false to say I didn't.
Is that not correct, Mr. Chair?
3:50 p.m.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal George Chahal
Mr. Angus, as I've clarified, you had the floor at the last meeting—
3:50 p.m.
Conservative
3:50 p.m.
NDP
3:50 p.m.
Liberal
3:50 p.m.
Conservative
Garnett Genuis Conservative Sherwood Park—Fort Saskatchewan, AB
Thank you, Chair. I have an outstanding point of order in both senses of the word.
First of all, to respond, Mr. Patzer had raised a point of order and you had asked for specific standing orders, so in order to support the important work the chair is doing, I do want to draw the attention of the chair to the specific standing order that Mr. Patzer was referring to.
Standing Order 116 is the standing order that generally applies. It states:
(1) In a standing, special or legislative committee, the Standing Orders shall apply so far as may be applicable, except the standing orders as to the election of a Speaker, seconding of motions, limiting the number of times of speaking and the length of speeches.
Standing Order 116(2)(a) states:
Unless a time limit has been adopted by the committee or by the House, the Chair of a standing, special or legislative committee may not bring a debate to an end while there are members present who still wish to participate. A decision of the Chair in this regard may not be subject to an appeal to the committee.
Standing Order 116(2)(b) states:
A violation of paragraph (a) of this section may be brought to the attention of the Speaker by any member and the Speaker shall have the power to rule on the matter. If, in the opinion of the Speaker, such violation has occurred, the Speaker may order that all subsequent proceedings in relation to the said violation be nullified.
What Standing Order 116 makes clear is that not only does the chair not have the arbitrary power to make up rules as he goes but also, on the particular issue of limiting the amount of time for which a person can speak or their ability to speak in accordance with Standing Order 116, that is a unique case in which a matter of privilege may actually be brought to the attention of the chair directly.
That being the case, I would urge the chair and the committee to make sure they are acting within their rules or, shall I say, that they reform their actions to align them with the rules—
3:50 p.m.
Conservative
Garnett Genuis Conservative Sherwood Park—Fort Saskatchewan, AB
—because there are standing orders, and you don't just get to make it up because you happen to be the chair.