Natural Resources Committee on Oct. 30th, 2023

[Jeremy Patzer, Conservative, Cypress Hills—Grasslands, SK]

I want, for the record, the actual clip of the interaction that we had back at 3:39 p.m. from MP Serré over here. He said, “I see there are Jeremy, Ted and Garnett. They've all asked to be acknowledged. I just want to understand who the members across the way are. Can we just get who's voting? Who's a member?”

In the context of the previous discussion we had, the point was raised by one of the colleagues across in regard to who was voting. That was the context in which our whole debate and everything happened earlier this afternoon.

Given that we had the whole vote go down over that, I'm just trying to make sure that we.... In the context of what happened, but also based on what Standing Order 119 says, we have a member trying to just take part in the public proceedings of the committee.

[Charlie Angus, NDP, Timmins—James Bay, ON]

I have a point of order.

[Jeremy Patzer, Conservative, Cypress Hills—Grasslands, SK]

He's not trying to vote, which is what was asked for by my colleague from the government. He asked, “Who's voting?” Then everything that happened from that point onward basically up until now was over the quote as to who is voting and who is a member.

Now, my colleague Mr. Viersen wants to take part in the public proceedings of the committee. You have recently acknowledged that he is on the speaking list. You added him to the speaking list so that he can take part in the public proceedings of the committee.

[The Chair, Liberal, George Chahal]

We have a point of order by Mr. Angus.

[Charlie Angus, NDP, Timmins—James Bay, ON]

Thank you.

My colleagues keep relitigating things to kill time, but Mr. Simard raised an important point. Mr. Viersen is not a member of the committee. The Conservatives had full strength. You made a ruling earlier. It was upheld by the committee.

Mr. Simard has raised an issue. I think we need to get a ruling on Mr. Simard's question, which I think is a very straightforward one, which is now, once again, that we're back to full strength on the Conservatives and Mr. Viersen is not a member of committee, based on your earlier ruling that was upheld.

Will you give us your ruling on Mr. Simard's question?

[The Chair, Liberal, George Chahal]

From advice from the clerk, any member can sit at the table and participate unless there's an objection from a committee member.

[Rick Perkins, Conservative, South Shore—St. Margarets, NS]

On a point of order—

[The Chair, Liberal, George Chahal]

We have a point of order.

[Rick Perkins, Conservative, South Shore—St. Margarets, NS]

—as an associate member of this committee, as I am of every committee in Parliament—our whip signed us up that way—I request that I be added to the speakers list. I believe Mr. Viersen is also an associate member of this committee.

[John Aldag, Liberal, Cloverdale—Langley City, BC]

On a point of order—

[The Chair, Liberal, George Chahal]

We have a point of order from Mr. Aldag.

[Rick Perkins, Conservative, South Shore—St. Margarets, NS]

Do you not have to rule on my point of order first?

[John Aldag, Liberal, Cloverdale—Langley City, BC]

—in what form does that objection have to be lodged? The clerk indicated that everyone can participate unless there's an objection lodged.

[An hon. member]

The question is not a point of order, Mr. Chair.

[John Aldag, Liberal, Cloverdale—Langley City, BC]

It's absolutely a point of order. It's a question of procedure.

[The Chair, Liberal, George Chahal]

The question on...? Can you clarify your point of order, Mr. Aldag?

[John Aldag, Liberal, Cloverdale—Langley City, BC]

I'm looking for clarification on what the ruling was: that we were just told that anyone can participate unless challenged by a member of the committee. I didn't hear what that was, and I'm wondering in what form that would need to be shown

[The Chair, Liberal, George Chahal]

Thank you, Mr. Aldag.

The clerk will advise momentarily.

[Rick Perkins, Conservative, South Shore—St. Margarets, NS]

On my point of order, Mr. Chair, I believe you have—

[The Chair, Liberal, George Chahal]

We're waiting on a ruling, Mr. Perkins, on information by the clerk.

[Rick Perkins, Conservative, South Shore—St. Margarets, NS]

I raised it before MP Aldag did.

[The Chair, Liberal, George Chahal]

He raised a point of order on your point of order. We're waiting for a ruling from the clerk.

If you can wait patiently, you'll be able to interject in a moment.

[John Aldag, Liberal, Cloverdale—Langley City, BC]

I'm happy to stand down my question if we want to get back to Mr. Perkins. It's a question that I would like to see answered at some point.

[Charlie Angus, NDP, Timmins—James Bay, ON]

I have a point of order.

[The Chair, Liberal, George Chahal]

Mr. Aldag, thank you for the point of order. We are looking at it.

We are going to suspend for the remainder of the evening.

[The meeting was suspended at 5:51 p.m., Monday, October 30]

[The meeting resumed at 4:32 p.m., Wednesday, November 1]