Official Languages Committee on Feb. 5th, 2009

[Pablo Rodriguez, Liberal, Honoré-Mercier, QC]

Why not the Conservative Party, while we are at it?

[The Chair, Conservative, Steven Blaney]

In your subamendment, what order are you suggesting for the fourth round?

Mr. Rodriguez, are you moving a subamendment?

[Pablo Rodriguez, Liberal, Honoré-Mercier, QC]

Yes.

[The Chair, Conservative, Steven Blaney]

Mr. Rodriguez, Mrs. Glover would like to speak.

Mrs. Glover.

[Shelly Glover, Conservative, Saint Boniface, MB]

I understand what Mr. Rodriguez is doing. To make things easier, I move that the second round be as follows: Conservatives, NDP, Liberal Party and Bloc Québécois. Would that work? I think that this would be the most fair.

[The Chair, Conservative, Steven Blaney]

Mr. Rodriguez, are you there?

[Pablo Rodriguez, Liberal, Honoré-Mercier, QC]

My subamendment is as follows: NDP, Liberal Party, Conservative Party and Bloc Québécois.

[The Chair, Conservative, Steven Blaney]

NDP, Liberal Party, Conservative Party and Bloc Québécois.

So to summarize, we have a subamendment to Mr. Chong's proposal. We will first vote on the subamendment.

We are going to vote on the subamendment, to clarify things. I want to hear comments on the subamendment.

Mr. Godin, do you want to speak to the subamendment?

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

Instead of the NDP, the Bloc would be last. I don't think that the Bloc will agree to this, which I can understand.

[The Chair, Conservative, Steven Blaney]

Are we ready to vote on the subamendment?

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

I am not talking about individuals but rather about parties. We need to set the record straight when they say that it's always the same—

[The Chair, Conservative, Steven Blaney]

Mr. Godin, according to this motion, the Bloc will have an opportunity to speak three times before the fourth round. It's a simple fact.

Are you prepared to vote on the subamendment?

Mr. Rodriguez, do you want to speak to the subamendment?

[Pablo Rodriguez, Liberal, Honoré-Mercier, QC]

No.

[The Chair, Conservative, Steven Blaney]

Okay. Before we vote on the subamendment I will summarize. Mr. Chong had moved that all the rounds be five minutes per questioner; that the order of the first round be the same order the committee currently respects, meaning the Liberal Party, the Bloc Québécois, the NDP and the Conservative Party; that the second round be as follows: the Liberal Party, the Bloc, the Conservative Party and the NDP; that in the third round, it be the Liberal Party, the Conservative Party and the Bloc, and therefore there will only be three questioners in that round; and that at the fourth round, it be the NDP, the Liberal Party, the Conservative Party and the Bloc, rather than the Conservative Party, the Liberal Party, the Bloc and the NDP.

That is the subamendment.

We will now vote on Mr. Rodriguez's motion to change the order of the fourth round.

All those in favour of Mr. Rodriguez's subamendment?

[Richard Nadeau, Bloc, Gatineau, QC]

Mr. Chair, no one raised their hand. Can we now vote against the subamendment?

[The Chair, Conservative, Steven Blaney]

I think there is some confusion. Are we now ready to call the question?

[Some hon. members]

Yes.

[Royal Galipeau, Conservative, Ottawa—Orléans, ON]

We are voting on Mr. Rodriguez's motion.

[The Chair, Conservative, Steven Blaney]

Right. Are you prepared to vote on Mr. Rodriguez's subamendment?

[Some hon. members]

Yes.

[The Chair, Conservative, Steven Blaney]

May I have your attention? All those in favour of the subamendment? Very good. Those who are... Wait, people are confused.

We will call the question on the subamendment once more.

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

Mr. Chair, point of order. You are the one who is causing confusion. You called the question, those who were in favour raised their hand, and now you want us to vote again. It's almost like asking members if they haven't changed their minds.

[The Chair, Conservative, Steven Blaney]

Mr. Godin, your point of order is noted. I will call the question one more time, and this time it will be as clear as day.

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

Call the question again? We already voted.

[The Chair, Conservative, Steven Blaney]

We are now voting on Mr. Rodriguez's subamendment. Everyone look towards the clerk and I. All those—