Evidence of meeting #22 for Official Languages in the 41st Parliament, 1st Session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was work.
A recording is available from Parliament.
9:30 a.m.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Michael Chong
[Public proceedings resume]
We are in public session, so we're on the public record. If people come, they are allowed to enter the room to listen to the debate. Just to clarify, we are....
9:30 a.m.
Conservative
Costas Menegakis Conservative Richmond Hill, ON
My motion that I made in camera is now.... Can you clarify what that is?
9:30 a.m.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Michael Chong
We are in public session right now. A motion to go in camera or in public is—
9:30 a.m.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Michael Chong
Yes, just let me explain. A motion to go in camera or to go in public can be moved at any time. There is no limit on the number of times that such a motion can be moved. It's not debatable and it's put to an immediate vote, which just took place, so we're now in public.
9:30 a.m.
Conservative
Costas Menegakis Conservative Richmond Hill, ON
If I interpret what you're saying correctly, I can now move to go back in camera.
9:30 a.m.
Liberal
9:30 a.m.
Conservative
Costas Menegakis Conservative Richmond Hill, ON
You said we can do it at any time, so can I now...? Who made that previous motion?
9:30 a.m.
Conservative
9:30 a.m.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Michael Chong
Yes. I'm just clarifying what the situation is. I'm going to pass the floor back to Mr.—
9:30 a.m.
Conservative
Costas Menegakis Conservative Richmond Hill, ON
I'm sorry, but I want to understand what's going on.
9:30 a.m.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Michael Chong
Okay, what happened was that Mr. Bélanger was interrupted by M. Godin, who called a point of order. In that point of order, he moved a motion; I ruled it out of order because it's not a point of order to move a motion. I gave the floor back to Mr. Bélanger, and he moved the motion to go in public. When I started to call the vote, somebody requested a formal recorded division. I passed the floor to the clerk, and the clerk recorded that division. The motion was adopted five to four. Only four members voted against the motion.
Now I'm going to pass the floor back to Mr. Bélanger, because it is his floor right now and he has not—
9:30 a.m.
Conservative
Costas Menegakis Conservative Richmond Hill, ON
Okay, but at what point are we allowed to make a motion again?
9:30 a.m.
Conservative
9:30 a.m.
Conservative
9:30 a.m.
A voice
Or whoever else is on the list.
9:30 a.m.
NDP
Dan Harris NDP Scarborough Southwest, ON
On a point of order, who remains on the list of speakers, please?
9:30 a.m.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Michael Chong
The next person on the list is Mme Michaud. Then we have M. Aubin, then M. Harris, and then M. Godin.
Just to be clear, we're actually not on the main motion. We're on the amendment moved by Mr. Harris on that main motion. We're still on the amendment. We're not on the main motion.
9:30 a.m.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Michael Chong
I can read the amendment. The amendment moved in the last meeting was:
That the motion be amended by adding after the words “in camera” the following: “with the consent of at least one member of the opposition or a vote by committee at the start of any sitting of the permanent committee on official languages where committee business is to be discussed”
That's what we're on.
I'll pass the floor back to M. Bélanger.
9:30 a.m.
Liberal
Mauril Bélanger Liberal Ottawa—Vanier, ON
Thank you, Mr. Chair.
We should perhaps provide some background for the people joining us now. We are debating a motion and an amendment to that motion. The motion asks that all committee business be conducted in camera. This motion comes from the government side. One of the official opposition members moved an amendment so that the motion asks for the consent of at least one member of the opposition at the start of a meeting, I believe.
Mr. Chair, I am going to take advantage of the fact that we are in public session and repeat some of the arguments I have been making for some time now. I have to be careful because we cannot repeat everything that is said in camera. But I will still speak publicly. This way, if I am going to be accused of something, I will be accused of speaking publicly, which seems to be the current trend.
Mr. Chair, I have said, and I am going to say it again, that it is simply inconceivable for all committee business to be conducted in camera. A motion like this one, asking that all committee business be conducted in camera, is unconstitutional and anti-democratic. This is not the way to do things. The committee must reject a motion like that.
This is the Parliament of Canada and we are accountable to Canadians. As parliamentarians, we have rights that enable us to communicate with our constituents. In fact, we have a duty to communicate with our constituents. We have a duty to be accountable. So asking that everything be conducted in camera is simply mind-boggling. I strongly object to this, Mr. Chair.