Evidence of meeting #45 for Public Accounts in the 41st Parliament, 1st Session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was office.

A recording is available from Parliament.

On the agenda

MPs speaking

Also speaking

Michael Ferguson  Auditor General of Canada, Office of the Auditor General of Canada
Jerome Berthelette  Assistant Auditor General, Office of the Auditor General of Canada
Lyn Sachs  Assistant Auditor General, Office of the Auditor General of Canada
Alex Smith  Committee Researcher

10:40 a.m.

NDP

The Chair NDP David Christopherson

I know. I hear you. That comes under committee business, which we're not really into. I took that one motion, and the motion to adjourn is in order. It's not debatable. I'm not sure that it's particularly helpful at this time, but it's not debatable.

10:40 a.m.

NDP

Mathieu Ravignat NDP Pontiac, QC

We just discussed committee business. How is it that we didn't move committee business? We followed all the proper procedures. We had a notice of motion placed 48 hours in advance, and now we're allowing the colleague to usurp that process by discussing business when we're not really discussing business.

10:40 a.m.

NDP

The Chair NDP David Christopherson

Well, hang on. You need to know that there is another notice of motion in process right now. In fact, I've talked to the clerk about how we present it on the agenda, because I don't think it accurately reflects where we are.

There is another notice of motion that could take precedence, depending on how it's moved. We've already started to deal with it, but it was pre-empted by a motion to adjourn similar to this. So it's outstanding too.

I hear your point. This is not neat and clean, but I do think it has been fair so far, and the motion is in order. We are three or four minutes away from our normal adjournment, so I have to deem that I don't see anything extraordinarily out of order enough that I would rule the motion out of order. Therefore, the motion is indeed in order, unless there's a point of order, and it had better be a real one.

I'm not seeing a point of order. Therefore I am obliged to put the motion to adjourn, without debate, which I will now do.

10:40 a.m.

Liberal

Gerry Byrne Liberal Humber—St. Barbe—Baie Verte, NL

I'd like a recorded vote, Mr. Chair.

10:40 a.m.

NDP

The Chair NDP David Christopherson

Thank you very much. We will do a recorded vote. Every member has the right to call for a recorded vote.

Madam Bateman has a point of order.

10:40 a.m.

Conservative

Joyce Bateman Conservative Winnipeg South Centre, MB

Is it not appropriate, once you've called the question, that our colleague was too late with that? I just want to know.

10:40 a.m.

NDP

The Chair NDP David Christopherson

It's not hard and fast; it's common sense. We hadn't started voting. We were just about to. That's pretty much how we do it.

You have the same right at any time, as long as we're not in the middle of the vote. But if it's clear that you were waiting until it got started and then got my attention.... I think it's okay.

Are you okay with that ruling?

10:40 a.m.

Conservative

Joyce Bateman Conservative Winnipeg South Centre, MB

Yes. I'm here to learn.

10:40 a.m.

NDP

The Chair NDP David Christopherson

I know. You're the best civics lesson we have. Believe me, a lot of people learn every time you ask a question.

(Motion agreed to: yeas 7; nays 4)

Thanks to Mr. Ferguson and his staff.

The meeting now stands adjourned.