Can I address the chair?
Evidence of meeting #49 for Status of Women in the 40th Parliament, 2nd Session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was hoeppner.
A recording is available from Parliament.
Evidence of meeting #49 for Status of Women in the 40th Parliament, 2nd Session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was hoeppner.
A recording is available from Parliament.
3:45 p.m.
Conservative
3:45 p.m.
Conservative
3:45 p.m.
Conservative
Dave Van Kesteren Conservative Chatham-Kent—Essex, ON
Can I just have a wrap-up statement, then?
We accept your ruling, and whether we like it or not, I think the writing's on the wall.
The point I wanted to make is that for a committee--and I'm speaking now of Candice--those types of actions are very difficult. They're very difficult to take. It's one thing to have that type of attack from somebody who isn't on the same team--and I think of us as a team here--but this particular case was different. It came from members who are also from this committee.
I'm asking that when we do things like that in the future, we consider those on the other side. I appeal to the sense of good values that I know is among us all here. I really believe that. At the last meeting, when I think Rick Norlock was with us, I wanted to bring it up and point out that on this side too we have the same concerns and the same ideals as you have. I asked Rick, “How long have you been married, Rick?” He said, “Thirty-five years.”
I don't want to zero in on just this one member; all of us also have strong values that we want to bring out. We may not agree on everything we do, but in the future I ask that you please consider those on the opposite side when you make strong statements like that.
I absolutely agree that we have to stand firm--we have to--when we feel strongly about something, but we must not make that a personal attack on an individual's characteristics unless something can actually be proven. I don't think that's the case in Candice's case; Candice has demonstrated her desire for good things for the women in our society.
3:45 p.m.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Hedy Fry
Dave, I accept what you're saying and I think we've all heard what you have to say. I don't believe that anywhere in this motion did a particular member's name come up, so I really don't wish to speak to particular members in this forum right now. I think it begins to move it into a totally different direction.
The motion itself has been ruled out of order. What you have said is duly noted, and we will now move on.
There being no other business for the day, I would like to.... I'm sorry; go ahead, Madame Demers.
3:45 p.m.
Bloc
Nicole Demers Bloc Laval, QC
Madam Chair, I let Mr. Van Kesteren speak, he has expressed himself.
I simply wish to say that yesterday The Hill Times asked me to comment on Ms. Hoeppner, because the paper is preparing an article about her. I refused, because the idea was to talk about a person, and I do not wish to discuss people's personality. I find that to be quite low.
Last week, we did not discuss personalities. That being the case, Madam Chair, given that I believe that the firearms registry is a very important subject, I would like to move an emergency motion, that reads as follows:
Pursuant to Standing Order 108(2), that the following be reported to the House at the first opportunity: That the Committee hold a commemorative ceremony, on the 5th of December of every year, date at which Bill C-68 “An Act respecting firearms and other weapons“ received approval by the Senate and royal assent in 1995.
3:45 p.m.
An hon. member
That's out of order.
3:45 p.m.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Hedy Fry
I'm sorry, it's not out of order. It's asking the committee to do something that's pertinent to the committee.
3:50 p.m.
Conservative
Cathy McLeod Conservative Kamloops—Thompson—Cariboo, BC
That's not an emergency motion, Madam Chair.
3:50 p.m.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Hedy Fry
Well, let me check.
I think that it's not an emergency motion, but we are in committee business on the agenda, and any member may bring forward anything that they choose to committee business, providing it deals with the work of the committee and relates to something the committee is going to do in the future or hopes to do in the future.
It's my understanding that you're asking the committee to hold a ceremony. You're asking the committee, not the House--
3:50 p.m.
Liberal
3:50 p.m.
Bloc
Nicole Demers Bloc Laval, QC
... on December 5 to commemorate Bill C-68, An Act respecting firearms and other weapons, that received Senate approval and royal assent in 1995.
3:50 p.m.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Hedy Fry
There will be debate on this motion.
I will read the motion in French:
Pursuant to Standing Order 108(2), that the following be reported to the House at the first opportunity:
That the Committee hold a commemorative ceremony, on the 5th of December of every year, date at which Bill C-68 “An Act respecting firearms and other weapons“ received approval by the Senate and royal assent in 1995.
3:50 p.m.
Conservative
Dave Van Kesteren Conservative Chatham-Kent—Essex, ON
I'd like to direct a question to the clerk.
Is that not out of order in that we can't mandate for future committees? A committee is master of its own—
3:50 p.m.
Conservative
3:50 p.m.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Hedy Fry
We could debate this motion and pass it, but it would only hold for this committee. We cannot set any intent for other committees, which may change and may have to set their own decisions and their own orders of business. Basically we can speak to this, and if we are still the same committee by December 5 and it is passed, it may happen. If it's not, then it's moot. But the point is that this cannot hold for all standing committees on the status of women.
December 10th, 2009 / 3:50 p.m.
Conservative
3:50 p.m.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Hedy Fry
No, it is not out of order per se. Knowing that this is what you are doing will absolutely determine how you vote, because you cannot make a binding decision on committees other than this one. I am telling you that this is only for this committee that this decision is about to be made.
3:50 p.m.
Conservative
Cathy McLeod Conservative Kamloops—Thompson—Cariboo, BC
Madam Chair, on a point of order, the first thing we have to do is determine whether we're even willing to debate this motion. Anyone can bring a motion forward to committee, as I understand, when it's committee business. But if we haven't had 48 hours' notice, do we not need to--
