Mr. Speaker, I rise on a point of order. It seems quite clear to me that when you said “the nays have it”, no one rose in the House. Therefore, the motion is disposed of. The Standing Orders are very clear on this.

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The Acting Speaker (Mr. Bélair)

Order, please. In response to the objection by the member for Bas-Richelieu—Nicolet—Bécancour, when I put the question to the House, toward the end, at least five members rose halfway, to signal their intention. I accept that in fact they at least rose halfway.

The next question is on Motion No. 55. Is it the pleasure of the House to adopt the motion?

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Some hon. members

Agreed.

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Some hon. members

No.

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The Acting Speaker (Mr. Bélair)

All those in favour of the motion will please say yea.

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Some hon. members

Yea.

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The Acting Speaker (Mr. Bélair)

All those opposed will please say nay.

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Some hon. members

Nay.

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The Acting Speaker (Mr. Bélair)

In my opinion the nays have it.

And more than five members having risen:

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The Acting Speaker (Mr. Bélair)

The recorded division on the motion stands deferred.

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Canadian Alliance

Myron Thompson Canadian Alliance Wild Rose, AB

Mr. Speaker, I rise on a point of order. I am not new to this place, but I was always told that if a member wanted to cast a vote, whether it was a yea or a nay or a standing vote, that member needed to be in his or her seat to do so. I would suggest the justice minister sit in his own seat if he is going to be voting on this issue.

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The Acting Speaker (Mr. Bélair)

Even though the minister was not in his seat there were more than five members who stood up to ensure that there was a recorded division.

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Bloc

Louis Plamondon Bloc Bas-Richelieu—Nicolet—Bécancour, QC

Mr. Speaker, once again, on a point of order. I repeat the previous point. You said that you saw five people rise. I am convinced, if you were to look at the videotape, that the five persons who rose were not in their place. Therefore, the amendment should be disposed of.

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Liberal

Marlene Catterall Liberal Ottawa West—Nepean, ON

Mr. Speaker, I rise on the same point of order. I would appreciate some clarification on this. By normal practice on a voice vote the Chair has not insisted or required that people be in their seats when they yell out their votes nor when they stand to indicate their interest in a recorded division. If in fact there is to be a new practice, I would appreciate knowing it.

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The Acting Speaker (Mr. Bélair)

Perhaps I should look for advice from the House. This is fairly new. The clerks cannot find it in the rule book. We just cannot find it at this point in time.

Is it agreed to proceed to the next motion?

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An hon. member

Agreed.

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The Acting Speaker (Mr. Bélair)

As soon as we find something on this matter, we will get back to the House.

In the spirit of cooperation I would ask members from now on to be in their seats in order to voice their yea or nay.

The next question is on Motion No. 64. Is it the pleasure of the House to adopt the motion?