Evidence of meeting #45 for Agriculture and Agri-Food in the 40th Parliament, 2nd session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was report.
A recording is available from Parliament.
Bloc
André Bellavance Bloc Richmond—Arthabaska, QC
A point of order.
I just want the honourable member to be very careful when he says I was not here. It is not because I do not hold this committee in high regard, it was because I was with the UPA.
Conservative
Pierre Lemieux Conservative Glengarry—Prescott—Russell, ON
Exactly. That is not what I said. It was that I just did not get a chance to talk to Mr. Bellavance or Ms. Bonsant. However, I did speak to my Liberal and NDP colleagues and I think we all agree that we have to move forward quickly with this report. It is our job. We have to finish the report.
But after all of that, Chair, we're back to motions.
I want to underline that these are motions that are being tabled by the opposition. In fact, we have a motion that has been “tabled”, moved to the side, and is no longer being considered by committee, and Mr. Bellavance is trying to insert it back in there. I have to ask, to what end?
We need to get back to the work--
Liberal
Wayne Easter Liberal Malpeque, PE
I'd ask the clerk for an interpretation, because we were debating. André took his motion on this issue off the table about two or three meetings ago, when we had GMO witnesses here. We were debating the issue. In fact, several of us made pretty extensive remarks on this particular motion. There was a concern over the timing of witnesses, and I believe Alex made a motion that we go to witnesses.
So we need an interpretation from the clerk. If we need a motion to take this off the table, then we'll take it off the table--
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Larry Miller
I can give you that interpretation. You do need a motion to bring it out, Wayne.
Conservative
Pierre Lemieux Conservative Glengarry—Prescott—Russell, ON
What I'm saying, Chair, is that I'm disappointed that the opposition members are delaying our progress on the report. I think the agricultural sector is awaiting our report. I think we have a duty to table the report in the House of Commons as soon as possible.
And before I give up the floor, Chair, I would like to put forward a motion that will help us in that regard. My motion is that the committee call forward no more witnesses and debate no more motions until the review of our competitiveness report is complete.
Conservative
Pierre Lemieux Conservative Glengarry—Prescott—Russell, ON
You can't move a motion while you're on a point of order, Wayne.
Bloc
André Bellavance Bloc Richmond—Arthabaska, QC
While my motion is being debated, Mr. Lemieux is trying to make another one. We have to discuss my motion.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Larry Miller
We're not debating your motion, André. You indicated that you wanted to talk about it. You have to introduce a motion and we'll vote on it, but Mr. Lemieux has the floor.
Bloc
André Bellavance Bloc Richmond—Arthabaska, QC
My motion is on the table. That is what we have been discussing for the last five minutes.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Larry Miller
No, it wasn't, André. You can't just pull it back on. That's what I'm trying to say. Mr. Easter just asked for clarification on that, and I already had that clarification from the clerk.
When Mr. Lemieux is finished and we deal with whatever business he is to speak about—he just raised a motion—then, when it's your turn—
Bloc
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Larry Miller
I guess you don't understand or I'm not explaining myself right. In order for your motion to be debated, we have to have a motion to bring it back on the floor, unless there's unanimous consent. I will get to you at that point.
Mr. Lemieux.
Mr. Bellavance, on a point of order.
Bloc
André Bellavance Bloc Richmond—Arthabaska, QC
I need clarification. This is not working. You are telling me that I need unanimous consent to introduce my motion again. Actually, my motion was deferred, I have already introduced it. Frank introduced his motion, no one asked for unanimous consent to discuss it. I introduced mine, so let us discuss it. I do not see how Mr. Lemieux can introduce another motion when we are discussing SRMs and try to superimpose his on mine. I must also say that he is the one wasting the committee's time with his endless motions and points of order. I want a vote on my motion. It is there; I introduced it.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Larry Miller
I never heard. I took Mr. Valeriote's motion with the discussion that there was no dissension to that. Unless there is unanimous consent to bring any motion forward, André—yes, that's the way it is—we have to have a motion on it. I took it that everybody agreed to deal with Mr. Valeriote's motion, so we've dealt with it. It's out of the way. Correct?
Bloc
André Bellavance Bloc Richmond—Arthabaska, QC
I was quite happy to discuss Mr. Valeriote's motion, but there is nothing to stop me from bringing mine back, as any committee member can do at any time. It does not take unanimous consent to discuss a motion.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Larry Miller
You don't need unanimous consent. You need a majority decision on a motion. When Mr. Lemieux has finished, if you want to entertain a motion whenever it's your turn to have the floor, André, we'll deal with that.
Bloc
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Larry Miller
No, you did not make a motion. You indicated that you wanted to.
Mr. Lemieux.
Conservative
Pierre Lemieux Conservative Glengarry—Prescott—Russell, ON
As a comment on the point of order, when Mr. Bellavance put forward his motion one or two meetings ago, there was actually a vote taken to table the motion. There was a vote. The majority of the people on the committee voted in favour of tabling the motion. When a motion is tabled, Chair, as you know, it's out of discussion; it's on the side; it's no longer under regular debate. It can come back in front of the committee, but it needs a motion to do so. You don't need unanimous consent to bring it back in front of the committee; you need a motion, and the majority of MPs around the table have to vote in favour of your motion to reactivate your original motion.
Chair, through you to André, he did not put forward a motion when he had the floor. He just simply spoke about his own motion, but that's a discussion item. There was no motion, no vote to bring back his motion. So my comments are in order.
