Bill C-2 (39th Parliament, 1st Session) Committee on May 31st, 2006

[Benoît Sauvageau, Bloc, Repentigny, QC]

Point of order.

[The Chair, Conservative, David Tilson]

Do you have a point of order?

[Benoît Sauvageau, Bloc, Repentigny, QC]

I have a point of order, Mr. Chairman.

I would ask your opinion, Mr. Chairman, but I believe that what we have just witnessed constitutes a lack of respect for Parliament. For a member to say that the Speaker of the House of Commons is just another witness is tantamount to insulting this institution. I also want to point out that I am not being partisan, I did not table this document.

In addition — and again I would ask your opinion, Mr. Chairman — I do not consider the law clerk and the Speaker of the House of Commons to be witnesses like, for example, and this is not a slight, a professor from the University of Manitoba who would have to be given 48 hours notice before appearing before the committee. They are officers of Parliament and, as such, I believe they are entitled to a minimum of respect.

[The Chair, Conservative, David Tilson]

Sir, what's your point of order?

Just a second, you know you just can't jump in here anytime. We've given you this document; I've invited members to comment on it. I'm not looking for a motion at this time. That's all I'm looking for. I asked the members that their comments be brief because we have three motions to deal with tonight.

Ms. Jennings, please be brief. Is that possible?

A point of order, Mr. Moore.

[Rob Moore, Conservative, Fundy Royal, NB]

Mr. Chair, I'm afraid Ms. Jennings' intervention, while thoughtful, and I respect that, is not in order. We are here dealing with committee business, and committee business is to address the motions that are in order, including the motion from Ms. Jennings, the one from Mr. Poilievre, and three from Mr. Martin.

We are supposed to be debating and voting on the motions before the committee. If somebody wants to move a motion to have Mr. Walsh visit this committee and be a witness, they can move that motion today, and we'll vote on it in 48 hours. But the only business before the committee right now is these five motions. Any other debate is out of order.

[The Chair, Conservative, David Tilson]

It's in order, go ahead.

[Marlene Jennings, Liberal, Notre-Dame-de-Grâce—Lachine, QC]

Thank you.

[Rob Moore, Conservative, Fundy Royal, NB]

It's not in order.

[Marlene Jennings, Liberal, Notre-Dame-de-Grâce—Lachine, QC]

Thank you very much, Chair.

[Rob Moore, Conservative, Fundy Royal, NB]

Committees have a structure.

[The Chair, Conservative, David Tilson]

Please, Mr. Moore.

[Marlene Jennings, Liberal, Notre-Dame-de-Grâce—Lachine, QC]

Therefore, in respect of your request that I be brief I think I've said the substance of what I wish to say. What I was going to conclude with, had these points of order not been raised, was that I was amending my motion, to add--

[The Chair, Conservative, David Tilson]

You can do that at the appropriate time.

[Marlene Jennings, Liberal, Notre-Dame-de-Grâce—Lachine, QC]

Perfect.

[The Chair, Conservative, David Tilson]

I have Monsieur Petit.

[Daniel Petit, Conservative, Charlesbourg—Haute-Saint-Charles, QC]

Mr. Chairman, my rights as a parliamentarian are being violated. Let me explain why; it is very straightforward. This document was sent to my office yesterday, not today. I would ask...

[The Chair, Conservative, David Tilson]

Well, I don't know what you have, but just give us a moment to make sure you have the right documents, because the one I have, I had it at six o'clock tonight.

[Benoît Sauvageau, Bloc, Repentigny, QC]

The document is dated May 31.

[Daniel Petit, Conservative, Charlesbourg—Haute-Saint-Charles, QC]

Yes, you're right, the document is dated May 31.

Mr. Chairman, as a parliamentarian, I am asking who requested this document; it did not appear out of thin air. Somebody must have requested it. That is what public servants are paid for. Somebody must have told them to produce this document. I want to know who gave the order. I also want to know who produced the document, because he or she was not a scheduled witness...

[The Chair, Conservative, David Tilson]

Order. Monsieur Petit is speaking.

Please go ahead.

In answer to your question, sir....

[Daniel Petit, Conservative, Charlesbourg—Haute-Saint-Charles, QC]

I want the chair of this committee to instruct these individuals to appear before the committee today; as a member of Parliament, I am entitled to know which individual, party or group requested this document, because it is certainly not on the agenda. I want to know whether it has been drafted simply as a means of obstructing the committee's work. I have an inalienable right to this information, and I intend to exercise it.

[The Chair, Conservative, David Tilson]

As I indicated to you, the document that I have before me incidentally is dated May 31, 2006. This document was presented to me by the clerk, who in turn had it presented to her by the law clerk, Mr. Walsh. That's how it came to my attention. I got the document at six o'clock. I did not ask for the document; it appeared.

[Pierre Poilievre, Conservative, Nepean—Carleton, ON]

All right, let's get on with our motions.

[The Chair, Conservative, David Tilson]

There's no question. We're going to proceed with Ms. Jennings' motion.

[Pierre Poilievre, Conservative, Nepean—Carleton, ON]

Point of order.