Mr. Chairman, I would like you to clarify something for me. If there is a tie when we vote on item 4(b), will the rule set out on page 859 of Marleau-Montpetit apply? Allow me to read the rule:
Casting vote. Like the Speaker, the chair of a committee votes only to break a tie [...]
As you have just done.
Marleau-Montpetit goes on to say the following:
By convention, the chair will normally vote in such a way as to maintain the status quo [...]
On the matter of how meetings are conducted, it is stated on page 855 of Marleau-Montpetit that:
As there is no limit in committee to the number of times of speaking or the length of speeches, committees may, if they choose, place limits [...]
The rule is that there is no limit on speaking time, other than when questioning witnesses. If I am correct in my understanding of Marleau-Montpetit — and you can check for yourselves on pages 855 and 859 — convention dictates that you should vote to maintain the status quo when there is a tie. Am I correct in my understanding of these two rules?