Canadian Heritage Committee on May 31st, 2016

[The Chair, Liberal, Hedy Fry]

Excuse me. We have a motion on the floor from Mr. Nantel that suggests that the chair's—

[A voice]

It's Mr. Van Loan.

[The Chair, Liberal, Hedy Fry]

No, Mr. Van Loan did not say that the chair's ruling be sustained. I—

Go ahead, Mr. Samson.

[Darrell Samson, Liberal, Sackville—Preston—Chezzetcook, NS]

Call the question.

[The Chair, Liberal, Hedy Fry]

We have to deal with the challenge. We need to vote on the statement under Mr. Van Loan's challenge. We're going to vote on the motion that suggests that the chair's ruling be sustained.

I'm going to call the question. There's no debate on this because the chair is suggesting we do not accept Mr. Van Loan's challenge, and in fact that the chair's ruling be sustained.

I will call the question. There is no debate on this.

[Peter Van Loan, Conservative, York—Simcoe, ON]

Just to be clear, since this was a challenge of the chair, a “yes” vote sustains the ruling of the chair and a “no” vote overturns the ruling of the chair. Thank you very much.

[The Chair, Liberal, Hedy Fry]

Yes, indeed.

We will now be voting on that motion that the chair's ruling be sustained.

All those in favour? Opposed?

(Ruling of the chair sustained [See Minutes of Proceedings])

[The Chair, Liberal, Hedy Fry]

The chair's ruling is sustained.

Now we will go back to the motion that in the event of the adoption of Bill C-210, this committee will study the bill in this committee on Thursday.

[Peter Van Loan, Conservative, York—Simcoe, ON]

I have a point of order, Madam Chair.

I wanted some clarification on what happened to Monsieur Nantel's motion or suggestion. It seems to have evaporated. Are we doing Monsieur Nantel's motion here, or are we doing the previous motion?

[The Chair, Liberal, Hedy Fry]

The motion is on the floor, and Mr. Van Loan has challenged it. The chair's ruling is sustained. We will have to deal with the motion that was originally on the floor that Mr. Van Loan challenged.

[Darrell Samson, Liberal, Sackville—Preston—Chezzetcook, NS]

Could you please read the motion?

[The Chair, Liberal, Hedy Fry]

The motion is “That in the event of the adoption on Thursday of Bill C-210, that this will be dealt with by this committee on Thursday and be reported to the House on Friday”.

[Peter Van Loan, Conservative, York—Simcoe, ON]

Madam Chair, I would like to speak to this motion.

[The Chair, Liberal, Hedy Fry]

You have, Mr. Van Loan, and you have been advised—

[Peter Van Loan, Conservative, York—Simcoe, ON]

Madam Chair, with the greatest of respect, you cannot limit my right to speak to this motion.

This is a matter of a review of Canada's national anthem. I appreciate the difficulty of Mr. Bélanger's circumstances, but with the greatest of respect, this is not Mr. Bélanger's national anthem. It is a national anthem that is sung every day by millions of Canadians.

We know from the efforts of my involvement in our previous government that when suggestions were made to change the wording of this national anthem, the response from the public was strong. People, thousands of Canadians, had views. Hundreds of my constituents had views, and views that were different from those of our government. These were views that this national anthem mattered a great deal to them, and they did not support the proposal that came from our government to change the wording.

What we learned from that experience is that trying to manage a situation like this in a top-down, non-democratic fashion is a dangerous thing to do. It lacks legitimacy. For a change like this to one of Canada's major national symbols, for a change like this to our national anthem, it is important there at least be the most basic.... I'm not asking for a lot. I'm asking for the most basic of—

[The Chair, Liberal, Hedy Fry]

Mr. Van Loan, you have asked for this. You are repeating what you have already said—

[Peter Van Loan, Conservative, York—Simcoe, ON]

No, I am not repeating—

[The Chair, Liberal, Hedy Fry]

I just want to say that on a point of order, we are now 15 minutes—

[Peter Van Loan, Conservative, York—Simcoe, ON]

I would like to discuss now the witnesses who would like to appear here.

[The Chair, Liberal, Hedy Fry]

—into another committee's time.

[Peter Van Loan, Conservative, York—Simcoe, ON]

Well, I regret that, but—

[The Chair, Liberal, Hedy Fry]

That is a point of order, because the business of the day has to be carried on by the other committee.

[Peter Van Loan, Conservative, York—Simcoe, ON]

Well, I have not finished, and I have the floor, with respect, Madam Chair.

[The Chair, Liberal, Hedy Fry]

Mr. Van Loan, do I take it that you are actually filibustering this meeting?

[Peter Van Loan, Conservative, York—Simcoe, ON]

I'm not filibustering. I'm attempting to explain why I think it's important.