Evidence of meeting #119 for Canadian Heritage in the 44th Parliament, 1st Session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was point.

A recording is available from Parliament.

On the agenda

MPs speaking

Also speaking

Josh Dehaas  Counsel, Canadian Constitution Foundation
Clerk of the Committee  Ms. Geneviève Desjardins
François Côté  Attorney and Doctor of Law, Droits collectifs Québec
Geoffrey Sigalet  Assistant Professor, As an Individual
Humera Jabir  Staff Lawyer, West Coast Legal Education and Action Fund

4:15 p.m.

Conservative

Rachael Thomas Conservative Lethbridge, AB

Can we get paper copies of the motion that has been moved and that we're discussing?

4:15 p.m.

Liberal

The Chair Liberal Hedy Fry

I think we're trying to do that, but we just can't keep delaying. If you got an electronic copy, we're going to get you the paper copy soon.

4:15 p.m.

Conservative

Rachael Thomas Conservative Lethbridge, AB

Did the clerk send the electronic copy?

4:15 p.m.

Liberal

The Chair Liberal Hedy Fry

Yes, that's what I asked everyone, and everyone nodded that they had received the electronic copies.

4:15 p.m.

Conservative

Rachael Thomas Conservative Lethbridge, AB

I don't believe I was a part of that. Thank you, Madam Chair.

I realize that the Liberals have moved this motion, and that they would appreciate nothing more than to spend this time debating this motion. I think that's unfortunate, because we have a whole host of witnesses who are here with us today, and we have an important study with regard to the Court Challenges Program and Bill C-316 on the table. Essentially, what they are doing, then, is opting to hijack the rest of this meeting for the next hour and 40 minutes to discuss a motion that they've put out there, at the expense of the witnesses who are here testifying.

4:20 p.m.

Liberal

Patricia Lattanzio Liberal Saint-Léonard—Saint-Michel, QC

That is not a point of order.

4:20 p.m.

Liberal

The Chair Liberal Hedy Fry

I don't think she had a point of order.

4:20 p.m.

Liberal

Patricia Lattanzio Liberal Saint-Léonard—Saint-Michel, QC

Then I'd like to know—

4:20 p.m.

Liberal

The Chair Liberal Hedy Fry

She put her hand up to speak to the motion.

4:20 p.m.

Liberal

Patricia Lattanzio Liberal Saint-Léonard—Saint-Michel, QC

I'd like to know why she has the floor. Is it on the basis of her saying she didn't have the motion? Now we're going into the specifics of this motion.

4:20 p.m.

Liberal

The Chair Liberal Hedy Fry

No, she has the floor, so I'm going to have to let her speak. I'm sorry. She has a valid reason to speak.

4:20 p.m.

Liberal

Patricia Lattanzio Liberal Saint-Léonard—Saint-Michel, QC

I just want to understand, on a point of clarification, Madam Chair.

4:20 p.m.

Liberal

The Chair Liberal Hedy Fry

I have a list of people wishing to speak—

4:20 p.m.

Liberal

Patricia Lattanzio Liberal Saint-Léonard—Saint-Michel, QC

Members came in basically saying, “I don't have the motion.”

I understand that.

May 9th, 2024 / 4:20 p.m.

Conservative

Philip Lawrence Conservative Northumberland—Peterborough South, ON

No, I can clarify for you.

4:20 p.m.

Liberal

Patricia Lattanzio Liberal Saint-Léonard—Saint-Michel, QC

Basically, she was told it was sent by email.

4:20 p.m.

Liberal

The Chair Liberal Hedy Fry

I think she was reading—

4:20 p.m.

Liberal

Patricia Lattanzio Liberal Saint-Léonard—Saint-Michel, QC

She put her hand back up, but there were other speakers who had their hand up before she did.

4:20 p.m.

Conservative

Philip Lawrence Conservative Northumberland—Peterborough South, ON

That's how this works.

I have a point of order.

She had the floor. She can talk about whatever she wants as long as it's relevant. She did that.

4:20 p.m.

Liberal

The Chair Liberal Hedy Fry

I'm sorry, but I don't think we need points of order here.

Philip, I think Mrs. Thomas has the floor. She did not stop speaking, and she had her electronic version.

Go ahead, Mrs. Thomas, please continue.

4:20 p.m.

Conservative

Rachael Thomas Conservative Lethbridge, AB

Thank you.

I'll just clarify for the honourable member across the way. I had my hand up, which means I was acknowledged as the first speaker on the list.

First, I needed to make sure that I was speaking to the correct motion. That's what a responsible member of Parliament does. After I was able to verify that, I was able to speak to it, so I'm continuing with the time that was granted to me by the chair.

4:20 p.m.

Liberal

Michael Coteau Liberal Don Valley East, ON

I have a point of order.

4:20 p.m.

Liberal

The Chair Liberal Hedy Fry

Yes, Michael, go ahead.

4:20 p.m.

Liberal

Michael Coteau Liberal Don Valley East, ON

I put up my hand when the motion was being moved, so I assume that I was the first speaker, and the NDP member was second.

4:20 p.m.

Liberal

The Chair Liberal Hedy Fry

I'm going by the list that the clerk has. She noted hands up, and you are the third speaker and Ms. Ashton is the fourth.

Go ahead, Mrs. Thomas.