Thank you, Chair.
In QP yesterday, I asked the following question:
Mr. Speaker, we find ourselves in a bit of a dilemma here, because the heritage minister keeps telling Canadians that user-generated content, such as YouTube videos, is out, but Mr. Scott, the chair of the CRTC, has said that actually user-generated content is in. Both of these men cannot be correct, so I would ask the minister to please tell the truth.
It's one or the other. It can't be both.
The minister is then invited to respond. Either he can say, “Ms. Thomas, I've been telling the truth the entire time, this is still the way it is, user-generated content is out,” or he can say, “Through you, Mr. Speaker, to the honourable member, upon further reflection and analysis, I've had an opportunity to look at this bill more closely”—perhaps even with Mr. Scott himself—“and I've come to the conclusion that, yes, actually, it is captured.” He had a choice in that moment to answer my question. I was simply asking him to tell the truth and I would accept it for what it was.
His response is enlightening, though, because instead of actually just telling me what is going on here, he avoided the question altogether. Here's how Mr. Rodriguez responded. He said:
Mr. Speaker, I do not think it is very parliamentary, but I will still, out of respect for our democracy, answer the question.
It's interesting that when you ask for clarity the minister doesn't think that's parliamentary.
He goes on to say:
I am quite surprised—
I'm sorry, Madam Chair. There's a member across the way shouting at me, so perhaps you could put Mr. Bittle in his place.