Evidence of meeting #30 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 chair.
A video is available from Parliament.
Liberal
Chris Bittle Liberal St. Catharines, ON
Madam Chair, I have a point of order. This is actually a point of order.
Conservative
Liberal
Chris Bittle Liberal St. Catharines, ON
This is Mr. Julian's motion that we're debating, and this is not the—
Liberal
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Hedy Fry
You know, Ms. Thomas, I would appreciate it if you would allow me to hear what is being proposed as a point of order before I rule on whether it is a point of order or not.
Liberal
Chris Bittle Liberal St. Catharines, ON
Sorry, Madam Chair.
It's fascinating that Ms. Thomas is first to jump up and say that someone is interrupting her, but then will have no problem interrupting me.
What the parliamentary secretary is doing has nothing to do with what the amendment is. It is not relevant to the debate. Ms. Thomas should move on to the discussion. Again, we can get to the vote and still hear a little bit from the minister. He wants to speak, I'm sure.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Hedy Fry
Ms. Thomas, I think that was a point of order. It was a point of order asking us to get back to the order of this meeting, which is for you to speak to your amendment.
Conservative
Rachael Thomas Conservative Lethbridge, AB
Thank you for that clarification, Madam Chair.
Well, the amendment in front of us is that we would expand the time frame granted to be able to put forward amendments to Bill C-11. The reason I'm asking for that extra time is that I would like to propose that we hear from more witnesses. Now, I realize that right now we can't have that conversation in good faith. I'd love to have that conversation following a vote on this amendment and the substance of the motion itself.
The reason for that, of course, is that I believe that we as parliamentarians have a responsibility to hear from a diverse set of voices before moving forward and making decisions with regard to this bill. The point of bringing a bill to committee is so that it can be spoken to by witnesses from various backgrounds so they can add their voice, which may be in support of various aspects of the bill or perhaps the bill in whole, or it could—
Liberal
Anthony Housefather Liberal Mount Royal, QC
Madam Chair, I'd call repetition. Ms. Thomas has repeated this verbatim three times now.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Hedy Fry
And I have told Ms. Thomas that it is not speaking to her amendment. Ms. Thomas is doing exactly what Ms. Thomas wishes to do, which is to drag this on, and so we will allow her. She has the floor. She can drag this on for as long as she wants. I would like it to be very clear what is going on in this committee right now.
Ms. Thomas, I have spoken over and over that the number of witnesses and the number of hours of public hearings for witnesses has been achieved as per a unanimous decision by this committee. Now, you have suggested in your amendment that we have three days before clause-by-clause. I have told you that we do not know when clause-by-clause will be, but we do not have a lot of time to stretch anything out, because this bill is supposed to be reported back to the House before June 23, and so it—
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Hedy Fry
That's all I'm telling you, so can you continue to speak to your amendment or allow other people to speak to your amendment or against your amendment?
Thank you.
Conservative
Rachael Thomas Conservative Lethbridge, AB
Madam Chair, I do have to ask a question for clarification before continuing.
You ascribed motivation to why I'm speaking.
Conservative
Rachael Thomas Conservative Lethbridge, AB
I'm wondering if you feel this is appropriate, as a chair. Madam Chair, if you go back and review your words, you will realize you ascribed motivation to me. You accused me of wanting to drag this out. Madam Chair, that is inappropriate.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Hedy Fry
Mrs. Thomas, I have asked you, numerous times, to stick to the concept of a deadline for amendments, which is what your amendment to the motion is about. You have refused to do that. You have continued to speak to another issue, which I said you cannot speak to, because this committee already decided how many public meetings we were going to have to listen to witnesses. That has been achieved.
You continue to pretend I did not say that. I have to, therefore, wonder if you have another motivation, other than speaking to your amendment.