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.
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Legislative Clerk
Madam Chair, just before Mr. Perkins speaks, Ms. Thomas is asking if she can have the floor again because you issued your ruling and she would like to speak on her amendment before Mr. Perkins speaks.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Hedy Fry
It would be up to Mr. Perkins who has the floor to know if he would give the floor back or cede it to Mrs. Thomas.
Conservative
Rick Perkins Conservative South Shore—St. Margarets, NS
I certainly would, but I think the mover of the motion usually gets to speak to their motion first before the speakers list happens.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Hedy Fry
Yes. Thank you, Mr. Perkins. I think we should have Ms. Thomas speak then.
Conservative
Rachael Thomas Conservative Lethbridge, AB
Thank you.
Madam Chair, since your intention was to hear from the minister, then I would move a motion to adjourn this debate for the moment. Of course, this motion can be brought back after we have heard from the minister.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Hedy Fry
—adjourning the debate?
I don't know who said yes, so can you please identify yourself?
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Hedy Fry
Yes, Chris Bittle, you're opposed.
Then I guess we're going to have to call a vote.
Liberal
Anthony Housefather Liberal Mount Royal, QC
On a point of order, Madam Chair, I'm wondering whether the mover of a motion can move to adjourn debate on their own motion right after they propose it? I don't think that's the case.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Hedy Fry
There is no clear ruling on that, Mr. Housefather, but perhaps I will entertain the clerk's advice on this.
Legislative Clerk
Madam Chair, I have confirmation that a mover can move a motion to adjourn debate on their own motion.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Hedy Fry
I thought that was the ruling: that she could move to adjourn or to postpone her own debate.
The question is, we have opposition on the floor right now from Mr. Bittle, so I will call the question with regard to this motion to adjourn, which is not debatable, by the way.
Let's just call the question, please.
Legislative Clerk
The motion is to adjourn debate on Ms. Thomas's amendment.
(Motion negatived: nays 7; yeas 4 [See Minutes of Proceedings])
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Hedy Fry
Thank you.
The debate is not adjourned. I think we need to go back to the floor.
Go ahead, Ms. Thomas.
Conservative
Rachael Thomas Conservative Lethbridge, AB
Thank you very much.
I'm a little bit surprised by my colleagues. Certainly, it seems that they would perhaps be playing shield or defence on behalf of the minister, preventing the opportunity for him to speak and to be asked questions and to speak on this piece of legislation—
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Hedy Fry
This is debate on your motion to adjourn. Can you please continue now with your actual motion? We have decided that it is not allowed to be adjourned, so can you continue to speak to your amendment, please?
Conservative
Rachael Thomas Conservative Lethbridge, AB
Sure, Madam Chair. I'd love to. Thank you.
The amendment I have moved is that the deadline for the amendments be three days before the start of clause-by-clause. Of course, we're talking about the time frame that is being granted in order to bring forward those amendments that we might have for Bill C-11.
Madam Chair, you'll recall that this committee agreed to hearing from witnesses for a minimum of some 20 hours. Actually, further to that, the motion, in its original form, said four meetings for five hours each. Obviously, that form has not been followed. We did not do four meetings at five hours each. The meetings have been more sporadic and for a lesser amount of time. Nevertheless, we're in good faith honouring that, but the original motion was for a minimum of 20 hours of witness testimony—
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Hedy Fry
As a correction, I have read and reread that motion. There was no minimum included in it.
Thank you very much.
Conservative
