Evidence of meeting #46 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.

On the agenda

MPs speaking

Also speaking

Clerk of the Committee  Ms. Aimée Belmore

2:25 p.m.

Conservative

Rachael Thomas Conservative Lethbridge, AB

Madam Chair, I wish to seek clarification before continuing.

I think my honourable colleague, Mr. Nater, brought up a good point, and that is, we have a non-partisan clerk who has served this committee incredibly well for many months. I want to ensure, then, that we're going with her list.

2:25 p.m.

Liberal

The Chair Liberal Hedy Fry

I agreed with Mr. Nater on that and Ms. Vandenbeld very generously said that she would remove her name from the front of the list. We have all decided on that, Mrs. Thomas, so I don't think we need you to repeat it. It's been decided on, so let us move on. Do you wish to speak again?

2:25 p.m.

Conservative

Rachael Thomas Conservative Lethbridge, AB

Madam Chair—

2:25 p.m.

Liberal

The Chair Liberal Hedy Fry

You have the floor. Will you speak to your motion?

2:25 p.m.

Conservative

Rachael Thomas Conservative Lethbridge, AB

Thank you.

I wish to seek clarification. I would please ask that you treat me with a level of respect as a colleague. My ask for clarification is whether or not you plan to follow the clerk's list, because there were adjustments that you made in addition to moving Ms. Vandenbeld.

2:25 p.m.

Liberal

The Chair Liberal Hedy Fry

Mrs. Thomas—

2:25 p.m.

Conservative

Rachael Thomas Conservative Lethbridge, AB

You also moved Mr. Julian as well as Mr. Champoux, so I am seeking clarification.

2:25 p.m.

Liberal

The Chair Liberal Hedy Fry

Mrs. Thomas, you did not intervene to ask a question about clarification. You made a statement.

You wish clarification. I think everyone is agreed—and Ms. Vandenbeld has removed her name—that we will go with the clerk's list. Is that clear?

Is that very clear to you now, Mrs. Thomas?

2:30 p.m.

Conservative

Rachael Thomas Conservative Lethbridge, AB

I will now take the floor. Thank you.

2:30 p.m.

Liberal

The Chair Liberal Hedy Fry

You will now take the floor. Go ahead.

2:30 p.m.

Conservative

Rachael Thomas Conservative Lethbridge, AB

For Mr. Champoux's benefit, I will read the motion again, and if the clerk wishes for me to do that several times or to do it—

2:30 p.m.

Liberal

Ya'ara Saks Liberal York Centre, ON

I have a point of order, Madam Chair.

2:30 p.m.

Liberal

The Chair Liberal Hedy Fry

Yes, Ms. Saks.

2:30 p.m.

Liberal

Ya'ara Saks Liberal York Centre, ON

At this point, it is now 2:30, and I would just like to comment on how disappointed I am with how this committee meeting is going today. I see an egregious abuse of the speaking order by Mrs. Thomas and other members, rather than getting to the heart of the matter.

I can't begin to emphasize how hurt, how profoundly hurt, the Jewish community was, and the francophone community; I stand with my colleague Monsieur Champoux on this. There are communities watching right now, watching and waiting to hear an explanation. We have a member of the department here prepared to answer these questions, and if there is a genuine desire for allyship and support for communities to get to the heart of this matter, then there wouldn't be such a gross abuse of time on something that is so sensitive and so important and that has been so painful for so many across this country.

In leadership and allyship, every voice is important—

2:30 p.m.

Conservative

Melissa Lantsman Conservative Thornhill, ON

Madam Chair, I have a point of order—

2:30 p.m.

Liberal

The Chair Liberal Hedy Fry

I'm sorry. Ms. Saks is speaking. She has the floor on a point of order.

Go ahead, Ya'ara.

2:30 p.m.

Liberal

Ya'ara Saks Liberal York Centre, ON

—but at this point in time—

2:30 p.m.

Conservative

Rachael Thomas Conservative Lethbridge, AB

Madam Chair, I have a point of order.

2:30 p.m.

Liberal

Ya'ara Saks Liberal York Centre, ON

I believe I have the floor now, Mrs. Thomas.

2:30 p.m.

Liberal

The Chair Liberal Hedy Fry

There is a point of order on the floor.

2:30 p.m.

Conservative

Rachael Thomas Conservative Lethbridge, AB

Madam Chair, if you confer with the clerk, I think she will confirm that when a point of order is called, the most recent one has to be entertained.

2:30 p.m.

Liberal

The Chair Liberal Hedy Fry

All right.

I would comment that you, Mrs. Thomas, must recall as well that I have asked you, if you wish to make a point of order, to go right ahead, and let us hear it, because obviously it has to be a point of order.

Go ahead. What is your point of order, Mrs. Thomas?

2:30 p.m.

Conservative

Rachael Thomas Conservative Lethbridge, AB

Madam Chair, right now, Ms. Saks, the member who is speaking, is choosing to use her point of order as an opportunity to filibuster. It is not in fact a point of order.

2:30 p.m.

Liberal

The Chair Liberal Hedy Fry

I'm sorry, Mrs. Thomas. Would you like to chair this meeting?

2:30 p.m.

Conservative

Rachael Thomas Conservative Lethbridge, AB

Yes, happily.