Canadian Heritage Committee on Oct. 31st, 2023

[The Vice-Chair, Bloc, Martin Champoux]

Thank you, Mr. Waugh. That's a good point.

Mr. Julian, I'd appreciate it if you could stick to the motion.

[Peter Julian, NDP, New Westminster—Burnaby, BC]

It's absolutely relevant, Mr. Chair, to say that last week the Conservatives were saying two hours, and a few weeks ago they were saying one hour. It is absolutely appropriate for me to question the legitimacy of, every week, a different demand coming forward, all of which is blocking this committee's ability to do its work. It is completely relevant. This week the Conservatives are saying three hours. Last week they said two hours. A few weeks ago they said one hour.

The reality is that we have the opportunity to question the president of CBC on Thursday. The Conservatives have known about this for weeks. Am I open to having the CBC president back? Certainly, but I want to hear the testimony first. I want to be able to ask the questions first. Then, after that, we see where we go. That's the way we've always functioned at this committee.

Today's motion, this filibuster motion, is basically to block testimony from the National Gallery of Canada, to block our ability to ask questions—

[Rachael Thomas, Conservative, Lethbridge, AB]

On a point of order, I don't know if this is relevant. I think Mr. Julian is reading a motive into this motion.

Again, I would point out that I wrapped up my comments after six minutes, and it's Mr. Julian who is the only one standing between us moving forward right now.

[The Vice-Chair, Bloc, Martin Champoux]

Mrs. Thomas, that pertains to the debate, but I have noted your comment.

Mr. Julian, can you stick to the motion, or wrap things up so that we can give the floor to someone else.

[Peter Julian, NDP, New Westminster—Burnaby, BC]

Thank you very much, Mr. Chair.

Most of my comments have been consumed with points of order from the Conservatives. They've now taken 40 minutes of committee time. Mr. Bélisle was scheduled to be here for an hour, so I think people can quite properly draw their conclusions that the Conservatives, yet again—as they destroyed last week and the previous week and the week before that—are filibustering out, making this committee hell, as Mrs. Thomas promised to do, and blocking the committee's ability to do work.

For this particular motion that last week was two hours, a few weeks ago was one hour and now is three hours, it's accompanied by—

[Rachael Thomas, Conservative, Lethbridge, AB]

I have a point of order. Mr. Julian knows very well that he's being extremely repetitive in his remarks. Perhaps you could maybe help him bring that in line. Thanks.

[The Vice-Chair, Bloc, Martin Champoux]

I have taken note of this comment, Mrs. Thomas.

Mr. Julian, do you have anything else to say about the motion?

[Peter Julian, NDP, New Westminster—Burnaby, BC]

Yes, I do, Mr. Chair.

I think the comments of Mrs. Thomas last week, which tied CBC journalists, who were in critical and dangerous situations in the Middle East...and purported that they were on the side of terrorists, were incredibly irresponsible and regrettable. They have been universally condemned. Mrs. Thomas has yet to apologize to those journalists. She should. She should do it promptly. She should do it immediately. Quite frankly, her refusal to apologize for those comments, which both you, Mr. Chair, and I, and a number of others found incendiary, is profoundly regrettable.

[The Vice-Chair, Bloc, Martin Champoux]

Mr. Waugh, do you have a point of order?

[Kevin Waugh, Conservative, Saskatoon—Grasswood, SK]

We're just going around the table, Mr. Chair. I went 36 seconds when I talked about why I want Ms. Tait here. We do have a guest. We would like to get to this vote, but Mr. Julian continues to talk about issues that don't deal with this three-hour motion.

Can we please get to the vote that Mrs. Thomas asked for?

[The Vice-Chair, Bloc, Martin Champoux]

Thank you, Mr. Waugh. Understood.

Mr. Julian, I'd like to point out that there is only one person left on the speakers list, and that's Ms. Gladu. I'm pretty sure that Ms. Gladu will want to call the vote quickly, which would leave us time for a round of questions for Mr. Bélisle, but I will allow you to use the rest of your speaking time.

[Marilyn Gladu, Conservative, Sarnia—Lambton, ON]

On a point of order, Chair, I have withdrawn my hand. Mr. Julian is the only one standing between us and the vote.

[The Vice-Chair, Bloc, Martin Champoux]

Thank you, Ms. Gladu.

Mr. Julian, the ball is in your court.

[Peter Julian, NDP, New Westminster—Burnaby, BC]

Mr. Chair, the Conservatives are showing rampant hypocrisy. They have eaten up 40 minutes of this meeting with points of order and speeches. I think it's very clear that the facts speak for themselves. The fact that they have changed their motion every week and they have eaten weeks of this committee's time is regrettable. I am concerned about the report that now has been sitting, because of the Conservative filibuster, for weeks without being considered. The victims of the abuses that we've seen in sports deserve more than yet another Conservative filibuster.

[The Vice-Chair, Bloc, Martin Champoux]

Thank you.

As there are no speakers left on the list, we can call the vote on Mrs. Thomas's motion, which reads as follows: That the President of the CBC, Catherine Tait appear before committee for a total of three hours on Thursday November 2, 2023.

Would you like me to read it in English?

[Michael Coteau, Liberal, Don Valley East, ON]

No, I just want to make sure. Ms. Tait is scheduled to be here on Thursday. Is that correct?

[The Vice-Chair, Bloc, Martin Champoux]

I have read the motion and we will now call the vote, Mr. Coteau.

(Motion negatived: nays 6; yeas 4)

[The Vice-Chair, Bloc, Martin Champoux]

Mr. Shields, you raised your hand, but the outcome of the vote had been announced. Unless you have a point of order, we're going to return to our work for today, which is to ask Mr. Bélisle some questions.

Is it a point of order?

[Martin Shields, Conservative, Bow River, AB]

Mr. Chair, I was wondering if you could ask the witness if he could stay longer.

[Jean-François Bélisle]

Mr. Chair, I do have later appointments, but I could potentially stretch it by 10 to 15 minutes.

[The Vice-Chair, Bloc, Martin Champoux]

Thank you, Mr. Bélisle.

If the committee is agreeable, I understand that Mr. Bélisle has generously offerrd us an additional 15 to 20 minutes.

I am now giving the floor to Ms. Hepfner of the Liberal Party for six minutes.

[Lisa Hepfner, Liberal, Hamilton Mountain, ON]

Thank you, Mr. Chair

[The Vice-Chair, Bloc, Martin Champoux]

One moment, Ms. Hepfner, while I consult the clerk.

Mrs. Thomas, in view of the limited time we have left for questions, and as you used your speaking time to debate your motion, you will only be able to have the floor again in the next round of questions. I'd like each party to have the opportunity to ask Mr. Bélisle some questions.

[Rachael Thomas, Conservative, Lethbridge, AB]

Is that in alignment with the green book?

[The Vice-Chair, Bloc, Martin Champoux]

There are precedents. Normally, once the speaking time has been used up, whether for asking questions or debating a motion, the current practice is to move on to the next speaker. There have indeed been exceptions over the years, but generally speaking, in a case like this one, the next person on the list gets to speak.

If we had a lot of time left, I'd be happy to allow you the rest of your speaking time. However, there isn't much time and I'd like everyone to be able to have their allotted six minutes. We will therefore return to you in the next round of questions.