Evidence of meeting #9 for Declaration of Emergency in the 44th Parliament, 1st Session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was laws.
A video is available from Parliament.
Liberal
Liberal
Rachel Bendayan Liberal Outremont, QC
Thank you, Mr. Chair.
I would like to propose an amendment to Mr. Green's motion.
Bloc
The Joint Chair Bloc Rhéal Fortin
I want to clarify something.
If I understand correctly, Mr. Green is relinquishing his three minutes of speaking time; he doesn't want to ask the witness questions.
Bloc
The Joint Chair Bloc Rhéal Fortin
He is relinquishing his three minutes of speaking time and wants to present his motion.
Liberal
Rachel Bendayan Liberal Outremont, QC
Senator, the chair is just consulting the clerk on a matter of procedure.
Bloc
The Joint Chair Bloc Rhéal Fortin
Mr. Green, I gather that you want to present a motion and Ms. Bendayan wants to speak.
I'm going to ask committee members whether they agree to continue the round of questions, knowing that Mr. Green will not be asking questions. After the round of questions, Mr. Green will be able to present his motion. So we will release the witnesses at the point when we debate the motion, which may take some time.
NDP
The Joint Chair NDP Matthew Green
Respectfully, as a point of order, that direction is not in order. I am duly entitled, given the notice of motion. It is a properly moved motion. It's in order. I have time. I'm able to do it. I'm moving the motion.
Bloc
The Joint Chair Bloc Rhéal Fortin
Just a minute, Mr. Campbell.
Mr. Green, I understand that you want to present your motion. What I'm asking committee members is whether they want you to do it now or they want us to finish the round of questions. I believe there are still three...
NDP
The Joint Chair NDP Matthew Green
There's a motion on the floor, respectfully, Mr. Chair. The motion is on the floor.
Bloc
The Joint Chair Bloc Rhéal Fortin
I understand that you are opposed to us finishing the round of questions, but I'm asking the other committee members the question.
Do the members want us to finish the last three questions from senators before discussing Mr. Green's motion or do they prefer that we discuss it right away?
NDP
The Joint Chair NDP Matthew Green
This whole intervention just took up the time that it could have been passed.
Bloc
The Joint Chair Bloc Rhéal Fortin
I understand that you object to us continuing the round of questions, Mr. Green. You want to present the motion right away.
Bloc
The Joint Chair Bloc Rhéal Fortin
Right.
Because we don't have unanimous consent, we will study Mr. Green's motion. It may be that the three senators' three minutes of speaking time won't get used.
Mr. Green, I understood.
I think it was Ms. Bendayan's turn to speak to your motion.
Liberal
Rachel Bendayan Liberal Outremont, QC
I'll be very brief, Mr. Chair.
I want to thank people for their patience.
I propose to amend Mr. Green's motion by adding “dans le cas où ils existeraient” at the very end of the sentence.
I'm going to read my amendment in English.
At the very end of the sentence that is before you, members, I propose to amend the motion by adding the words “should they exist”. The reason for this amendment is that, as we heard in earlier testimony this evening during the meeting from the deputy minister of justice, no such secret orders in council exist. That is his testimony, and the motion, as written, presupposes the existence of secret orders in council.
We are happy to vote in favour of the motion and have an official response given to the question. However, we would ask that the amendment be added in order that we don't presuppose the existence of any such documents.