Evidence of meeting #23 for Environment and Sustainable Development in the 39th Parliament, 2nd Session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was chair.
A recording is available from Parliament.
3:50 p.m.
Liberal
David McGuinty Liberal Ottawa South, ON
From an order perspective, so that I could know, Mr. Chair, whether I should put my name on the list, could you ask the government members how long they intend to speak?
3:50 p.m.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Bob Mills
Mr. Warawa, do you care to answer that question? You've been asked a direct question through me. You can say no, and then I'll go to Mr. Bigras, and then let's talk about clause 10.
3:50 p.m.
An hon. member
I'd like to answer that.
3:50 p.m.
Conservative
3:50 p.m.
Bloc
Bernard Bigras Bloc Rosemont—La Petite-Patrie, QC
I would like, first of all, to know how you established this list. When did the members ask to speak? Was it at the beginning of the meeting? Did they raise their hand to ask to speak? Did a political advisor provide you with a list of names to add to this list? You were indeed provided with a list, Mr. Chairman.
3:50 p.m.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Bob Mills
Mr. Bigras, the minute the gavel went down, four hands went up. I took them in the order that I saw the hands go up. As I said, I've added Mr. Cullen to the list. At the beginning of each meeting, everybody can put their hands up, and I'll try to get them in the order that they go up for speaking.
3:50 p.m.
Bloc
Bernard Bigras Bloc Rosemont—La Petite-Patrie, QC
I am asking you, Mr. Chairman, in all transparency, if a person who is not seated at this table provided you with a list of names of persons, of members of this committee, wishing to speak. Do you have a list that was provided to you by a person who is not a member of this committee?
3:50 p.m.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Bob Mills
Mr. Bigras, I can tell you absolutely that nobody is telling me what to do on this committee, and this will always stay that way. I would take great offence if anybody thought someone was pulling my strings, so to speak, because I can guarantee you they are not.
I am having some difficulty staying here, as you probably are, but these are the rules. My job, in accepting your nomination as chair, is to try to play by the rules as fairly and honestly as I can, and I'll continue to do that.
Mr. McGuinty, very briefly, please.
3:50 p.m.
Liberal
David McGuinty Liberal Ottawa South, ON
Mr. Chair, on the same point of order I raised earlier, I have no answer.
3:50 p.m.
Liberal
David McGuinty Liberal Ottawa South, ON
Through you, Mr. Chair, can the parliamentary secretary and his three colleagues who are...? My rough recollection is that they've been speaking without stop now for 12 hours. No Canadian watching this will believe they're serious. They're embarrassing themselves and their own constituents. I just want to know when we should expect to be prepared to come to this table and debate the merits of this bill on a clause-by-clause basis, Mr. Chair. Could you ask the government members, and perhaps while you're asking them ask whether they are taking instructions from their minister?
3:50 p.m.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Bob Mills
I can certainly put that question to the parliamentary secretary. I cannot, of course, force an answer, just as in question period.
I would like Mr. Warawa to answer the question. I think he's prepared to do that. He's indicated he's prepared to answer. If he could do that, then I'll come to you, Mr. Watson.
3:50 p.m.
Conservative
Mark Warawa Conservative Langley, BC
This is in response to a point of order question; is that correct?
3:55 p.m.
Conservative
Mark Warawa Conservative Langley, BC
Thank you.
I want to thank Mr. McGuinty for the question. I think it's a relevant question.
What I began to say, I think about 10 minutes ago, before Mr. McGuinty's point of order, is that Mr. Cullen was asking for amendments to improve the bill. We did that, but it was in error. It was a motion that had not been translated into both official languages. We need, I believe, as Mr. Cullen has asked, to have the motion in both official languages, but unfortunately the members do not want to see that dealt with today. I believe the rules call for 48 hours, once you receive the amendment, before it can be dealt with.
3:55 p.m.
Conservative
Mark Warawa Conservative Langley, BC
Correct. So we again would like to see Bill C-377 dramatically improved, because it's a phony bill at this time.
That's again for clarification for Mr. McGuinty. We will be tabling that motion, and we look forward to a healthy debate on it.
3:55 p.m.
Liberal
David McGuinty Liberal Ottawa South, ON
Mr. Chair, can I take it , then, from the answer I just received and that Canadians watching have just received, that this parliamentary secretary is not willing to tell Canadians the truth about how long he intends to filibuster this committee in order to block the passage of this bill while in minority government form? It's really important for Canadians to know that, Mr. Chair.
I just want to give him one more chance, through you. Could the parliamentary secretary and his colleagues tell us how long they intend to speak in uninterrupted fashion to filibuster this committee? It's very important for us to know, in terms of the order of speaking precedence.
If Mr. Watson would bite his tongue, we could get some indication here about—
3:55 p.m.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Bob Mills
Can we just get to Mr. Watson's point of order? Just hang tough, Mr. McGuinty.
3:55 p.m.
Liberal
3:55 p.m.
Conservative
3:55 p.m.
Conservative
Jeff Watson Conservative Essex, ON
Mr. Chair, that's not a point of order. We know how speaking orders are established here at the committee. He can put his hand up and get on the list.
How long we talk is irrelevant to the member. We have rights and privileges here. We'll exercise those rights and privileges. But that's not a point of order, Mr. Chair.
3:55 p.m.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Bob Mills
I said, here's the speaking order; that's what we're going to go by.
I believe Mr. Warawa wants to answer Mr. McGuinty. If he could do that very briefly, let's get on with things.
Just remember something that was said, that you can't amend a clause after it's been approved; you can't go backwards. We're going to try to move forward. That's the aim.
Mr. Warawa, it's your opportunity to answer Mr. McGuinty.