Environment Committee on April 9th, 2008

[The Chair, Conservative, Bob Mills]

--and he is giving reasons for two minutes not being long enough.

[Nathan Cullen, NDP, Skeena—Bulkley Valley, BC]

Three minutes is what was proposed at trade committee, and the Conservatives voted for that.

[The Chair, Conservative, Bob Mills]

That's not the committee we're talking about. We're in the environment committee. We have a motion, your motion; we're now debating that motion.

[Nathan Cullen, NDP, Skeena—Bulkley Valley, BC]

That's unbelievable.

[The Chair, Conservative, Bob Mills]

Mr. Watson is speaking to that motion. He has the floor.

[Maurice Vellacott, Conservative, Saskatoon—Wanuskewin, SK]

I have a point of order.

[The Chair, Conservative, Bob Mills]

Mr. Vellacott, if it's really necessary, then please be very brief and to the point.

[Maurice Vellacott, Conservative, Saskatoon—Wanuskewin, SK]

I'll be very brief.

On the point that just happened moments ago, Mr. Cullen was allowed to withdraw that motion so we could get--

[The Chair, Conservative, Bob Mills]

That's correct--

[Maurice Vellacott, Conservative, Saskatoon—Wanuskewin, SK]

--to clause 10, and he refused to do so, with some indignity and moral indignation, or whatever.

[The Chair, Conservative, Bob Mills]

We're all aware of that, Mr. Vellacott, and we are now debating the motion.

Mr. Watson has the floor. We are awaiting Mr. Warawa next.

[Jeff Watson, Conservative, Essex, ON]

Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Mr. Chair, can we have order at the committee table, please? I'd like to speak.

[The Chair, Conservative, Bob Mills]

Go ahead, Mr. Watson. I will ask members again, please.

[Jeff Watson, Conservative, Essex, ON]

Thank you, Mr. Chair.

I'm going to have to start reading the Jeffrey Simpson article for Mr. Cullen.

Anyway, Mr. Chair, more to the point, the reason we're on this motion is that Mr. Cullen in fact brought the motion. I find it the height and breadth of hypocrisy for this member to now suggest that we should be talking about the environment instead of freedom of speech, when in fact he's the one who brought the motion to limit our freedom of speech at this particular table. Is that the new democracy of the New Democratic Party? I don't know.

Mr. Chair, before I was rudely interrupted by the member, I was talking about--

[The Chair, Conservative, Bob Mills]

Mr. Warawa, on a point of order.

[Mark Warawa, Conservative, Langley, BC]

Mr. Chair, I would ask that you ask Mr. McGuinty to quit interrupting, because I'm finding it quite frustrating.

[David McGuinty, Liberal, Ottawa South, ON]

I said nothing.

[Mark Warawa, Conservative, Langley, BC]

I can't hear Mr. Watson, and he's sitting right beside me, because of the interruptions of Mr. McGuinty.

[David McGuinty, Liberal, Ottawa South, ON]

Mr. Chair, I'm not sure what he's speaking of. I couldn't hear either because I just heard the pounding of the fist. I couldn't hear a thing that Mr. Watson was saying.

[The Chair, Conservative, Bob Mills]

Mr. McGuinty, I would love to suggest--

[David McGuinty, Liberal, Ottawa South, ON]

I couldn't hear a thing myself. I've had my earpiece in here and I'm trying to hear and I can't hear.

[The Chair, Conservative, Bob Mills]

I taught school once, you know. And that innocent little guy sitting in the front row who just never ever did anything wrong sat in the front row for a reason.

[David McGuinty, Liberal, Ottawa South, ON]

That was John Baird.

[The Chair, Conservative, Bob Mills]

Mr. McGuinty, we're not discussing your school chums. Anyway, I will ask all members to please--

[David McGuinty, Liberal, Ottawa South, ON]

I never went to school with John Baird.