Environment Committee on Nov. 29th, 2007

[The Vice-Chair, Liberal, Geoff Regan]

Yes, but a motion to deal with the agenda takes precedence, the same as a motion to adjourn takes precedence and is not debatable.

[Mark Warawa, Conservative, Langley, BC]

Mr. Chair, I'm not talking about the agenda. I'm talking about a motion that's already on the floor, not the agenda. An agenda would be what is coming up next. We already have a motion on—

[The Vice-Chair, Liberal, Geoff Regan]

Well, I'm sorry, but I would argue that in fact, when you have two motions, the order in which you deal with them is a matter of the agenda.

[Mark Warawa, Conservative, Langley, BC]

We don't have two motions. Procedurally, we have one motion.

[The Vice-Chair, Liberal, Geoff Regan]

Well, we have two motions, because I indicated—

[Mark Warawa, Conservative, Langley, BC]

Through you, Mr. Chair, to the clerk, my procedural question is, do we have a motion on the floor now?

[The Vice-Chair, Liberal, Geoff Regan]

The motion is on the floor. So my ruling is that your motion is on the floor and that we have to proceed with that motion and debate that motion. If members want to challenge that decision, they can do so.

[Luc Harvey, Conservative, Louis-Hébert, QC]

Mr. Chairman, I would like to ask a question.

[The Vice-Chair, Liberal, Geoff Regan]

Just a minute. Is it a point of order?

[Luc Harvey, Conservative, Louis-Hébert, QC]

This is also a point of order. The decision you took was not based on your own decision, but on what the clerk told you pursuant to the Standing Orders. Is that right?

[The Vice-Chair, Liberal, Geoff Regan]

I do not want to explain my decisions or comment on what was explained.

I am sorry, it is Mr. Vellacott's turn.

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

Can I speak to the motion, then?

[The Vice-Chair, Liberal, Geoff Regan]

Yes, you're speaking to the motion, unless there's a point of order. Obviously a point of order takes precedence. You're speaking to the motion.

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

I'm speaking to the motion.

[The Vice-Chair, Liberal, Geoff Regan]

That's right. And if it's a point of order, obviously I have to interrupt for that.

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

You can't, because they—

[The Vice-Chair, Liberal, Geoff Regan]

I have been advised that because they've challenged my decision to proceed with your motion, that's non-debatable.

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

The motion is on the floor—

[The Vice-Chair, Liberal, Geoff Regan]

I'm sorry. I've been asked about that, and it has been challenged. Therefore—

[Mark Warawa, Conservative, Langley, BC]

Excuse me, Mr. Chair, is it a challenge to invert, or is it a challenge to move to—

[Geoff Regan, Liberal, Halifax West, NS]

It's a challenge on whether we proceed with your motion, or that's it. It's whether it should be your motion or not.

[Mark Warawa, Conservative, Langley, BC]

So the challenge is my motion, whether or not it is a legitimate motion, because I have a legitimate motion on the table. The clerk has acknowledged that, and so procedurally, according to Marleau and Montpetit, how can a motion that is legally on the table be removed without the permission of the mover? You first have to debate the motion and then vote on the motion procedurally.

[Bernard Bigras, Bloc, Rosemont—La Petite-Patrie, QC]

I am asking for clarification, not a debate. Did I ask to invert the order before Mr. Warawa took the floor on his motion?

[The Vice-Chair, Liberal, Geoff Regan]

The problem is that he had already tabled his motion.

[Bernard Bigras, Bloc, Rosemont—La Petite-Patrie, QC]

I had as well. Did I take the floor in order to request that we invert the order before Mr. Warawa took the floor to speak to his motion?