Evidence of meeting #5 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 countries.

A recording is available from Parliament.

On the agenda

MPs speaking

Also speaking

Ian Shugart  Associate Deputy Minister, Department of the Environment

4:40 p.m.

Conservative

Mark Warawa Conservative Langley, BC

On a point of order--

4:40 p.m.

Liberal

The Vice-Chair Liberal Geoff Regan

Just a minute, Mr. Warawa.

November 29th, 2007 / 4:40 p.m.

Conservative

Maurice Vellacott Conservative Saskatoon—Wanuskewin, SK

There's a point of order.

4:40 p.m.

Liberal

The Vice-Chair Liberal Geoff Regan

Look, we're not here to have an argument, and there's enough interrupting going on.

4:40 p.m.

Conservative

Maurice Vellacott Conservative Saskatoon—Wanuskewin, SK

There's a point of order.

4:40 p.m.

Liberal

The Vice-Chair Liberal Geoff Regan

There's too much interrupting going on, Mr. Minister--

4:40 p.m.

Conservative

Maurice Vellacott Conservative Saskatoon—Wanuskewin, SK

There's a point of order.

4:40 p.m.

Liberal

The Vice-Chair Liberal Geoff Regan

--mostly from you, sir, and you understand that you had half an hour at the beginning, colleagues--

4:40 p.m.

Conservative

Maurice Vellacott Conservative Saskatoon—Wanuskewin, SK

Mr. Chairman, there's a point of order.

4:40 p.m.

Liberal

The Vice-Chair Liberal Geoff Regan

Just a minute. Mr. Vellacott--

4:40 p.m.

Conservative

Maurice Vellacott Conservative Saskatoon—Wanuskewin, SK

You can't go on a long lecture. There's a point of order.

4:40 p.m.

Liberal

The Vice-Chair Liberal Geoff Regan

I'll recognize you in a moment, Mr. Vellacott.

4:40 p.m.

Conservative

Maurice Vellacott Conservative Saskatoon—Wanuskewin, SK

Are you going to chair the meeting? Don't sit around giving lectures. Get on with it. You can't run this how you want.

4:40 p.m.

Liberal

The Vice-Chair Liberal Geoff Regan

Mr. Vellacott, the minister cannot interrupt. The minister had half an hour at the beginning. The members have their turns. You'll have your turn in a moment. You'll have it in a moment. Are you challenging the chair?

4:40 p.m.

Conservative

Maurice Vellacott Conservative Saskatoon—Wanuskewin, SK

I am.

4:40 p.m.

Liberal

The Vice-Chair Liberal Geoff Regan

Go ahead. Okay, those in favour of the chair's ruling, raise your hand.

4:40 p.m.

Conservative

Maurice Vellacott Conservative Saskatoon—Wanuskewin, SK

What's your ruling? We haven't heard the point of order. We haven't even heard the point of order.

4:45 p.m.

Liberal

The Vice-Chair Liberal Geoff Regan

If you're challenging the chair to remove the chair, which is what you're suggesting--

4:45 p.m.

Conservative

Maurice Vellacott Conservative Saskatoon—Wanuskewin, SK

No, I'm not.

4:45 p.m.

Liberal

The Vice-Chair Liberal Geoff Regan

That's what you said.

4:45 p.m.

Conservative

Maurice Vellacott Conservative Saskatoon—Wanuskewin, SK

I'm challenging you in respect that you have to hear the point of order first. You can't make up your rules as you go.

4:45 p.m.

Liberal

The Vice-Chair Liberal Geoff Regan

Mr. Vellacott, what I'm saying is that the minister has to stay in order also. He cannot be interrupting constantly--

4:45 p.m.

Conservative

Maurice Vellacott Conservative Saskatoon—Wanuskewin, SK

But you have a point of order on the floor.

4:45 p.m.

Liberal

The Vice-Chair Liberal Geoff Regan

--and as I mentioned at the beginning of the meeting, the time for the members is their time to use as they wish. I give the minister a reasonable time to respond, but remember the time belongs primarily to the member, as the next five minutes will be to you, after the last 30 seconds of this point.

Maybe that does not answer your point of order already, Mr. Warawa. I'll invite you to make it now, and please state the nature of your point of order.

4:45 p.m.

Conservative

Mark Warawa Conservative Langley, BC

My point of order, Chair, is that procedurally it would be the member who wants to cut off the minister, not you, and I don't think procedurally it's correct for you to be cutting him off. It should be the member.

Your point was that the member who is questioning the minister has an opportunity to use the time as they want. You've been cutting them off, and I've been very patient, but, Chair, I encourage you to be non-partisan, to be neutral, and treat the witness with respect.