Evidence of meeting #47 for Environment and Sustainable Development in the 40th Parliament, 3rd Session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was amendment.
A recording is available from Parliament.
10:35 a.m.
Conservative
Mark Warawa Conservative Langley, BC
I am speaking to a point of order.
In those six years, I've seen it three times. I've seen it twice relating to this bill: Ms. Duncan challenged the chair, and now Mr. Bigras has challenged the chair.
10:40 a.m.
Conservative
Mark Warawa Conservative Langley, BC
It rarely happens. I don't want to see you leave the chair, but if it's repeatedly happening in this committee, there is a message: one would question whether or not this committee has confidence in you as a chair. It's a serious matter.
10:40 a.m.
Conservative
Mark Warawa Conservative Langley, BC
It's not frivolous to challenge a decision of a chair, and when we've seen it—
10:40 a.m.
Conservative
10:40 a.m.
Conservative
Mark Warawa Conservative Langley, BC
We see it repeatedly used, and I hope it wasn't used frivolously. I will trust that all members of this committee take it seriously when they challenge your decision. It is not a trivial matter; it's a serious matter and could question the confidence of the committee in your chairing the meeting.
10:40 a.m.
Bloc
Bernard Bigras Bloc Rosemont—La Petite-Patrie, QC
Mr. Chairman, I believe that Mr. Warawa's comments are not a point of order. You are still in the chair and you are the guardian of the rights of members of this committee. What I did was within my rights and it is not proper for the parliamentary secretary to pass judgment on the appropriateness of challenging your ruling. I do not think I have any lessons to learn from the parliamentary secretary.
I respect your decision but I should remind you that we have already considered a bill that would enact a federal Sustainable Development Act. We are talking here about federal legislation, national legislation that has been amended and which has become a federal law. So I believe that challenging your ruling was within my rights and it is not incumbent on the parliamentary secretary to tell me what I should do in committee.
10:40 a.m.
Conservative
10:40 a.m.
Conservative
Stephen Woodworth Conservative Kitchener Centre, ON
Just very quickly, Mr. Chair, whatever rights Monsieur Bigras has, I don't think he had the right to continually interject vocally during the course of Mr. Warawa's submissions.
10:40 a.m.
Conservative
Stephen Woodworth Conservative Kitchener Centre, ON
Well, he wanted to raise this point of order, and I'm just saying the manner in which he ought to have raised this point of order was to wait until the previous point of order was finished--as in fact you directed him to do--rather than to try to drown out Mr. Warawa as he was speaking.
10:40 a.m.
Liberal
Joyce Murray Liberal Vancouver Quadra, BC
Thank you, Mr. Chair.
I was surprised to find the parliamentary secretary essentially questioning the competence of the chair, based on the fact that MPs are exercising their rights and responsibilities in this committee. I thought that was quite surprising and unnecessary.
Thank you.
10:40 a.m.
NDP
Linda Duncan NDP Edmonton Strathcona, AB
I'm really happy you keep confusing me with her. I consider that a great compliment.
I just want to add that I echo the comments of the colleague immediately before me, Ms. Murray. I don't think a challenge of a decision of the chair in any way.... I want to make it clear on the record. In no way am I questioning the competency and capabilities and sound decision-making of this chair, whom I have found commendable for the entire two years I have been on this committee.
10:40 a.m.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative James Bezan
Let me just say this.
It is within your parliamentary rights and privileges to challenge the chair at any time. I am making rules-based decisions, and if it does become a habit, I will leave the chair. This is the third time. Actually, I've been challenged three times as the environment chair. I never was challenged in the chair when I was at the agriculture committee, but this is the third time now I've been challenged as chair of the environment committee. I was overruled once, a couple of years ago. So I hope we don't make this a habit. Otherwise, you guys will be looking for a new chair.
Anyway, we're almost out of time.