Environment Committee on May 22nd, 2018

[Garnett Genuis, Conservative, Sherwood Park—Fort Saskatchewan, AB]

I think we need to be really clear about where we are process-wise, first of all. Aside from what people may think about the merits or demerits of the point I've raised, we have a process for matters of privilege. I think you as well as the clerk know where I'm going and what I'm going to say.

When a member raises a question of privilege, we may previously have been operating under a particular rubric, which is a question of what programming motions may have been passed, what processes are happening for the votes and amendments, and so on. When you have an issue of privilege raised, that's a separate question. Then the chair rules on the basis of a prima facie case of privilege. If there's that ruling, we then proceed to a debate and then a vote.

I raised the issue. We are now having a debate. We are having that debate because you, Madam Chair, told us that there would then be a vote. In so doing, you ruled that there was a prima facie case. If you had not found a prima facie case, I wouldn't be talking right now. The only reason I'm talking, the only reason we have opened the speakers list at all is on the basis of the question of privilege that I raised. Otherwise—

[William Amos, Liberal, Pontiac, QC]

Madam Chair, on a point of privilege—

[The Chair, Liberal, Deb Schulte]

Garnett—

[Garnett Genuis, Conservative, Sherwood Park—Fort Saskatchewan, AB]

—you said there would be a vote—

[James Maloney, Liberal, Etobicoke—Lakeshore, ON]

This is dilatory. There is no prima facie case.

[Garnett Genuis, Conservative, Sherwood Park—Fort Saskatchewan, AB]

—so that's where we are.

[James Maloney, Liberal, Etobicoke—Lakeshore, ON]

The motion that was brought and agreed upon by committee—

[Garnett Genuis, Conservative, Sherwood Park—Fort Saskatchewan, AB]

Whether or not this committee agrees with a prima facie case—

[James Maloney, Liberal, Etobicoke—Lakeshore, ON]

Madam Chair, this is pure dilatory tactics.

[The Chair, Liberal, Deb Schulte]

Garnett, I at all times said I did not agree. I misunderstood the advice that I got from the clerk that there would need to be a vote. A vote is not needed, if I rule no, and I've ruled no every time I've gone to say it. You can go back and look at the blues. I've said I do not agree that you have a “question of privilege” case, and therefore, I do not support it.

I misunderstood the clerk when he said I needed to have a vote on whether they wanted to do a report. It was my mistake. I'm going to correct it now. I do not support this question of privilege, so there's no debate. The debate is over now. We've had debate, we've heard your point and I don't support it.

[Garnett Genuis, Conservative, Sherwood Park—Fort Saskatchewan, AB]

On a point of order, Madam Chair. I'm not talking about the question of privilege here. I'm talking about a fundamental point of committee process. It is not for the chair to rule on whether or not the point of privilege is a valid point, but merely to rule on the basis of whether there is a prima facie case. You at no point said there wasn't a prima facie case.

Now, whether or not you misunderstood the advice, and certainly it's nothing personal, but you opened a process at the committee—

[James Maloney, Liberal, Etobicoke—Lakeshore, ON]

Madam Chair, we're—

[Garnett Genuis, Conservative, Sherwood Park—Fort Saskatchewan, AB]

You don't have the floor, Mr. Maloney.

Whether or not there—

[James Maloney, Liberal, Etobicoke—Lakeshore, ON]

I know, but I'm trying to clarify.

[Garnett Genuis, Conservative, Sherwood Park—Fort Saskatchewan, AB]

I'll welcome your assistance at a future point. I'm raising a point of order.

[The Chair, Liberal, Deb Schulte]

Hold on, Garnett.

There's a point of order.

[Garnett Genuis, Conservative, Sherwood Park—Fort Saskatchewan, AB]

I'm making my point of order and you're allowing him to interrupt my point of order with another point of order.

[The Chair, Liberal, Deb Schulte]

But I don't support your point of order. I'm not supporting that prima facie point of order. I'm not.

[Garnett Genuis, Conservative, Sherwood Park—Fort Saskatchewan, AB]

Okay.

[The Chair, Liberal, Deb Schulte]

It's done. We're finished.

[Garnett Genuis, Conservative, Sherwood Park—Fort Saskatchewan, AB]

It's not a prima facie point of order. It's a question of a prima facie issue of privilege.

[The Chair, Liberal, Deb Schulte]

I don't support your prima facie point of privilege.

[Garnett Genuis, Conservative, Sherwood Park—Fort Saskatchewan, AB]

This is democracy. The rules of democracy are important and the rules of democracy are not being followed at this committee. There either was a prima facie case of privilege or there wasn't.

[James Maloney, Liberal, Etobicoke—Lakeshore, ON]

Madam Chair, we are going way further afield of the original point here, and I think we need to get back to the point at hand.

[Garnett Genuis, Conservative, Sherwood Park—Fort Saskatchewan, AB]

Mr. Maloney, where you think we should be is not the point.