Evidence of meeting #114 for Environment and Sustainable Development in the 42nd Parliament, 1st Session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was see.
A recording is available from Parliament.
Linda Duncan NDP Edmonton Strathcona, AB
As Ms. May said when she exited, the rules were recently changed in the House to allow non-party-status members to bring amendments to committee. What happens now with the rule is that if it is possible to bring the amendment to committee, you cannot then bring it at the report stage in the House. Therefore, Ms. May cannot participate in this, and therefore, her privileges are being impacted because she is no longer able to speak to her amendments.
Liberal
NDP
Linda Duncan NDP Edmonton Strathcona, AB
She didn't bring a question of privilege, but she was pretty clear about it.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Deb Schulte
We're not talking about that right now. We're talking about Garnett's question of privilege, and we are taking a vote. Right now I have five who have said there's no breach of privilege, and we're in a vote. Do you want to—
Conservative
Conservative
Ed Fast Conservative Abbotsford, BC
It's Mr. Genuis's point of privilege. He is someone who has come to our committee in good faith to address each of the amendments that have been brought forward by each of the parties at this table. Sadly, the Liberals at this table some time ago brought forward a programming motion that sought to cut off our ability to properly understand the amendments that are being brought forward to what is arguably the most substantive bill this committee will face in this Parliament. I am appalled that we have members around this table who allow this charade, this farce, to continue.
We had Ms. May, who came in good faith to this table, presented many amendments and still has a whole bunch of amendments to go. The programming motion allows her to present those here at this table. Why is she not here at the table presenting those amendments? She's entitled to do that. Now that right has been taken away from her. In fact, the rights of the members of this committee have been basically abrogated by the actions of the Liberal majority. This is the tyranny of the majority that we're seeing take place here, and this is coming from instructions from above, from the Prime Minister's Office, from Mr. Butts, through the minister, through Kyle, giving instructions to anyone out there—
Liberal
William Amos Liberal Pontiac, QC
I have a point of order, Madam Chair. It's not allowed to reference people who are not sitting at the table. Let's move this to a vote, please.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Deb Schulte
I am going to clarify, because I did want to give you some chance to put on the table.... You are talking about another member. You can't raise the point of privilege for another member who has given you a—
Conservative
Ed Fast Conservative Abbotsford, BC
I am not raising a point of privilege. I'm debating the point of privilege.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Deb Schulte
You were talking about Elizabeth, and she's not here. It's not about her. It's a point of privilege that was raised by Mr. Genuis.
Conservative
Ed Fast Conservative Abbotsford, BC
Madam Chair, you don't have the right to say we're done. We are each entitled to have our full say on a point of privilege.
Liberal
Conservative
Ed Fast Conservative Abbotsford, BC
Nothing of what I've said has been repeated. Every single amendment that we brought forward and that my colleagues from the NDP and from the Green Party brought forward was brought forward in good faith with a clear understanding that it was going to be dealt with in good faith by the Liberal members at this committee. Here we are now at 9:30 and we will probably run late into the night.
Why? Because we have a chair and a Liberal majority, the tyranny of the majority at this table, who will not agree to add additional days' worth of consideration of at least the amendments themselves.
Conservative
Ed Fast Conservative Abbotsford, BC
Yes. Let the record show, Canadians are being defrauded through this process.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Deb Schulte
I asked many, many times to add an extra day, to extend the meetings or start them early, and every single time, I was met with a “no”.
Conservative