Evidence of meeting #38 for Environment and Sustainable Development in the 43rd Parliament, 2nd Session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was amendment.
A video is available from Parliament.
Conservative
Dan Albas Conservative Central Okanagan—Similkameen—Nicola, BC
Yes, Mr. Chair, but you recognized me, and there may have been some interpretation lag. To preserve all rights of members here, if someone puts their hand up.... I did raise my voice earlier, flagging to you that I wished to speak to it.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Francis Scarpaleggia
Just hold on a second, please, Mr. Albas.
I don't think I called the vote, to be honest with you, or if I did I wasn't clear enough.
Are you debating clause 18?
Conservative
Dan Albas Conservative Central Okanagan—Similkameen—Nicola, BC
Mr. Chair, as I said earlier, I believe members deserve to be able to have an up or down. I realize that you have ruled on consequentialness, so I'm certainly not going to be putting forward a challenge at this point because you are correct. When we said no to earlier Bloc amendments, that basically made these consequential amendments not possible or else we would end up with a mishmash of a bill.
That being said, I just want to add my voice to Madam Michaud's, and she, by the way, has shown a fair bit of decorum here. It's not always, I would imagine, a fun process when you're told on the floor that something you have worked very hard for won't be allowed to be debated and perhaps that's something we need to look at.
I also have to point out, Mr. Chair, that perhaps before you call the vote for future ones, you might want to ask to see if there are any other speakers first. I'm not telling you what to do. I'm just simply suggesting that with the translation and the fact that we're virtual and it can't always be relied on, it's helpful to make sure that all members who want to be able to have their say can say it.
Now let's get back to the actual issue of clause 18.
18(1) The Minister must cause each emissions reduction plan to be tabled in each House of Parliament on any of the first 15 days on which that House is sitting after the day on which the plan is established.
Again, Mr. Chair, I will just simply say that Conservatives are opposed to this bill. We will be voting against this, but I really hope that other members do not just simply call a point of order and try to squeeze other members out, because I don't believe, in this case, Mr. Chair, there was a clear indication that you could move forward.
Maybe, again, Mr. Chair, by asking to see if any other speakers would want to go forward, then when we hit that point.... I promise you, Mr. Chair, we will end up with a better outcome rather than having points of order and then long stalls as you try to seek in the transcripts as to whether or not you called it.
It's a very difficult position, being a virtual chair, so I applaud you in your efforts to try to make sure that it's a fair process for everyone. I can understand how some MPs may be a bit frustrated, but again, we all have to adhere to the translation services and have the official languages requirements met.
Thank you.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Francis Scarpaleggia
Mr. Redekopp, can you take your hand down?
Mr. Albas, if members know they want to speak to something, it's even easier than when it's not virtual. You just have to press the little yellow—
Conservative
Dan Albas Conservative Central Okanagan—Similkameen—Nicola, BC
Mr. Chair, I had my hand up, and I even called out earlier.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Francis Scarpaleggia
I understand. I'm not talking about that. I'm talking in general. I will leave it to members to take the initiative to put their hands up if they want to speak to something. There's plenty of time, and I let enough time go by. Then when I don't see a hand, I call the vote.
Anyway, Mr. Redekopp—
Conservative
Dan Albas Conservative Central Okanagan—Similkameen—Nicola, BC
Again, Mr. Chair, there was no translation. The translation—
Conservative
Liberal
Chris Bittle Liberal St. Catharines, ON
I have a point of order, Mr. Chair.
Mr. Albas does not have the floor and is just interrupting.
Conservative
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Francis Scarpaleggia
Yes, but even without the translation, you know pretty much, generally, if you want to say something.
So—
Conservative
Dan Albas Conservative Central Okanagan—Similkameen—Nicola, BC
Mr. Chair, I have to protest. I'm not challenging you in any way, but there has to be a process that we all agree to. I'm fine with—
Liberal
Chris Bittle Liberal St. Catharines, ON
Again, I have a point of order.
Mr. Chair, Mr. Albas just keeps interrupting. He's a stickler for the rules, but he doesn't—
Conservative
Brad Redekopp Conservative Saskatoon West, SK
Thank you, Mr. Chair.
Just to help you maybe a little bit with this point.... I'm a full believer and a strong believer that we need our two official languages. In fact, I'm learning French as we speak, although I haven't quite graduated to the point where I can listen to French. I have to listen to the English channel.
Maybe just for your reference—because you are far more advanced in French than I am—I will mention that there is always a pause. Sometimes I know you get a little excited and want to carry on with it, but sometimes it's not obvious that the speaker has quit speaking, so if somebody wants to put up their hand, they have to wait for the last of the translation and go, “Oh, that person's done. I'd better put my hand up.”
I appreciate your comment to get our hands up sooner. I appreciate that, and I will try to do that, but also bear in mind that there is a second there.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Francis Scarpaleggia
Bear in mind also that if there is pause and if there's a problem with translation, you won't hear me call the vote, so we're back to the same problem.
I do give enough time, and I will give enough time.
Liberal