Evidence of meeting #45 for Access to Information, Privacy and Ethics in the 39th Parliament, 1st Session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was problem.
A recording is available from Parliament.
Conservative
Liberal
Sukh Dhaliwal Liberal Newton—North Delta, BC
That's what it is. That's what I'm saying right now—a point of order, yes.
Liberal
Sukh Dhaliwal Liberal Newton—North Delta, BC
Look at it this way: when you compare, members of Parliament have had less access to this report than the media.
I think we should debate this and see how we can work together, on both sides of the floor, to make this workable. We have worked on this for many days, so we should at least get out of here with some consensus.
Conservative
The Vice-Chair Conservative David Tilson
We're not in debate on the point of order. I think members are entitled to speak on the point of order if they have a point of order.
Monsieur Vincent.
Bloc
Robert Vincent Bloc Shefford, QC
First of all, if Mr. Wallace thinks that we are not on the right track, we still have the clerk. Then, if we think that the motion is admissible, we need only move on to the vote.
Conservative
The Vice-Chair Conservative David Tilson
No, Mr. Vincent, the clerk is here to advise the committee. Just to be clear, he doesn't make decisions.
Proceed.
Bloc
Robert Vincent Bloc Shefford, QC
Pardon me, I didn't mean that the clerk had to make such a decision, but he can tell you what the procedure is. I don't want him to make any decisions.
Conservative
The Vice-Chair Conservative David Tilson
No, he doesn't talk, sir. He advises the chair and the members of the committee. He doesn't make presentations.
Bloc
Robert Vincent Bloc Shefford, QC
Mr. Chairman, are you trying to play the fool with me? You understand very well what I mean. I simply mean to tell you that he is able to advise you. I don't want him to talk; that's clear and I understand. I want him to advise you, if Mr. Wallace does not agree, on the admissibility of the motion. Let us put the question to a vote. If we think Ms. Lavallée's motion is admissible, let us put it to a vote, and, if it is agreed to, then we will discuss it.
Mr. Wallace is interpreting the motion by the book, but he's making no reference to this. He's asking the clerk to tell you whether Ms. Lavallée's motion is admissible based on her remarks. Once Mr. Wallace and the clerk have given you their interpretation, we can vote. We're not going to conduct a debate on the debate. We will wind up voting on these two things, and once that's done, we can debate the merits of the question.
Bloc
Conservative
Bloc
Carole Lavallée Bloc Saint-Bruno—Saint-Hubert, QC
I don't want to argue the admissibility of my motion. I'm very surprised at the remarks of my colleague Mr. Wallace. I'm sure my motion is perfectly admissible because it doesn't contain any argument. It's simply a description of the events that have occurred.
Mr. Chairman, before the meeting, I spoke to my colleague Mr. Wallace, and we agreed—I don't know whether he still agrees—that he would introduce another motion. So I would be prepared to withdraw my motion so that he can introduce his, and we'll vote. Then let's see what happens. I agree to withdraw my motion, not because it isn't admissible, but because there is another one that would achieve more of a consensus and that would ultimately have the same purpose, that is to say to receive witnesses and to ask them what happened with regard to the administration of the Access to Information Act and this internal report. If his motion, even worded differently, has the same objective, I'll be in favour of it.
Conservative
The Vice-Chair Conservative David Tilson
You know, the chair is here to make rulings. You can't make a conditional withdrawal. You either withdraw it or you don't.
Do I understand, Madame Lavallée, that you are withdrawing your motion?
Bloc
Carole Lavallée Bloc Saint-Bruno—Saint-Hubert, QC
I'm going to withdraw it; there's no problem. My idea wasn't to make it conditional, but to explain the situation and the reason why I was withdrawing it.
Conservative
The Vice-Chair Conservative David Tilson
Thank you very much. You are formally withdrawing your motion,oui?
You know, we either have to get on with this or—We're going to recess for a couple of minutes.
Conservative
The Vice-Chair Conservative David Tilson
We're going to reconvene the meeting.
Madam Lavallée, am I to understand you're withdrawing your motion?
Conservative
Conservative
Mike Wallace Conservative Burlington, ON
Thank you, Mr. Chair.
I will read a motion that I have. It's not translated. I wrote it last night. I'm just giving the committee notice. I'll read it, but I'll bring it officially to the next meeting, if that's fair:
That the Standing Committee on Access to Information, Privacy and Ethics address the internal report by the Department of Foreign Affairs entitled Afghanistan 2006: Good Governance, Democratic Development and Human Rights. This review is to occur after the Information Commissioner completes his rulings on any and all ATI requests his commission has received regarding this document.
Bloc
Conservative
Mike Wallace Conservative Burlington, ON
Sure. It is: “This review is to occur after the Information Commissioner completes his rulings on any and all ATI requests”—access to information requests—“his commission has received regarding this document.”
If I can speak to my motion—
Conservative
Conservative
Mike Wallace Conservative Burlington, ON
I'm just giving notice that it will be in writing in English and in French, hopefully for the next meeting. I know I have 24 hours. I am going to try to get it by the next meeting. If not, it will be on Tuesday for Thursday.