Evidence of meeting #20 for Access to Information, Privacy and Ethics in the 39th Parliament, 2nd Session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was chair.
A recording is available from Parliament.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Paul Szabo
The ruling is that I'm not going to render my decision on admissibility until we hear from the Speaker.
NDP
Pat Martin NDP Winnipeg Centre, MB
Mr. Chair, I've been trying to get on the same point of order. You did not put this question to the Speaker. You put the question of the Liberal fundraising issue to the Speaker.
You should be conducting yourself as though it's business as usual on this motion and rule according to the guidance of your clerk, and then if the committee wishes to challenge you, they will. But there is no barrier here for you to do your job as the chair of this committee just because you put a completely separate question to the Speaker. This is really incomprehensible.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Paul Szabo
I understand your point, and I can tell you that we've known about these three motions on the Cadman matter for some time--
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Paul Szabo
--and it's the same principle. In the case of both items, the clerk has advised that there are elements that are beyond the specific mandate.
NDP
Pat Martin NDP Winnipeg Centre, MB
Then you should rule with the best information you have available to you now, which is the advice from your clerk.
Liberal
Charles Hubbard Liberal Miramichi, NB
A point of order. Mr. Chair, I would challenge the chair's right to make that motion to not receive that motion. I'm challenging your right to turn it down.
Conservative
Russ Hiebert Conservative South Surrey—White Rock—Cloverdale, BC
Mr. Chair, we have an order for speakers.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Paul Szabo
Hang on. I have advised the committee that I wanted to consider the guidance from the Speaker that relates to the general issue of dealing with matters at a committee that may be--
Liberal
Charles Hubbard Liberal Miramichi, NB
Mr. Chair, as a member, I do not agree with your ruling. I would ask you to put that in a meeting.
Liberal
Charles Hubbard Liberal Miramichi, NB
As a member, I do not agree with your decision. I listened this morning to Mr. Lee. I watched the Speaker, I heard the Speaker, and certainly to wait that long...there's no precedence for this sort of thing. Basically what we're saying is the committee is master of its own destiny, and I challenge your--
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Paul Szabo
I'm sorry, there is a challenge to that decision. It's not debatable and I have to put the question immediately.
Conservative
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Paul Szabo
It's on my decision to defer on the admissibility until the Speaker rules. That's a challenge to a decision of the chair. It is in order and it's not debatable. We have to put the question immediately.
Liberal
Liberal
Sukh Dhaliwal Liberal Newton—North Delta, BC
Mr. Chair, I have to defend myself. Why is it in order?
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Paul Szabo
They're saying the chair will have to decide on the admissibility now.
Mr. Hubbard has challenged the chair. Effectively, he would like to have the motion debated now and not wait for the Speaker.
I'm going to put the question.
All those who are in favour of Mr. Hubbard's challenge, that we in fact deal with that motion now, please raise your hand.
Conservative
