Information & Ethics Committee on June 10th, 2008

[David Tilson, Conservative, Dufferin—Caledon, ON]

If this motion carries and we start having hearings, you can bet your bottom dollar you're going to have the Chief Electoral Officer here--at least we should if we're doing our job to properly study it. If you're going to have the Chief Electoral Officer come to this committee...that's why I read to you out of this book, because he's not accountable to this committee.

[The Chair, Liberal, Paul Szabo]

Thank you. No, I understand--

[David Tilson, Conservative, Dufferin—Caledon, ON]

He's accountable to the procedure and House affairs committee--no matter how you look at it. The words “Elections Act” are going to keep popping up through this entire process if it carries, and no matter how you look at it, you know in your heart, sir, that this is in the wrong committee. This should be before--

[The Chair, Liberal, Paul Szabo]

Well, we've already ruled on that, Mr. Tilson. The committee has decided it's in order and it's before us for debate. Okay?

Thank you very much.

Now we're going to move on to Mr.--

[David Tilson, Conservative, Dufferin—Caledon, ON]

I challenge your ruling, Mr. Chair.

[The Chair, Liberal, Paul Szabo]

What? That I've made a ruling already?

[David Tilson, Conservative, Dufferin—Caledon, ON]

I made a point of order and you said I was out of order.

[The Chair, Liberal, Paul Szabo]

Yes. It's not in order because--

[David Tilson, Conservative, Dufferin—Caledon, ON]

Well, I am going to challenge that ruling.

[The Chair, Liberal, Paul Szabo]

--the committee has already taken a decision on that matter.

[David Tilson, Conservative, Dufferin—Caledon, ON]

No. You ruled on the point of order I just made, which was completely different from the other point of order, and I'm challenging your ruling.

[The Chair, Liberal, Paul Szabo]

No, your point of order was that the motion is out of order.

[David Tilson, Conservative, Dufferin—Caledon, ON]

Well, that was a pretty good point of order, I'd say.

[The Chair, Liberal, Paul Szabo]

Except that the committee found it in order.

[David Tilson, Conservative, Dufferin—Caledon, ON]

What? Well, I'm challenging their ruling.

[The Chair, Liberal, Paul Szabo]

Okay, that's fine.

He has challenged the chair's decision that it is not a point of order because we have already determined that this motion is in order, and therefore I will have to put the question.

I assume the members want a recorded division. There's no debate.

If you agree with the chair, you say yea. If you disagree with the chair, you say nay. I'd like the clerk to please call the roll call.

[Russ Hiebert, Conservative, South Surrey—White Rock—Cloverdale, BC]

Mr. Chair, I will make my vote known, but I just simply want to say that what you're hearing from Mr. Tilson--

[Some hon. members]

Oh, oh!

[Russ Hiebert, Conservative, South Surrey—White Rock—Cloverdale, BC]

It's just a sentence--

[The Chair, Liberal, Paul Szabo]

Order, please.

Look, it is unusual, but Mr. Hiebert may go ahead.

[Russ Hiebert, Conservative, South Surrey—White Rock—Cloverdale, BC]

I just want to say that what you're hearing from this side is a frustration that we've had no opportunity to voice our concerns about the motion that you ruled on some time ago, and that's why it keeps popping up. We don't feel we've had a chance to be heard.

I oppose the chair's ruling.

[Dave Van Kesteren, Conservative, Chatham-Kent—Essex, ON]

You put me in an awkward position. I agree with Mr. Tilson's original premise that this should not have come before this committee, and as such I oppose the chair.

[An hon. member]

Wow!

[Dave van Kesteren]

I'm talking about that original motion, not this one.

(Ruling of the chair sustained: yeas 6; nays 5)

[The Chair, Liberal, Paul Szabo]

The chair has been sustained.

Mr. Poilievre, s'il vous plaît.