Evidence of meeting #40 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 point.
A recording is available from Parliament.
11:05 p.m.
Conservative
11:05 p.m.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Paul Szabo
You have another point of order, a new point of order? Are you sure it's a point of order?
11:05 p.m.
An hon. member
Wow, fresh troops.
11:05 p.m.
An hon. member
Shift number two.
11:05 p.m.
An hon. member
We're going all night.
11:05 p.m.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Paul Szabo
Order, please, colleagues.
Those who came into the room, please, we're in the middle of a point of order.
Thank you.
Mr. Poilievre, please.
11:05 p.m.
Conservative
Pierre Poilievre Conservative Nepean—Carleton, ON
Sir, is there order here or what?
Chair, I was going to make a suggestion to bring this to a resolution.
11:05 p.m.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Paul Szabo
Order. I'm sorry, that's not a point of order, making a suggestion.
Mr. Hiebert, you have the floor.
11:05 p.m.
Conservative
11:10 p.m.
Conservative
Russ Hiebert Conservative South Surrey—White Rock—Cloverdale, BC
If I understand you correctly, Mr. Chair, you've ruled the first two motions out of order. I'm going to try again with a different one, so that's why I'm seeking your clarity. I'm seeking another subamendment to the amendment, but I want to make sure that I don't make the same mistake again.
So just to clarify, subamendments can only affect the amendment. They cannot affect the original motion. Is that correct?
11:10 p.m.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Paul Szabo
On the floor right now is the amendment, and we are debating the amendment. When you want to change the amendment, it is called a subamendment. So you are working with the Van Kesteren item only.
11:10 p.m.
Conservative
Russ Hiebert Conservative South Surrey—White Rock—Cloverdale, BC
Okay. So any subamendment that I move cannot affect the original motion. Is that correct? It can only affect the amendment.
11:10 p.m.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Paul Szabo
That's if the amendment passes. That's why you may have to make another motion later. But you're dealing solely with the amendment.
11:10 p.m.
Conservative
Russ Hiebert Conservative South Surrey—White Rock—Cloverdale, BC
All right. So just to clarify, my next subamendment focuses only on the Van Kesteren amendment. It does not address the original Hubbard motion.
It reads:
...and to determine why Elections Canada has applied a double standard in sanctioning Conservative MPs and not any of the myriad of other MPs from the parties who have undertaken the same actions involving their past campaign expenses.
I think, Mr. Chair, if you'd look closely at this subamendment, it applies directly to the Van Kesteren amendment and not to Mr. Hubbard's main motion. If that's the standard for acceptability, I would hope that you would find it in order.
11:10 p.m.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Paul Szabo
Could I have it so that we can compare it to what we have, please? I want to be sure we have it correct.
11:10 p.m.
Conservative
11:10 p.m.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Paul Szabo
No, I want to see what you read, because every word is important, as you know.
11:10 p.m.
Conservative
Russ Hiebert Conservative South Surrey—White Rock—Cloverdale, BC
Fair enough. Just give me a moment.
11:10 p.m.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Paul Szabo
Members, if you have any motions or amendments, they should be in writing, with a copy available so that the clerk can make copies. It's good practice.
The principle is that an amendment to a motion, or a subamendment to an amendment, should be trying to define more clearly or place more precision to what is there, as opposed to adding more to it. When you add more to it, a new element, it goes....
I'm sorry, Mr. Poilievre, did you ask what the hell I am talking about?
11:15 p.m.
Conservative
Pierre Poilievre Conservative Nepean—Carleton, ON
What are you talking about? I'm sorry, Mr. Chair, are you saying we can't amend a motion now?