Evidence of meeting #41 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 going.

A recording is available from Parliament.

On the agenda

MPs speaking

Also speaking

James Latimer  Procedural Clerk

3:30 p.m.

Liberal

The Chair Liberal Paul Szabo

This is meeting 41 of the Standing Committee on Access to Information, Privacy and Ethics. We have a number of orders for the day.

The first order is resuming debate on the motion of Mr. Hubbard and the amendment proposed by Mr. Van Kesteren from the speakers list of the last meeting. Of those members who are here--

3:30 p.m.

Conservative

David Tilson Conservative Dufferin—Caledon, ON

Mr. Chairman, I have a point of order.

3:30 p.m.

Liberal

The Chair Liberal Paul Szabo

Mr. Tilson has the floor.

3:30 p.m.

Conservative

David Tilson Conservative Dufferin—Caledon, ON

I move we adjourn.

3:30 p.m.

Bloc

Carole Lavallée Bloc Saint-Bruno—Saint-Hubert, QC

Can we debate that?

3:30 p.m.

Liberal

The Chair Liberal Paul Szabo

I will call the question of adjournment that Mr. Tilson has moved. It's not debatable. I would ask the clerk to call the vote, please.

(Motion negatived: nays 5; yeas 4)

3:30 p.m.

Liberal

The Chair Liberal Paul Szabo

The motion is defeated, and we'll resume debate.

Mr. Tilson, you have the floor, if you wish. You were the next available person on the list.

3:30 p.m.

Conservative

David Tilson Conservative Dufferin—Caledon, ON

Mr. Chairman, I'd like to make a subamendment.

3:30 p.m.

Liberal

The Chair Liberal Paul Szabo

Do you have anything in writing, sir, for the committee?

3:30 p.m.

Conservative

David Tilson Conservative Dufferin—Caledon, ON

Sure.

3:30 p.m.

Bloc

Carole Lavallée Bloc Saint-Bruno—Saint-Hubert, QC

Mr. Chair, point of order.

3:30 p.m.

Liberal

The Chair Liberal Paul Szabo

Madame Lavallée has a point of order.

3:30 p.m.

Bloc

Carole Lavallée Bloc Saint-Bruno—Saint-Hubert, QC

Are these documents in both official languages?

3:30 p.m.

Liberal

The Chair Liberal Paul Szabo

No, Ms. Lavallé.

3:30 p.m.

Bloc

Carole Lavallée Bloc Saint-Bruno—Saint-Hubert, QC

Well then, he can take his documents back. I didn't say anything last time, but I am not going to wait for the document to be tabled in French. According to the standing orders, the documents must be tabled in both official languages. If they are not tabled in both languages, they are out of order.

3:30 p.m.

Liberal

The Chair Liberal Paul Szabo

Madame, those are our rules--you're absolutely right--but the proposed amendment of Mr. Tilson is very brief, and I believe we could quickly translate the 12 words.

Order, please.

There are just a few words. We have it in both official languages, and I'm going to ask the clerk if he would read the proposed amendment in both official languages.

Is that okay, Mr. Tilson?

3:35 p.m.

Conservative

David Tilson Conservative Dufferin—Caledon, ON

Well—

3:35 p.m.

Liberal

The Chair Liberal Paul Szabo

It's just to get it on the record so we can deal with Mrs. Lavallée's problem

3:35 p.m.

Conservative

David Tilson Conservative Dufferin—Caledon, ON

You know, I find this delaying tactic of Madame Lavallée incredible, Mr. Chair. My subamendment consists of four words, and we have now spent five times translating four words into French. I would read the words very slowly and I'm sure the interpreters could pick them up.

I just find this process in the committee becoming more and more bizarre. It gets worse every day.

3:35 p.m.

James Latimer Procedural Clerk

The words “or in past elections”.

In French, it is proposed that the amendment be amended by adding, after the words matière d'éthique,“ ce qui suit: ou que ces pratiques se sont produites pendant des élections antérieures,”

3:35 p.m.

Liberal

The Chair Liberal Paul Szabo

Okay.

Now, if I may, if there are any other members who have an amendment or a subamendment they possibly will be wanting to move, it would be really helpful if we could get it in both official languages—and we have people here to help out with that.

I'm going to give the floor now to Mr. Tilson.

3:40 p.m.

Liberal

Marcel Proulx Liberal Hull—Aylmer, QC

On a point of order, Mr. Chair, could we ask the clerk to read the original amendment with this subamendment included, because somehow I must have missed something. It doesn't jibe here.

You're saying that in the third line....

3:40 p.m.

Liberal

The Chair Liberal Paul Szabo

After the word “parties”, add the words “and...”

3:40 p.m.

Liberal

Marcel Proulx Liberal Hull—Aylmer, QC

So it would read:

and should the Committee find in their investigations similar ethical practices by other parties or in past elections

3:40 p.m.

Liberal

The Chair Liberal Paul Szabo

That's right. I understand that is his amendment.

Mr. Tilson, you have the floor on your subamendment.