Information & Ethics Committee on June 12th, 2008

[Dean Del Mastro, Conservative, Peterborough, ON]

I have point of order first, Mr. Chair, please. I've been trying to get in on this point, because it's important—

[The Chair, Liberal, Paul Szabo]

Excuse me.

Order, please, committee.

I just want to be sure that people will be able to hear you.

Mr. Tilson, on a point of order.

[Dean Del Mastro, Conservative, Peterborough, ON]

It's Mr. Del Mastro. Thank you. I should be so honoured to be confused with Mr. Tilson. He's a member of high standing.

My point of order, Mr. Chair, is on the requirement that amendments and subamendments be made in both official languages. When an amendment is brought forward in the course of committee business, during routine proceedings, it can be brought forward in either language. There is no requirement that amendments be made in writing in both official languages. The requirement for both official languages is for witnesses who are providing documents or for notice of motion being received in order to meet the timeline for committees. Amendments brought forward during the course of routine proceedings are not required to be in both official languages.

[The Chair, Liberal, Paul Szabo]

Thank you.

Mr. Del Mastro, you are correct. It's not totally out of order, but in the interest of having all honourable members be able to follow what's going on, it's simply a courtesy to provide everyone the information in the language of their choice, and we're trying to accommodate them.

[Dean Del Mastro, Conservative, Peterborough, ON]

With that understanding, I am happy to allow time for a written translation to be done, but I just want to make it clear that it's not a requirement for somebody who wants to move an amendment or a subamendment to present it in writing in both languages.

[The Chair, Liberal, Paul Szabo]

Thank you.

[Gary Goodyear, Cambridge, CPC]

A point of clarification.

[The Chair, Liberal, Paul Szabo]

Is there such a thing? No, I don't think so. That's sort of like “I want to ask you a question”.

On a point of order, Mr. Goodyear.

[Gary Goodyear, Conservative, Cambridge, ON]

Mr. Chair, respectfully, there are points of clarification taken on procedural matters, on what's before us if we misunderstand. You could write down “point of clarification”, and you could obviously take time to look that up.

On the note of courtesy, I'm going to respectfully request that if we're going to bend the rules or break the rules or go away from the standing order procedures for courtesy, that the same courtesy be extended to the members when they're making amendments that are perfectly within order, within the rules, and that you extend some courtesy so we can move this committee along.

Thank you.

[The Chair, Liberal, Paul Szabo]

Thank you.

Mr. Tilson.

Madame Lavallée, are you okay?

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

Mr. Chair, I would like to make a comment.

[The Chair, Liberal, Paul Szabo]

Okay.

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

I would like to point out that the Standing orders of the House of Commons stipulate that the documents that are distributed in the committees must be in both official languages. It's not a question of curtsy, politeness or generosity on your part when you do so, it's simply in compliance with the Standing Orders. Your Canadian government decided to be bilingual and to respect both official languages. This is not a delaying tactic. In any case, we know full well that the experts in delaying tactics are on the other side of the table.

This requirement applies to everyone. The documents that I give the committee are in both official languages and I do not do so out of generosity. When you hand out documents, it is only natural that they be in both official languages. It's the least you can do.

[The Chair, Liberal, Paul Szabo]

Madame Lavallée, I understand the point. This is kind of in the middle of the road, because actually the document wasn't circulated. It was just given to the clerk.

In any event, I think everyone understands that we're just going to try to be as helpful to all honourable members as we can, within the rules.

I'm now going to turn the floor back to Mr. Tilson to speak to his motion.

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

I just want to be clear, Mr. Chairman. In the future, are you insisting that subamendments be in both official languages and in writing?

[The Chair, Liberal, Paul Szabo]

No. I asked just as a courtesy. It would be helpful, but we would take the time to make sure that it got properly translated and was eventually circulated to the members.

Carry on.

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

Frankly, sir, I don't--

[The Chair, Liberal, Paul Szabo]

I said no. I said no to your question.

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

--have the resources to do that as a member of this committee.

[The Chair, Liberal, Paul Szabo]

Yes, well we do. And we'll get them translated as soon as we can.

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

You do, except it's my subamendment. It's not the amendment of the table.

[The Chair, Liberal, Paul Szabo]

Before it's circulated, we would translate it, sir.

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

So you're going to delay the meeting so that the matter will be translated into the other language?

[The Chair, Liberal, Paul Szabo]

No.

Everybody will get any amendment in both official languages eventually, but we proceed with business because we have the translation. As Mr. Del Mastro laid out there, it is translated when you read it into the record.

Thank you for the clarification. I appreciate it very much.

If you wish, sir....

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

I haven't made the amendment yet. I'd like to do that now.