Evidence of meeting #8 for Access to Information, Privacy and Ethics in the 43rd Parliament, 1st Session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was chair.
A video is available from Parliament.
Liberal
Liberal
Conservative
Liberal
Greg Fergus Liberal Hull—Aylmer, QC
You're right. I'm sorry.
I would like to know if it is possible to put this debate on ice for this particular motion until the next meeting.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Rachael Thomas
That was the motion that Mr. Lloyd just moved. Just to be clear, the motion that Mr. Lloyd just moved was one that would have adjourned this debate.
Conservative
Michael Barrett Conservative Leeds—Grenville—Thousand Islands and Rideau Lakes, ON
I thought that would have gone straight to a vote.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Rachael Thomas
No. If you wish to move that, Mr. Fergus, you are welcome to move that.
Liberal
Greg Fergus Liberal Hull—Aylmer, QC
May I have a minute, please?
It takes nothing away, Madam Chair, in terms of when the motion can be considered?
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Rachael Thomas
The motion would have to be moved again by Madam Shanahan, and then we would resume debate on it.
Conservative
Michael Barrett Conservative Leeds—Grenville—Thousand Islands and Rideau Lakes, ON
But it remains on notice, Madam Chair?
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Rachael Thomas
It remains on notice. It's tabled in this committee, so it can be considered at any time Ms. Shanahan decides to move it.
Conservative
Michael Barrett Conservative Leeds—Grenville—Thousand Islands and Rideau Lakes, ON
Madam Chair, that's not just during meetings at committee business now that it's—
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Rachael Thomas
That is correct. Since notice has been given, Madam Shanahan can bring this motion forward at any point in time when this committee is meeting.
Liberal
Liberal
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Rachael Thomas
Yes.
I'm going to suspend the meeting for two minutes and then I will come back.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Rachael Thomas
Before giving the floor [Technical difficulty—Editor] who held the floor just before we suspended, Mr. Fortin, I will return to you. My apologies; I misunderstood. You did raise a point of order and you were asking for a ruling, so I will deliver that.
Your point of order was with regard to the motion that had been put forward by Madame Shanahan, and I believe the point you raised was that you felt this was similar and had already been covered within the motion that was passed yesterday in our discussions having to do with the meetings being in camera when the documents are being discussed. That was an amendment made and accepted yesterday.
Therefore, you feel that that amendment and this motion before us today are essentially the same. Am I understanding you correctly?
Bloc
Rhéal Fortin Bloc Rivière-du-Nord, QC
They're not the same.
Moreover, it is contradictory. Yesterday, we discussed how to protect the information contained in the documents and we made a decision. We debated for a few hours and came to the conclusion that the documents must be protected. As for how to do that, we all agreed that we would work on the documents, by examining them in camera.
Today, some are saying that this is not enough and that they want more. I am saying that it is too late. Yesterday, we decided how the documents would be protected. We cannot go back to that today. Furthermore, even if we were to pass this motion, we could start all over again next week and say that cameras will be allowed after all. Then there will be another amendment the following week, when we say that only Apple cameras will be allowed, not Samsung. There will be no end to it.
We had to protect the documents and yesterday we decided how we would do it. Now we are moving on. At least, that's the way I see it. That was my point of order.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Rachael Thomas
Mr. Fortin, thank you.
I'm going to suspend for one moment while I confer with the clerk. Thank you.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Rachael Thomas
With regard to the motion that is currently in front of us and how it compares to the amendment that was made to yesterday's motion, which has been accepted by this committee, I would rule that the motion in front of us is acceptable. The reason is this. Yesterday the amendment dealt with the capacity in which we would meet, whether it would be in public or in camera. The motion before us today deals with process, the process that will be upheld while we meet, whether that meeting happens in camera or in public, and so I would deem those to be two separate things.
With that, I will move to the next person on the speakers list, who is Mr. Fergus, as he had the floor before we suspended.
Liberal
Greg Fergus Liberal Hull—Aylmer, QC
I would like to thank the chair for allowing me the opportunity to caucus and to discuss this issue. I beg the forgiveness of my colleagues around the table. I will, as a result, withdraw and I will cede my time.
Conservative
Conservative
Michael Barrett Conservative Leeds—Grenville—Thousand Islands and Rideau Lakes, ON
I'll cede my time.
