Evidence of meeting #26 for Access to Information, Privacy and Ethics in the 43rd Parliament, 2nd Session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was know.
A video is available from Parliament.
NDP
Charlie Angus NDP Timmins—James Bay, ON
I was just wondering, because obviously there's a concerted plan here to interrupt and interfere.
These people are not rude. I adore them. Whenever Mr. Fergus speaks.... Mr. Sorbara and I were in Italy together. Mr. Dong and I were going to learn to sing together. I just got to meet Ms. Lattanzio. Ms. Shanahan is a good Irish Canadian. I spent my life growing up with Irish Canadians.
Yet, whenever we go to talk, there's interference and disruptions. We went for I think 40 straight hours of filibustering meetings. I'm wondering who coordinates that, because it doesn't seem natural.
Because you're the House leader, would you have that obligation to make sure, when difficult questions like the WE Charity come up, that they get their instructions to interrupt and to filibuster? Who would handle that?
Liberal
Pablo Rodriguez Liberal Honoré-Mercier, QC
No, Mr. Angus. I have a lot of things on my plate, but that's not one of them.
NDP
Charlie Angus NDP Timmins—James Bay, ON
I was surprised, because at the Canada-China meeting, they're doing the same tactics of interfering, getting angry and interrupting. It doesn't seem like the Liberals I know, so I'm thinking there has to be a plan here.
So that's not the House leader's office that would handle that.
Liberal
Pablo Rodriguez Liberal Honoré-Mercier, QC
No.
Mr. Angus, committees make their own decisions. I'm sure they have reasons. You guys do an amazing job and—
NDP
Charlie Angus NDP Timmins—James Bay, ON
Well, we made our own decision and you guys overruled it. You're filibustering PROC. You're filibustering foreign affairs on the COVAX vaccine. You interrupt your people. Not you personally—you would never do that, I know—but your Liberal colleagues.... I'm thinking, what is it about the Liberals that make them feel that committees are such a threat?
Again, I can't believe that Mr. Fergus and Ms. Shanahan just come here to pick fights. I mean, they have a job to do. It's a hard job.
In the Canada-China committee, there are interruptions and points of order. It's a gong show there, and it's a gong show here.
I'm just wondering, given that this is a political issue that relates to the Prime Minister, the Prime Minister's judgment.... It cost you a finance minister. It has raised a lot of political scandal. Isn't there someone whose job it is to say, “Go in, guys, and make this day really difficult and shut it down”?
Personally, I want to get things done. I want to get beyond this. I'm kind of done with this issue. I want to get this thing filed, but I can't, because I try to reach out to your Liberal colleagues and it's the angry stone wall.
Is there someone there you could talk to and maybe get them to work with us? You're the negotiator, Mr. Rodriguez.
Liberal
Pablo Rodriguez Liberal Honoré-Mercier, QC
Yes, Mr. Angus, and I spend more time talking to Mr. Julian than talking to—
Conservative
Liberal
Pablo Rodriguez Liberal Honoré-Mercier, QC
I have to say, my colleagues are extremely professional and—
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Chris Warkentin
I'm sorry, Minister. We have a point of order interruption here.
Mr. Dong.
Liberal
Han Dong Liberal Don Valley North, ON
With all due respect, I waited until Mr. Angus was finished with his time. I didn't want to interrupt him.
I just want to point out to the committee that we are here today talking about this not because the Liberal members wanted it. It was a motion that we voted against.
NDP
Charlie Angus NDP Timmins—James Bay, ON
Chair, on the point of order, the issue was that Mr. Dong didn't interrupt me, he interrupted the minister.
NDP
Charlie Angus NDP Timmins—James Bay, ON
I thought the minister was given a chance to answer, so if the Liberals are interfering with their own minister, I would—
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Chris Warkentin
Again, that's not a point of order.
Mr. Rodriguez, we'll turn to you.