Information & Ethics Committee on May 28th, 2024

[The Chair, Conservative, John Brassard]

Hold on a second. My ruling is that I am going to come back to the committee, which I think is the prudent and pragmatic thing to do.

[Iqra Khalid, Liberal, Mississauga—Erin Mills, ON]

[Inaudible—Editor]

[The Chair, Conservative, John Brassard]

You're challenging my ruling on coming back to the committee so that I can look at this in a fair manner and make a proper decision. Is that what you're challenging me on, Ms. Khalid, seriously?

[Iqra Khalid, Liberal, Mississauga—Erin Mills, ON]

Chair, I am challenging the integrity and the decisions that have been made, how much abuse members of this committee have taken based on the actions of—

[The Chair, Conservative, John Brassard]

Well, that's subject to your opinion.

[Iqra Khalid, Liberal, Mississauga—Erin Mills, ON]

It is not subject to opinion, Chair—that's the whole point of it. That is what the green book, that is what our Standing Orders—

[The Chair, Conservative, John Brassard]

However, it's not your question of privilege, Ms. Khalid—

[Iqra Khalid, Liberal, Mississauga—Erin Mills, ON]

—are telling you, Chair, to do.

[The Chair, Conservative, John Brassard]

I'm not determining whether you have—

[Iqra Khalid, Liberal, Mississauga—Erin Mills, ON]

Chair, you are under obligation to make sure that our committee functions in an effective way—

[The Chair, Conservative, John Brassard]

I'm not going to argue with you on this.

There is no decision to challenge, because the decision that I'm dealing with is on the question of privilege. I have told the committee that I'm taking this matter seriously and that I'm going to come back to the committee with a determination after I look at all the evidence, including some of the accusations that have been made. I think it's fair and prudent on my part to do that.

I don't think you have anything to challenge, Ms. Khalid, to be frank.

I'm going to come back to the committee. That's my decision.

[Darren Fisher, Liberal, Dartmouth—Cole Harbour, NS]

Can I make one more point of order, Mr. Chair?

[The Chair, Conservative, John Brassard]

Go ahead.

[Darren Fisher, Liberal, Dartmouth—Cole Harbour, NS]

You're going to go away and come back to determine whether you feel this touches on privilege.

[The Chair, Conservative, John Brassard]

My responsibility is to determine whether, in fact, I think Mr. Bains has a valid point and his privileges were in fact violated, and then I make a recommendation to the committee. Then it's up to the committee to determine whether, in fact, they're going to move forward with this and bring this to the House, in front of the Speaker, for the ultimate determination. That's how the process works.

I'm prepared to do that—not today, but at the earliest opportunity, which will give me some time to consult with the law clerks to determine whether, in fact, this touches on parliamentary privilege.

I see Mr. Bains on a point of order.

[Parm Bains, Liberal, Steveston—Richmond East, BC]

Just on this, can you then set a timeline to make a determination?

[The Chair, Conservative, John Brassard]

It's at the earliest opportunity. I'm not sure the Speaker even sets a timeline when he deals with questions of privilege.

Let me do my work. Let me consult with the law clerks, and then I'll come back and make a decision. That could be by Thursday, at the earliest. I'm taking this matter seriously, and I'm going to deal with it with the seriousness in which it's raised.

Is that okay? Thank you.

Now that we've dealt with that, I'm just going to remind committee members that we are back on committee business.

Ms. Khalid, you have another point of order.

[Iqra Khalid, Liberal, Mississauga—Erin Mills, ON]

Thank you. My point of order refers specifically to chapter 13 of House of Commons Procedure and Practice, third edition, on Standing Order 18, and on Standing Order 116(1). It is in relation to actions that Mr. Brock, on this committee, took against me last week in putting out a public statement that put me in jeopardy and created a lot of negative angst towards me. I believe that it violates the Standing Orders that have been laid out with respect to how parliamentarians are supposed to conduct themselves in the House and at committee.

This is not the first time this has been done, but I would hope this is the last time it is done.

I'm more than happy, Chair, to start reading to you what's—

[The Chair, Conservative, John Brassard]

Ms. Khalid, I'm going to stop you there, because I'm not sure whether it.... Was it related to committee business?

[Iqra Khalid, Liberal, Mississauga—Erin Mills, ON]

Indeed, it was, Mr. Chair. It was very much related to committee business, where Mr. Brock filibustered the motion—

[The Chair, Conservative, John Brassard]

Was it in the meeting itself? That's where I have to be clear.

[Iqra Khalid, Liberal, Mississauga—Erin Mills, ON]

Yes, it was.

[The Chair, Conservative, John Brassard]

Go ahead on a point of order, Mr. Kurek.

[Damien Kurek, Conservative, Battle River—Crowfoot, AB]

I believe that it's not a point of order that was raised.

Mr. Chair, I would encourage you to follow the speaking list, because that certainly sounds like a substantive item of debate.

If Ms. Khalid wants to move a motion accordingly, she is welcome to.

[The Chair, Conservative, John Brassard]

Ms. Khalid did bring up a point of order.

Go ahead on your point of order, Ms. Khalid.