Evidence of meeting #122 for Access to Information, Privacy and Ethics in the 44th Parliament, 1st Session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was randy.
A recording is available from Parliament.
Conservative
Michael Barrett Conservative Leeds—Grenville—Thousand Islands and Rideau Lakes, ON
I have a point of order, Chair.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative John Brassard
Hold on, Mr. Green. I've stopped the clock.
I have a point of order from Mr. Barrett.
Conservative
Michael Barrett Conservative Leeds—Grenville—Thousand Islands and Rideau Lakes, ON
Does the procedure committee not require that a witness answer a question?
Not knowing the answer to a question or providing an answer that isn't satisfactory to the member asking are not open to debate; however, refusing to answer a question of a parliamentarian at committee is and has been found to be a contempt of the right of the parliamentarian who has put the question.
Therefore, Chair, on a refusal to answer a question, it is a fact that this is not permissible. I put to you, Chair, that the minister is refusing to answer a member's question—
Liberal
Conservative
Michael Barrett Conservative Leeds—Grenville—Thousand Islands and Rideau Lakes, ON
—and that's not acceptable.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative John Brassard
Yes, Mr. Barrett, we dealt with this with Mr. Wernick. When he was here, I clearly stated that the expectation of the committee is that the witnesses will provide answers to the questions.
I'm going to leave it to Mr. Green, in the very short period that he has left, to conclude this round, and then we're going to go to other rounds here.
Liberal
Conservative
The Chair Conservative John Brassard
The expectation is that the minister will answer, and then it'll be up to the committee to decide. If they're not satisfied with those answers, then they can take action, Mr. Barrett.
Liberal
Conservative
The Chair Conservative John Brassard
I'm sorry, Mr. Green. We have another point of order.
Go ahead, Mr. McKinnon.
Liberal
Ron McKinnon Liberal Coquitlam—Port Coquitlam, BC
Mr. Chair, I would like to comment that the minister has not refused to answer any questions. He's given answers—
Liberal
Ron McKinnon Liberal Coquitlam—Port Coquitlam, BC
I'm responding to the point of order. The allegation is false. He's given answers. They just don't like the answers.
Conservative
NDP
Matthew Green NDP Hamilton Centre, ON
Given that I'm part of the topic of the point of order, I reserve the right to also submit to you, sir, that he has refused to provide answers to this committee. He's done it on multiple occasions in two minutes and 23 seconds. I would like to say that this is what I would consider to be a breach of the powers of this committee.
I would suggest to you that nobody, whether a parliamentary secretary or a cabinet minister, is above the procedures of a standing committee. That is why he's here before us, Mr. Chair.
I would ask, through you, on this point of order that the member provide in writing—and he can refer to the Hansard for the subject of the questions that I've asked him—a response, sir, and failing to do so puts him in breach, in my opinion, of the Standing Orders and powers of this committee.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative John Brassard
Thank you, Mr. Green.
On that, I am going to ask the clerk on your behalf, sir, to review the Hansard and to submit the questions that have been asked of Mr. Boissonnault and have him respond to the committee.
Madam Clerk, just make a note of the time on that.
Conservative
NDP
Matthew Green NDP Hamilton Centre, ON
With my 15 seconds left I will say that, in the opening remarks, the minister suggested that this is somehow a Conservative witch hunt. I share with you that, as a New Democrat and someone responsible for—
Liberal
