Evidence of meeting #63 for Finance in the 41st Parliament, 1st Session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was changes.

A recording is available from Parliament.

On the agenda

MPs speaking

Also speaking

Claude Poirier  President, Professional Serving Canadians Coalition, Canadian Association of Professional Employees
Tyler Sommers  Coordinator, Democracy Watch
Terrance Oakey  President, Merit Canada
Bob Linton  Director, Government and Political Affairs, United Food and Commerical Workers Union

12:30 p.m.

NDP

Peggy Nash NDP Parkdale—High Park, ON

If I misunderstood, I apologize. I'm sorry, but that's what I heard.

12:30 p.m.

Conservative

The Chair Conservative James Rajotte

If someone wants to make a point in response to a point of order, they'll be recognized by the chair. I would ask that you speak through the chair and not to each other.

Is there anyone else who'd like to address the point of order?

Mr. Brison.

12:30 p.m.

Liberal

Scott Brison Liberal Kings—Hants, NS

I think it's a question of pertinence and whether or not Mr. Adler's questions have anything to do with the matter at hand and Bill C-38. I'm having trouble finding the relevance with his line of questioning.

12:30 p.m.

Conservative

The Chair Conservative James Rajotte

Ms. Glover, on the same point of order.

May 29th, 2012 / 12:30 p.m.

Conservative

Shelly Glover Conservative Saint Boniface, MB

Thank you, Mr. Chair.

I believe in this very session, Ms. Nash—and I was taken aback, Chair, by the questioning—asked the very same question of Mr. Oakey, specifically whether the funding of his organization was available and transparent for everyone to see. At that point I said nothing because I've become accustomed to that kind of unfortunate partisanship. In any event, the exact same question was posed by Ms. Nash who has now brought a point of order against a member on this side. I would say it's probably out of order, given that the first time there was no issue taken with it.

12:35 p.m.

Conservative

The Chair Conservative James Rajotte

Okay, I'm ready to rule, but I have Mr. Marston on this point just briefly.

12:35 p.m.

NDP

Wayne Marston NDP Hamilton East—Stoney Creek, ON

The difference to me was when he was asked what the witness earned. That's what I understood.

12:35 p.m.

Conservative

Mark Adler Conservative York Centre, ON

That's not the question.

12:35 p.m.

NDP

Wayne Marston NDP Hamilton East—Stoney Creek, ON

That's what I understood.

12:35 p.m.

Conservative

The Chair Conservative James Rajotte

Order, order. If members want to make that point, they can make it through the chair.

Mr. Marston.

12:35 p.m.

NDP

Wayne Marston NDP Hamilton East—Stoney Creek, ON

I'll reference it in this fashion. I may be mistaken, but that's what I believe I heard; and if that was the case, I think that's an inappropriate question. That's why it's a point of order.

12:35 p.m.

Conservative

The Chair Conservative James Rajotte

On this point of order, Mr. Adler, please.

12:35 p.m.

Conservative

Mark Adler Conservative York Centre, ON

That was not the question. I would encourage you to go back and read the transcript.

12:35 p.m.

Conservative

The Chair Conservative James Rajotte

Mr. Brison—and then I'll rule on this.

12:35 p.m.

Liberal

Scott Brison Liberal Kings—Hants, NS

Just to try to create some peace and compromise here, may I suggest that both Ms. Nash's line of questioning with Mr. Oakey and Mr. Adler's line of questioning with Mr. Linton were irrelevant to Bill C-38. Perhaps we can move on to focus on Bill C-38. I consider both of their lines of questioning in terms of the individuals as probably irrelevant.

Of course, as a Liberal, I'm trying to make peace—

12:35 p.m.

Some hon. members

Oh, oh!

12:35 p.m.

Liberal

Scott Brison Liberal Kings—Hants, NS

—between the left and the right, between the Tea Partiers and the Occupiers and the.... There will be “peace in our time”.

12:35 p.m.

Conservative

The Chair Conservative James Rajotte

Okay. I'll rule on this one. As members know, both in the House and the committee they have wide latitude in terms of relevance. That's the way that Speakers have always applied that rule.

I did allow Ms. Nash's questions, even though I felt they were slightly beyond the scope of what we're discussing today or the bill. That's also why I allowed Mr. Adler's question. I heard his question in terms of what the organization made, and Mr. Adler did confirm that. That's why I allowed the question. So I'm not ruling that a point of order.

Mr. Hoback, you have a point of order on a different matter?

12:35 p.m.

Conservative

Randy Hoback Conservative Prince Albert, SK

Yes, on a different matter, Chair, I'm looking at the time right now. I'm curious as to whether you have an idea of the length of this meeting and how long we're going to go. The last news I had was that it as supposed to end at 12:30.

12:35 p.m.

Conservative

The Chair Conservative James Rajotte

You're absolutely correct, Mr. Hoback. We were supposed to end at 12:30.

I do have five members who want to ask questions. Members and witnesses may have other duties. Those members who do wish to stay could stay, but there will be no motions entertained whatsoever by the chair, so that members will be free to go to another meeting. Or, if it's not the will of the committee, then obviously we'd have to end now.

On this point of order, Ms. Glover.

12:35 p.m.

Conservative

Shelly Glover Conservative Saint Boniface, MB

I appreciate your recommendation, Chair. I'd be happy to stay until at least 1 o'clock and then of course QP prep will occur.

12:35 p.m.

Conservative

The Chair Conservative James Rajotte

That's given that there will be no motions by any member of the committee.

12:35 p.m.

Conservative

Shelly Glover Conservative Saint Boniface, MB

Exactly.

12:35 p.m.

Conservative

The Chair Conservative James Rajotte

Is there agreement on that?

12:35 p.m.

Some hon. members

Agreed.