Evidence of meeting #46 for Finance 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.
6:55 p.m.
Liberal
Peter Fragiskatos Liberal London North Centre, ON
Thank you, Mr. Chair.
Are we really going to descend to a level where we're questioning the objectivity of public servants? The clerk was quite clear in his reasoning. For Mr. Poilievre, who is a seasoned parliamentarian, to now go after the clerk and question his judgment is beyond disappointing. It's something I have not seen, even from him, after five years of being an MP myself.
I am extremely puzzled by that. It just should not happen at a committee.
6:55 p.m.
Liberal
6:55 p.m.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Wayne Easter
Will you stop interrupting for a minute, please? Could you do that, Pierre, just for a minute?
6:55 p.m.
NDP
Peter Julian NDP New Westminster—Burnaby, BC
Thank you, Mr. Chair.
I've just confirmed with the NDP whip's office; there is no agreement on limiting a committee meeting like this one. So that's at least two parties that say there is no agreement around that. In fact, the whip's office has said, very clearly, that if the committee believes it should be extending its time, it's free to do so.
6:55 p.m.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Wayne Easter
Okay.
Perhaps I can speak on this point of order....
Mr. Fortin, come in. Then I want to make a point.
6:55 p.m.
Bloc
Rhéal Fortin Bloc Rivière-du-Nord, QC
I just checked with our party whip's office. I was told that no agreement has ever been made to limit the length of time and that, on the contrary, committee meetings have frequently lasted longer than scheduled. Our only caveat is that interpretation must be provided until the end of the meeting.
Thank you, Mr. Chair.
6:55 p.m.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Wayne Easter
Yes, and that's what we needed to clear up. I had a message come in here earlier that the agreement with various services was that it be 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. We have to make sure that they can go beyond 7 p.m.
Would it be okay if we suspend for five minutes while we clear this up and make sure we have translation services, multimedia services, and the services of the Library of Parliament? I'll ask each party to clear it up with their whips and report back. I've heard from three. I haven't heard from the Liberals.
Mr. Sorbara.
7 p.m.
Liberal
Francesco Sorbara Liberal Vaughan—Woodbridge, ON
Thank you, Mr. Chair.
Can we get clarification from the clerk, please, on the procedural manner for committees—in this extremely extraordinary period of time that is happening in our country, when we are meeting virtually—in terms of what the virtual sitting times, if I can use those words, are for committees to meet?
7 p.m.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Wayne Easter
I don't want to put the clerk on the spot. I don't know if you can answer that, Mr. Clerk.
What I would like to do is suspend for five minutes and make sure we're all on the same wavelength. I would ask, with apologies to translators and multiservice people, if they could stay with us, at least for the moment, while we sort this out.
It is now exactly seven o'clock—
