As am I, Mr. Chair.
Evidence of meeting #1 for Finance in the 43rd Parliament, 2nd session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was chair.
A recording is available from Parliament.
Evidence of meeting #1 for Finance in the 43rd Parliament, 2nd session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was chair.
A recording is available from Parliament.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Wayne Easter
I have Mr. Julian first, and then Mr. Fraser.
Just to indicate to committee members, the clerk sent me a note, in case anyone wants to have a look at it. The documents and evidence from the previous session are still on the finance committee's public website. I'm not 100% sure, Madam Clerk, whether all the documents were uploaded or not.
The floor is yours on the amendment, Mr. Julian, and then Mr. Fraser.
NDP
Peter Julian NDP New Westminster—Burnaby, BC
Thank you very much, Mr. Chair.
Again, for folks who might have listened to Mr. Gerretsen's very wildly inaccurate interpretation of what's happened at the committee.... As you know, Mr. Chair, you made an interpretation that did not allow us to amend the motion, and that's why members of Parliament decided to overrule your decision, because otherwise we wouldn't have been able to amend it. We have now heard from a number of members of Parliament from all parties that they support the amendment; they now support the motion.
I think the logical conclusion is, rather than continuing this filibuster, which I think has been very unfortunate, particularly with the personal attacks I've heard.... I don't think that's appropriate. In any committee and in Parliament, we should be treating all members with respect, even if we disagree.
Given all of that, I call the question, because obviously all members now agree with the amendment, and agree with the motion. We should proceed to the vote.
Liberal
Peter Fragiskatos Liberal London North Centre, ON
On a point of order, Mr. Chair, Mr. Julian is assuming a lot.
Liberal
Liberal
Sean Fraser Liberal Central Nova, NS
Thank you, Mr. Chair.
I don't want to sound like a broken record, but I keep getting hung up on what evidence is actually before the committee. Look, maybe I'm stuck in my previous career as a litigator, but the evidence that actually makes it formally on the record is what can be considered. This amendment tries to adopt the evidence that was before this committee in the previous Parliament. I have great difficulty around the subject of what evidence is actually before the committee, or what's purported to be before the committee, should this amendment pass.
I actually question whether it's in order, given the nature of the evidence that was actually placed on the record previous to prorogation. Frankly, if I'm going to be put in a position to pass judgment as to whether my privilege has been violated or if the government has complied with a document request from this committee, I think that ask, in and of itself, would violate the privilege of members who have not received all the documents but who nevertheless have to make a finding that the government did not comply with the order.
I would ask for your guidance as to whether an amendment that contains such uncertainties is properly in order or is, in and of itself, a violation of privilege on the basis that we're going to be asked to make a finding about information that we have not received.
Liberal
Liberal
Peter Fragiskatos Liberal London North Centre, ON
Thank you, Mr. Chair.
I notice that Mr. Poilievre is still absent, in contravention of what Speaker Rota made very clear to all of us on September 24. I'll overlook that in a spirit of cordiality, if you want to put it that way, or any other way that Mr. Poilievre was talking about earlier, but he is still not here.
Liberal
Mark Gerretsen Liberal Kingston and the Islands, ON
That's because he's like Polkaroo: He just pops up every once in a while.
NDP
Peter Julian NDP New Westminster—Burnaby, BC
On a point of order, Mr. Fragiskatos has a lot of experience. He knows that in the House, as in committee, you cannot point out the absence or the presence of members of Parliament.
NDP
Peter Julian NDP New Westminster—Burnaby, BC
When we look at the Speaker's ruling that Mr. Fragiskatos quotes, that is for electronic voting. I don't want the public to be misled by him trying to extend an interpretation on electronic voting to committee hearings or House hearings.
Liberal
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Wayne Easter
We have Mr. Gerretsen on a point of order, and then we'll go back to Mr. Fragiskatos.
Liberal
Mark Gerretsen Liberal Kingston and the Islands, ON
On the topic of trying to extend things from one area to another, Mr. Julian is doing the exact same thing by suggesting that you cannot point out somebody's absence in a committee. That is absolutely incorrect. You can call them by their first name or last name, as he just did with Mr. Fragiskatos. It is not the case that you cannot point out somebody's absence.
I mean, I'm certainly in favour of Polkaroo showing up again, because he's been absent for a little while. It would be great to see him back on the screen.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Wayne Easter
Mr. Gerretsen, I am going to tune you up a little bit. I don't believe we should call people names other than their actual names.
Liberal
Mark Gerretsen Liberal Kingston and the Islands, ON
He was a lovable character from my youth. He was from Polka Dot Door.
Liberal
Liberal
Peter Fragiskatos Liberal London North Centre, ON
Thank you very much, Mr. Chair.
I would go back to the point raised by Mr. Fraser. I think he raised something incredibly important. How are we, as committee members, going to look at this in a meaningful way and a serious way? We haven't received all the documents, and therefore nothing is really reviewable here. In fact, if you want to extend the idea further, it's hard to see how there are no questions of privilege being raised here if we're being forced to vote on this.
For all these reasons, Mr. Chair, I have a real challenge with where the amendment wants to take us.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Wayne Easter
Okay.
We're ready to call the question on the amendment.
Madam Clerk, I will go to you to take the vote.
Keep in mind that this is a vote on the amendment to the original motion.
Liberal
Mark Gerretsen Liberal Kingston and the Islands, ON
I have a point of order.
Could we have that read out again, Mr. Chair?
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Wayne Easter
Yes. I would ask you, Madam Clerk, to read out the amendment as inserted in the paragraph, and just quote the amendment when you get there. It reads better that way.