Finance Committee on Feb. 27th, 2024

[Gabriel Ste-Marie, Bloc, Joliette, QC]

Excuse me, Mr. Morantz, I'm speaking on a point of order, so I'm going to finish.

I think there is unanimous consent to release the witnesses, since I gather that we will be discussing the motion and the amendments for the remaining minutes.

Thank you.

[The Chair, Liberal, Peter Fonseca]

Members, is there unanimous consent to allow the witnesses to be released?

[Adam Chambers, Conservative, Simcoe North, ON]

I think we can finish this pretty quickly.

[The Chair, Liberal, Peter Fonseca]

Do we have unanimous consent, as MP Ste-Marie has said, to allow the witnesses to be released?

[Adam Chambers, Conservative, Simcoe North, ON]

If they wish, but I think we might be able to fix this in probably two minutes if they want to stay and Mr. Morrice has more questions. I don't want to.... If you're open to doing that as an option—

[The Chair, Liberal, Peter Fonseca]

We don't have unanimous consent, or we do?

[Adam Chambers, Conservative, Simcoe North, ON]

Well—

[Daniel Blaikie, NDP, Elmwood—Transcona, MB]

I think not, so that we can proceed and get back to—

[The Chair, Liberal, Peter Fonseca]

Okay. We're proceeding. We do not have unanimous consent.

Go ahead, MP Chambers.

[Adam Chambers, Conservative, Simcoe North, ON]

I'll make a proposal, subject to my friend's consent.

[The Chair, Liberal, Peter Fonseca]

This is on the amendment.

[Adam Chambers, Conservative, Simcoe North, ON]

That's correct. It's on the amendment. If my friend would withdraw the amendment—and I'm looking for some direction from the government on this—and if this motion included a clause that this information would represent the fullness of the evidence to be considered for the study, i.e., no more meetings, then I think we'd pass this right away.

If that's acceptable, then I can try to make that happen, and we could get back to these wonderful witnesses and give some time to Mr. Morrice.

[The Chair, Liberal, Peter Fonseca]

Thank you, MP Chambers.

The current amendment is also inadmissible, just so members are aware.

[An hon. member]

Also...?

[The Chair, Liberal, Peter Fonseca]

Yes, on that preamble, it's inadmissible. The amendment is inadmissible.

Do you need time or...?

[An hon. member]

No.

[Yvan Baker, Liberal, Etobicoke Centre, ON]

Which amendment was inadmissible? I'm sorry.

[The Chair, Liberal, Peter Fonseca]

They were both inadmissible.

[Yvan Baker, Liberal, Etobicoke Centre, ON]

Then, from our end, we're comfortable with what Mr. Chambers has proposed.

[The Chair, Liberal, Peter Fonseca]

All right. Good.

[Adam Chambers, Conservative, Simcoe North, ON]

Could we pass it on division?

[Yvan Baker, Liberal, Etobicoke Centre, ON]

I'd prefer a recorded vote.

[The Chair, Liberal, Peter Fonseca]

We'll have a recorded vote.

(Motion agreed to: yeas 11; nays 0 [See Minutes of Proceedings])

Great.

Do we have any time left for MP Baker? Are you good?

[Yvan Baker, Liberal, Etobicoke Centre, ON]

Yes.

[The Chair, Liberal, Peter Fonseca]

Okay. Now I'm off to MP Morrice.

You have a good five minutes.