Finance Committee on Dec. 10th, 2021

[The Chair, Liberal, Peter Fonseca]

Mr. Poilievre, when it came to Mr. Julian's—

[Pierre Poilievre, Conservative, Carleton, ON]

Mr. Julian is not looking for more time.

[The Chair, Liberal, Peter Fonseca]

We have already moved past the six-minute mark. We're moving to Mr. Chambers now for five minutes.

[Peter Julian, NDP, New Westminster—Burnaby, BC]

On a point of order, Mr. Chair—

[The Chair, Liberal, Peter Fonseca]

Go ahead on a point of order.

[Peter Julian, NDP, New Westminster—Burnaby, BC]

It's a very simple request with a very simple answer. We've already taken more time on points of order than it would have taken simply to ask the officials whether there are studies and whether they can share those. That's the essence of my question, and I would like to have a response, please.

[The Chair, Liberal, Peter Fonseca]

I don't know if our witnesses have a yes-or-no answer for you—

[Pierre Poilievre, Conservative, Carleton, ON]

Give them a chance. If you'd let them speak—

[The Chair, Liberal, Peter Fonseca]

—Mr. Julian, and you'll have an opportunity to get that answer in the next round.

We are moving to Mr. Chambers for five minutes.

[Peter Julian, NDP, New Westminster—Burnaby, BC]

Mr. Chair, with respect, I have to challenge that decision.

[The Chair, Liberal, Peter Fonseca]

Mr. Julian, it is about fairness, and based on the answers that we have received from witnesses—

[Pierre Poilievre, Conservative, Carleton, ON]

Chair, you have been challenged. Put it to a vote.

[The Chair, Liberal, Peter Fonseca]

Put it to a vote.

[Pierre Poilievre, Conservative, Carleton, ON]

That's how it works. It's not a debatable motion. You have been challenged.

[The Clerk of the Committee, Mr. Alexandre Roger]

The question is, “Shall the decision of the chair be sustained?” If you are in agreement with the chair, you will vote yes. If you are against the chair's ruling, you will vote no.

[Heath MacDonald, Liberal, Malpeque, PE]

What's the ruling?

[The Chair, Liberal, Peter Fonseca]

The ruling would be that we will not allow the witness to answer because we did go over time and we would be well over time.

[Terry Beech, Liberal, Burnaby North—Seymour, BC]

On a point of order, Mr. Chair, could we just get clarification from the clerk on whether or not time allocation is a challengeable ruling?

[The Clerk]

Every chair's ruling is challengeable, and I believe in this instance—

[Terry Beech, Liberal, Burnaby North—Seymour, BC]

I can't hear you.

[Pierre Poilievre, Conservative, Carleton, ON]

Let's just vote on it.

[The Clerk]

Every ruling by the chair is challengeable ruling, and in this case the chair ruled on the conduct of the committee, so it would be appropriate to challenge.

We are ready to move to the—

[Sophie Chatel, Liberal, Pontiac, QC]

For clarification, does it mean that we have more than the time allowed to speak? If that ruling is accepted, that means we have more than the time allowed to question witnesses.

[Pierre Poilievre, Conservative, Carleton, ON]

On a point of order—

[The Chair, Liberal, Peter Fonseca]

It is up to the committee, but yes, we may find ourselves—