Finance Committee on May 26th, 2023

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

Yes, I'm just indicating that I am willing to continue on for a little while—not a long time—if we think there might be a possibility of getting to some kind of decision about how to proceed in a good way on Monday so that we avoid the dilemma that I explained earlier.

If folks think that they're in a mood to get to a decision, and I would remind everybody that it entails voting on something about how we proceed on Monday, then I'm prepared to stay. If folks don't think that they would allow a vote to happen on anything today, then there isn't much point. Currently there's nothing on the table except clause-by-clause.

[The Chair, Liberal, Peter Fonseca]

I don't know what folks are thinking right now. I can't get into people's heads. I do have a speaking order. I have PS Beech.

I know we've been at this for a long time. What MP Blaikie said is that, yes, we are coming up on the hour.

Members, you have to be really clear to the point before we're going to be done for the day.

[Marty Morantz, Conservative, Charleswood—St. James—Assiniboia—Headingley, MB]

Mr. Chair, I have a point of order.

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

Would you entertain a request for unanimous consent to extend the meeting by a half an hour to see if we can find a way to maybe get a plan for Monday?

[The Chair, Liberal, Peter Fonseca]

First, MP Blaikie, let's hear from members about the half an hour. I'm not sure if that's going to be possible.

Go ahead on a point of order, MP Morantz.

[Marty Morantz, Conservative, Charleswood—St. James—Assiniboia—Headingley, MB]

I'm not sure what Mr. Beech is going to be speaking to, because there's no motion on the floor, unless we're going to go right into clause-by-clause.

I would suggest, with unanimous consent of the committee, that Mr. Perkins has an important motion he would like to present. If the committee so wills it, I suggest we let him introduce that motion.

[The Chair, Liberal, Peter Fonseca]

MP Morantz, right now PS Beech does have the floor. We were moving to clause-by-clause consideration. We were at clause 7.

PS Beech, you do have the floor.

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

Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Certainly, my patience is being tested a little bit here.

[The Chair, Liberal, Peter Fonseca]

PS Beech, I will tell you that time is limited.

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

Yes, I'm not going to take much time, if people would stop interrupting.

I think it's very important that we clarify what just happened here.

Mr. Perkins put forward a motion that has already been defeated simply so he could filibuster on it. Then he tried.... He didn't try. He successfully adjourned debate on his own motion so that nobody else around this committee would have an opportunity to talk about it. Despite the fact that the clerk read the rules out of the green book that we all agree to follow, we've now overturned that.

I'm not willing to give up the floor for some magical, new motion that the Conservatives have figured out. I am willing to suspend and, if Mr. Perkins wants to call me and talk about what motion he has in mind, I'm happy to hear about it, but I am not going to give up the floor so that the person who has taken 24 hours of this committee's time doing nothing but nonsense can put another motion forward so we can discuss more nonsense.

I'm happy to suspend, Mr. Chair. That's the committee's right. If Mr. Perkins wants to call me with something that is an actual proposal about getting to work, I'm happy to entertain it. I'm not happy to just give him the floor back because he's had more than enough time at this committee.

[The Chair, Liberal, Peter Fonseca]

I am going to suspend for a few minutes so that members can discuss this. Do it an hurried manner, because we are looking to end this meeting in very short order.

We'll suspend right now.

[The Chair, Liberal, Peter Fonseca]

Mr. Beech, you have the floor.

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

Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Unfortunately I didn't get any calls from the Conservatives, but I will try this.

I move for unanimous consent on the following motion that the committee reconvene at 3:30 p.m. on Monday, May 29, and that the committee provide 15 minutes for a representative of each recognized party to provide their views on Bill C‑47 as well as the amendments to the bill. During this time, no other motions can be moved nor can questions be put to the representative of each party, and the chair and clerk will be empowered to enforce the 15-minute speaking slot.

[The Chair, Liberal, Peter Fonseca]

Thank you, PS Beech. You are asking for unanimous consent on that. I am looking to the members.

Is there any discussion? I see thumbs-up. I see a thumbs-down from MP Perkins, and I heard a “no”.

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

I tried my best, Mr. Chair.

[The Chair, Liberal, Peter Fonseca]

Members, we're adjourned.