Finance Committee on May 29th, 2023

[The Chair, Liberal, Peter Fonseca]

There's no crosstalk, PS Beech.

[Philip Lawrence, Conservative, Northumberland—Peterborough South, ON]

Yes, I could attend, but we require voting. If I'm not here voting, that would impact our ability to function as a committee and our committee wouldn't have a quorum.

[The Chair, Liberal, Peter Fonseca]

We're getting into debate, MP Lawrence.

[Philip Lawrence, Conservative, Northumberland—Peterborough South, ON]

I guess that's a reflection of our chair.

[The Chair, Liberal, Peter Fonseca]

MP Lobb, is that a point of order you had?

[Ben Lobb, Conservative, Huron—Bruce, ON]

No. I have a question.

[The Chair, Liberal, Peter Fonseca]

No. There are no questions.

[Ben Lobb, Conservative, Huron—Bruce, ON]

Well, I think so, Mr. Chair.

[The Chair, Liberal, Peter Fonseca]

There are no questions, so we are moving forward.

[Ben Lobb, Conservative, Huron—Bruce, ON]

Then I have a point of order. Are you ready?

[The Chair, Liberal, Peter Fonseca]

Yes.

[Ben Lobb, Conservative, Huron—Bruce, ON]

My point of order is this: I would like clarity now because you said that the whips agreed that the committee will sit through question period. That's what you stated. If the committee is the master of its own domain and independent of the whip's office, what the whips agree to is completely irrelevant to what occurs in this committee.

I would like the clerks to find the parliamentary precedent where it states that somehow the whip's office controls when a committee sits beyond—

[Sophie Chatel, Liberal, Pontiac, QC]

Chair, this is debate.

[Ben Lobb, Conservative, Huron—Bruce, ON]

—its scheduled time—

[The Chair, Liberal, Peter Fonseca]

This is debate.

[Ben Lobb, Conservative, Huron—Bruce, ON]

I don't care if you give me the answer now or five years from now, but I'd like that answer on when the whip's office decides when committees sit and don't sit beyond the previously approved—

[The Chair, Liberal, Peter Fonseca]

MP Lobb, that is debate.

[Ben Lobb, Conservative, Huron—Bruce, ON]

How is this debate?

[The Chair, Liberal, Peter Fonseca]

That is debate. No crosstalk, please, MP Chatel and MP Lobb.

[Ben Lobb, Conservative, Huron—Bruce, ON]

I think the rest of Canada would like—

[The Chair, Liberal, Peter Fonseca]

We have heard from you. Thank you very much, I appreciate that.

[Ben Lobb, Conservative, Huron—Bruce, ON]

I'm glad I made my contribution to the finance committee.

[The Chair, Liberal, Peter Fonseca]

Again, members, on clause 465, shall NDP-12 carry?

[Sophie Chatel, Liberal, Pontiac, QC]

I request a recorded vote.

[The Chair, Liberal, Peter Fonseca]

You'd like a recorded vote.

We want your vote MP Lawrence.