Finance Committee on May 29th, 2023

[The Chair, Liberal, Peter Fonseca]

On a point of order, I see MP Chatel.

[Sophie Chatel, Liberal, Pontiac, QC]

May we combine...? There are no amendments that I'm aware of between clause 138—

[The Chair, Liberal, Peter Fonseca]

No. We are not there yet.

We have to conclude clause 137. You can then do your point of order.

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

I'd like a recorded division, or we could try defeating it on division, if you wish.

(Clause 137 agreed to: yeas 7; nays 4)

[Sophie Chatel, Liberal, Pontiac, QC]

Thank you.

On that, I have a point of order.

[The Chair, Liberal, Peter Fonseca]

On the point of order, I have MP Chatel.

[Sophie Chatel, Liberal, Pontiac, QC]

I feel like we're all at school, having a time out. I don't know why.

If we can expedite this, the best way forward would be to combine clauses 138 all the way to 209. Combine them and vote, because there are no amendments.

[The Chair, Liberal, Peter Fonseca]

No. We would have to go to clause 147. Is that...?

We can...? Okay.

[Sophie Chatel, Liberal, Pontiac, QC]

By combining them—

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

I appreciate it. If I were a member of the government, perhaps I would want to expedite this process as well. As I'm in His Majesty's loyal opposition, it's my job to perform my duties with all due diligence and due dispatch.

I wish to vote on every one, as is my right. I might add, as the chair and Mr. Beech said repeatedly, that we have to follow the letter of the law.

[The Chair, Liberal, Peter Fonseca]

We did not have unanimous consent for that.

Go ahead, MP Blaikie.

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

I'm wondering if there's a plan to suspend at some point for five minutes.

[The Chair, Liberal, Peter Fonseca]

Yes. Are members looking for a...?

We'll suspend.

[The Chair, Liberal, Peter Fonseca]

I call the meeting back to order.

Okay, everybody. We're back.

I see MP Hallan has joined us. I hope everybody got a little something to eat and stretched their legs.

I think what was asked—and I'll ask again, because MP Hallan wasn't in the room at that time—was, for clauses 138 to 210, could we get unanimous consent? Are members in agreement?

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

What do we think? No.

[Some hon. members]

Oh, oh!

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

(Clauses 138 to 140 inclusive agreed to: yeas 7; nays 4)

[The Chair, Liberal, Peter Fonseca]

If we were able to group clauses 141 to 147, because some of the members have talked to me from all sides and said smaller groupings may work.... I'm just looking for unanimous consent.

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

I have to say no.

[The Chair, Liberal, Peter Fonseca]

Okay. You may come around to it down the line.

On a point of order, I see MP Lawrence.

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

I would like to test something here.

I know you ruled earlier—and, of course, you can shoot me down if you wish, Mr. Chair—but is it possible to read the section as we go?

[The Chair, Liberal, Peter Fonseca]

That is not possible, MP Lawrence.

We are now moving on.

(Clauses 141 to 147 inclusive agreed to: yeas 7; nays 4)

[The Chair, Liberal, Peter Fonseca]

On division 2, “Private Sector Pension Plans”, I do have a note. It says there are no amendments from clauses 148 to 180.

We would need unanimous consent to group those.

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

No, Mr. Chair.

[The Chair, Liberal, Peter Fonseca]

Okay. We will do recorded votes, but I will keep trying as we go along.

(Clauses 148 to 180 inclusive agreed to: yeas 7; nays 4)