Fisheries Committee on Dec. 9th, 2024

[The Chair, Liberal, Ken McDonald]

Yes, I did.

[Bobby Morrissey, Liberal, Egmont, PE]

Is this a challenge? Is the member now challenging the chair?

[Rick Perkins, Conservative, South Shore—St. Margarets, NS]

We're still on the privilege motion. I didn't think—

[Bobby Morrissey, Liberal, Egmont, PE]

The chair did report to—

[Rick Perkins, Conservative, South Shore—St. Margarets, NS]

I don't think you can cut off a question of privilege debate.

[The Chair, Liberal, Ken McDonald]

Mr. Arnold, do you have point of order?

[Mel Arnold, Conservative, North Okanagan—Shuswap, BC]

Yes.

Mr. Chair, the rules state that if the chair determines the question relates to parliamentary privilege—not whether privilege has been breached, but whether it relates to parliamentary privilege—the committee may then consider presenting a report on the question to the House. Then they go on to say what the report shall be. It's simply a matter of you deciding whether this issue relates to a question of privilege.

[The Chair, Liberal, Ken McDonald]

That's why I said that I will come back. I will look at the information and come back to committee with my ruling on it. It's no different than if you raise a question of privilege in the House of Commons. The Speaker often says that he will look at the evidence and what has been presented and come back to the House with a decision, whether it's considered a question of privilege or considered a point of debate—or anything else, for that matter.

[Rick Perkins, Conservative, South Shore—St. Margarets, NS]

Well, that's only one of the two issues regarding the rules and—

[Bobby Morrissey, Liberal, Egmont, PE]

Mr. Chair, on a point of order, again, where are we going on this? You made it clear; you gave clear instructions. You're the chair. We have witnesses here so let's return to the meeting.

[The Chair, Liberal, Ken McDonald]

I will look at the information that has been presented, determine whether I think from the information I got that it is a question of privilege or disregards members in any way, and come back to the committee with a ruling. That's the end of it.

[Rick Perkins, Conservative, South Shore—St. Margarets, NS]

I won't read them out, but 443, 444 and 445 of Bosc and Gagnon on the answers to questions should be considered.

[Bobby Morrissey, Liberal, Egmont, PE]

The member is challenging you—

[Rick Perkins, Conservative, South Shore—St. Margarets, NS]

Did you hear me say that? Are you trying to discern what's in my mind and my thinking?

[The Chair, Liberal, Ken McDonald]

Order.

I've said what I've said. I don't need anybody to point out what paragraph to look at or what sentence to look at. I will come back with a ruling on whether I feel that it's a question of privilege.

I'd like to have time for the witnesses here today to at least give their opening statements.

[Rick Perkins, Conservative, South Shore—St. Margarets, NS]

I would like to challenge the chair and his ability to cut this discussion off before we've been able to present all the evidence.

[The Chair, Liberal, Ken McDonald]

We'll suspend.

[The Chair, Liberal, Ken McDonald]

We're back.

Mr. Perkins, you can't challenge the chair on something that hasn't been ruled on, so you'll have to wait until I rule to challenge my decision.

[Rick Perkins, Conservative, South Shore—St. Margarets, NS]

No.

[The Chair, Liberal, Ken McDonald]

Yes.

[Rick Perkins, Conservative, South Shore—St. Margarets, NS]

I'm sorry, Chair. I'm challenging you on your ability to shut down the discussion and presentation of evidence. Are you telling me that you're not going to allow a challenge to the chair on your ruling to shut down the privilege motion discussion and the presenting of evidence?

It's a privilege motion. You can't shut down the presentation of evidence. Check Standing Order 116(2). You can't do that.

[The Chair, Liberal, Ken McDonald]

I checked the Standing Orders last week when you were speaking too, so—

[Rick Perkins, Conservative, South Shore—St. Margarets, NS]

No, you didn't.

I'm challenging the chair. That's not a debatable motion.

[The Chair, Liberal, Ken McDonald]

I haven't ruled on it.

[Rick Perkins, Conservative, South Shore—St. Margarets, NS]

You did. You ruled to shut down the discussion on the motion.