Foreign Affairs Committee on May 16th, 2022

[Randeep Sarai, Liberal, Surrey Centre, BC]

Further to that point of order, I would like to add as well that I think the member opposite has mentioned more of the—

[Garnett Genuis, Conservative, Sherwood Park—Fort Saskatchewan, AB]

Can I speak first, Mr. Chair? Is there an order for speaking to the points of order?

[Randeep Sarai, Liberal, Surrey Centre, BC]

Mr. Genuis, I will offer you the floor in terms of this point of order.

[Garnett Genuis, Conservative, Sherwood Park—Fort Saskatchewan, AB]

Maybe you could be the chair now.

[Randeep Sarai, Liberal, Surrey Centre, BC]

No, there's one too many.

[The Chair, Liberal, Ali Ehsassi]

Thank you, Ms. Bendayan. As you know, it is important that members bear in mind that their remarks should be relevant. As you have pointed out, the scope of the issue before us is very limited and narrow. It is as to whether this committee should commit a minimum of five days to this study. I think it is incumbent on all the members to bear that in mind, to keep their comments focused on that issue and to refrain from debating the main motion. At this juncture, it should be limited to the temporal limitation that was contained in the amendment to the motion.

[Rachel Bendayan, Liberal, Outremont, QC]

Mr. Chair, given the amendment scope, I don't believe there's any indication of when those five days could be. It could be next year. It's certainly not indicated in the motion as to when that would be.

[Garnett Genuis, Conservative, Sherwood Park—Fort Saskatchewan, AB]

On a point of order, was she given the floor, Mr. Chair?

[Rachel Bendayan, Liberal, Outremont, QC]

Is this diatribe and argument regarding these other issues relevant to this point of order?

[Garnett Genuis, Conservative, Sherwood Park—Fort Saskatchewan, AB]

Mr. Chair, was she given the floor?

[The Chair, Liberal, Ali Ehsassi]

It's a point of order.

[Rachel Bendayan, Liberal, Outremont, QC]

I have the floor.

[Garnett Genuis, Conservative, Sherwood Park—Fort Saskatchewan, AB]

I'm seeking clarity from the chair, because the chair spoke and then you started speaking again, so did you continue to have the floor while he spoke?

[Rachel Bendayan, Liberal, Outremont, QC]

You can ask the chair.

[Garnett Genuis, Conservative, Sherwood Park—Fort Saskatchewan, AB]

That is what I just did.

[The Chair, Liberal, Ali Ehsassi]

I would ask all members to ensure that they are recognized before they proceed with their points of order.

Mr. Genuis.

[Garnett Genuis, Conservative, Sherwood Park—Fort Saskatchewan, AB]

Thank you.

Just to clarify, do I have the floor on the point of order or are we back to my having the floor on the substantive matter?

[The Chair, Liberal, Ali Ehsassi]

I believe you have the floor on the substantive matter, on the amendment to the motion.

[Garnett Genuis, Conservative, Sherwood Park—Fort Saskatchewan, AB]

That's excellent. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

I think it's important, just before I go back to what I was saying, to clarify the link, because I think it's important since it's been contested.

The amendment pertains to the number of meetings that should take place on some prospective study that has been proposed by Dr. Fry and perhaps in collaboration with others.

The question of whether we should set a minimum number of meetings is of course a question about the committee's agenda. It would seem to me difficult to consider the question of how many meetings should be set aside for a particular item without also, in relation to that, considering the question of what other possible matters could be considered in those same meetings.

Top of mind in terms of what other matters should be considered, it seems to me, should be the existing work of this committee.

Respectfully, I make no apologies for making the case for the importance of other matters that could be discussed at the committee. I think that is central to the question of how many meetings we should—

[Heather McPherson, NDP, Edmonton Strathcona, AB]

Mr. Chair, could I have a point of information?

[The Chair, Liberal, Ali Ehsassi]

Yes, Ms. McPherson.

[Heather McPherson, NDP, Edmonton Strathcona, AB]

This is a point of information, and forgive me if I have this wrong. I'm learning this mostly in this committee.

I'm just wondering whether or not this member will have unlimited time to debate this amendment. I'm wondering whether we'll be getting to any business today or if it will just be this for the next 45 minutes.

It's just a point of information on whether the debate can be limited.

[The Chair, Liberal, Ali Ehsassi]

Thank you for that, Ms. McPherson.

I think it's important to highlight that the members do have as much time as is needed to debate a motion or an amendment to a motion.

That being said, it is important that members actually ensure that the points they are arguing are relevant.

[Heather McPherson, NDP, Edmonton Strathcona, AB]

Thank you, Mr. Chair.

[Garnett Genuis, Conservative, Sherwood Park—Fort Saskatchewan, AB]

It wasn't a point of order.