I have a point of order, Mr. Chair.
I just want to have a ruling from the chair with respect to the private member's bill and the public bill from the Senate of Canada, the other place. They have been received by the committee. Does the committee have to deal with them or can we simply allow that time to lapse and have them deemed considered by the committee with no testimony, no evidence and no opportunity for their sponsors in the House to be heard at committee?
It was raised as though it's an obligation of our committee to hear them, but I think they may be deemed having been heard and be returned to the House without any consideration by this committee.
It's a point of order, because looking at our future business, I'm just wondering about that. We may not have to deal with them.
I may be wrong on that. One is a Senate bill, and one is a House of Commons private member's bill—a public bill and a private member's bill. The rules on that may be different from House legislation, which comes from the government. I may be wrong on that.