Foreign Affairs Committee on May 16th, 2022

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

Thank you, Mr. Chair.

[The Chair, Liberal, Ali Ehsassi]

Can we have some order, please.

[Ziad Aboultaif, Conservative, Edmonton Manning, AB]

I have a point of order, Chair, in respect—

[Rob Oliphant, Liberal, Don Valley West, ON]

My point of order has to be ruled on before another point of order can be raised.

[Ziad Aboultaif, Conservative, Edmonton Manning, AB]

On Mr. Oliphant's point of order—

[The Chair, Liberal, Ali Ehsassi]

Could we have some order, please.

Order, Mr. Genuis.

The two points that Mr. Oliphant has raised are actually very valid in the sense that this isn't testimony; this is debate. That's the first thing. I think we can all agree on that.

On the second point that has been raised, he is absolutely correct. If you're going to read something into the record, which on its face demonstrates that it's not relevant to the subamendment, I would caution you not to do so—

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

You've got to be fair.

[The Chair, Liberal, Ali Ehsassi]

—but I leave it to your judgment, Ms. Gray.

Mr. Aboultaif, do you have a point of order?:

[Ziad Aboultaif, Conservative, Edmonton Manning, AB]

Thank you, Chair.

On Mr. Oliphant's point of order, this is the second time that I warned against that. Mr. Oliphant has been trying to tell the chair what to do. I think that is an overreach for Mr. Oliphant. We have to keep things clear.

I believe the chair knows his job. For Mr. Oliphant, at every session, to suggest what the chair should do and what are the options for the chair, is not proper. I believe that this is kind of imposing on this whole committee.

That's why I asked Mr. Oliphant if he really feels that this committee is not run properly and if he wants to take the chair position, he can do so.

Thank you.

[The Chair, Liberal, Ali Ehsassi]

Thank you, Mr. Aboultaif.

The points raised were truly procedural issues. I think they were issues that benefit us all, so we can ensure that we are adhering to proper procedure.

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

He was trying to correct the words [Inaudible—Editor]. That's not in order.

[The Chair, Liberal, Ali Ehsassi]

Ms. Gray, the floor is yours.

[Tracy Gray, Conservative, Kelowna—Lake Country, BC]

Thank you, Mr. Chair, and I thank the member opposite for clarification for that one word I had used. Obviously, his experience in this place is showing.

I'm really glad that he followed procedure as well without just blurting out comments like he did earlier during this meeting. He did follow procedure, so thank you very much, Mr. Chair, for keeping order and keeping everyone on track. I will move on.

I had mentioned earlier that we're looking at this subamendment. For the subcommittee to decide on this subamendment, I think it would be important to explain to whoever is part of that group—if this vote does happen and it does go in that direction—about the topics they are going to be discussing and which would be the most important topics to this committee. I think it's relevant to talk about the three different studies that are before this committee, so that the subcommittee can really ascertain from the members here clearly which ones would be of most importance since that conversation may not happen at the greater committee here.

That's really what we're talking about. If that subamendment does go through, that conversation will happen separately. It won't happen at the greater committee here.

It's important for those members to have an idea what the priorities would be from those of us who are here in these chairs. That's what the context is of my conversation today, in order to let those committee members know, if that's the way it goes, what would be imperative.

I am subbing on this committee for one of my honourable colleagues. I do appreciate that opportunity. I do have an interest in this topic from sitting on international trade for a time. Of course, there is a lot of crossover between trade and foreign affairs, so it's good to have some of that context as we're coming into this.

We do have these three studies that will be considered as priority. I want to let that potential subcommittee know the one that I think would be of real importance right now. The headlines all day right now are about Ukraine. It is something that affects every single one of our communities, I'm sure.

We have on the Hill young Ukrainian interns who are being supported by all parties. We actually had Vyshyvanka Day here on the Hill. Many of us met up with them right in Parliament. We had a picture taken. For those of us who don't have a traditional shirt, which I didn't, it was really great that one of my colleagues brought some extras. I was able to borrow one in order to take that picture. In fact, I actually wasn't going to come that morning because I didn't have a shirt, but I ran into some of the interns the night before and they were just so wonderful. We had great conversations and they encouraged me to come to the Vyshyvanka morning to have a picture taken, so I am glad that I did—

[Randeep Sarai, Liberal, Surrey Centre, BC]

I have a point of order, Mr. Chair.

[The Chair, Liberal, Ali Ehsassi]

Yes, Mr. Sarai.

[Randeep Sarai, Liberal, Surrey Centre, BC]

Mr. Chair, we all like our Ukrainian interns and interns in general who have participated and ethnic outfits, but I think the relevance of that, wearing those or having a special day on the Hill and having them around, has absolutely no relevance to this motion, the amendment, the subamendment or anything per se to this study. I think the member is struggling to fill time and is trying to recall anything that can be associated with the word “Ukraine” somehow.

I think your persistent efforts to bring clarity to what should be spoken have fallen on deaf ears. I ask that you make a ruling and pass the floor over to the next speaker. I don't mind if it's another Conservative speaker, or an NDP speaker, or anyone for that matter, but I think it's painful to hear somebody trying to anxiously fill time just for the sake of filling time. They've been doing this for over one month.

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

I have a point of order.

[Randeep Sarai, Liberal, Surrey Centre, BC]

You don't have the floor, Mr. Genuis.

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

Come on. You shouldn't talk that way about our members.

[The Chair, Liberal, Ali Ehsassi]

You do not have the floor, Mr. Genuis. Please allow the member to finish.

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

You can't let him go on disparaging other members, Mr. Chair. You have to provide some impartiality, Mr. Chair.

[The Chair, Liberal, Ali Ehsassi]

Mr. Genuis, you have not been recognized and you do not have the floor.

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

You have to provide some impartiality when he's talking to a female member of our caucus like that.

[The Chair, Liberal, Ali Ehsassi]

Mr. Genuis, you do not have the floor.

Yes. Mr. Sarai.

[Randeep Sarai, Liberal, Surrey Centre, BC]

We've been asking for four weeks. We've been waiting. We could have studied a lot of things during this time.

Mr. Chair, if my recollection is right, we started discussing this on May 16 and it's June 16 now, so we've been a full month discussing this amendment and subamendment. I think it 's time to put it to an end or get on to the topic and actually discuss what's relevant about it.

Thank you.