Foreign Affairs Committee on May 11th, 2023

[Heather McPherson, NDP, Edmonton Strathcona, AB]

Thank you, Mr. Chair, and thank you very much for being here, Senator.

Before I ask you some questions, I need to say that like my colleague Mr. Bergeron, I am extraordinarily disappointed by the decision made by this committee. I am quite sickened, to be perfectly honest, that we have people across this country and around the world that are looking to Canada for leadership and looking to Canada to build peace, and the committee on foreign affairs refuses to look at that. The member for Sherwood Park—Fort Saskatchewan has—

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

On a point of order, could the chair clarify what it means to adjourn debate and clarify that it does not mean the motion was defeated but that the motion can be brought back? Could the chair clarify the meaning of what we actually did today?

The understanding I'm getting is as though we defeated the motion, which was not case.

Chair, could you clarify that please?

[The Chair, Liberal, Ali Ehsassi]

You are absolutely correct in your interpretation, Mr. Oliphant. It does not mean by any means that it was defeated. It can certainly come back.

[Heather McPherson, NDP, Edmonton Strathcona, AB]

That's an excellent point, Mr. Chair. I want everyone who is so interested in fighting for peace for Israelis and for Palestinians, for people around the world who have been asking for this committee to take this on to know that I will be raising this motion at every single meeting, so that the opportunity to pass it will come forward.

[The Chair, Liberal, Ali Ehsassi]

I will ask that you keep it relevant to Bill S-8, please. We have Senator Harder here with us.

[Heather McPherson, NDP, Edmonton Strathcona, AB]

Thank you.

One last thing I would just very quickly say is that the member for Sherwood Park—Fort Saskatchewan left immediately following, because, I expect, he wanted to get to the pro-life rally, which is another thing that he has filibustered in this committee.

[Randy Hoback, Conservative, Prince Albert, SK]

On a point of order, again there's a question of relevancy. Second of all, mentioning whether the member is here or not at the committee is not appropriate.

[Heather McPherson, NDP, Edmonton Strathcona, AB]

There's no standing order on that.

[Randy Hoback, Conservative, Prince Albert, SK]

Third of all, we have Mr. Strahl, who's subbed in for Mr. Genuis. That's been planned all along. We knew Mr. Genuis had other commitments.

[The Chair, Liberal, Ali Ehsassi]

You cannot name an MP. You can't say their name. You can refer to their riding, of course.

[Randy Hoback, Conservative, Prince Albert, SK]

Anyway, I don't think it's appropriate to go after a member in this fashion when he's not here to defend himself because he had other business. That's not appropriate.

[Heather McPherson, NDP, Edmonton Strathcona, AB]

Then he should be here.

[Randy Hoback, Conservative, Prince Albert, SK]

No, he has work to do and he does his own work on his own schedule.

[The Chair, Liberal, Ali Ehsassi]

Mr. Hoback, I have to say it is a question of relevance.

Dr. Fry, could you please wait until you've been recognized?

[Hedy Fry, Liberal, Vancouver Centre, BC]

I'm raising a point of order, Mr. Ehsassi.

[The Chair, Liberal, Ali Ehsassi]

That's correct, but you have to wait until you are recognized, Dr. Fry.

[Hedy Fry, Liberal, Vancouver Centre, BC]

I have to wait until you recognize me, I know, but I didn't know if you could hear me over everybody speaking at the same time.

[The Chair, Liberal, Ali Ehsassi]

Dr. Fry, do you have a point of order?

[Hedy Fry, Liberal, Vancouver Centre, BC]

I have a point of order, Mr. Chair.

We discussed what adjournment of debate meant. It didn't mean people voted against the actual motion. I think we have witnesses who came here to be present on the topic that we're meant to be discussing on the agenda for today, which is Bill S-8. I would like us to just continue. I think it's inappropriate in the House, as we all know, to mention someone's absence or to suggest that they should be here when one does not know what that individual person has in store that means they cannot be here. That's a really unfair thing to do.

Thank you.

[The Chair, Liberal, Ali Ehsassi]

Thank you, Dr. Fry.

Mr. Strahl, do you have a point of order?

[Mark Strahl, Conservative, Chilliwack—Hope, BC]

Yes, Mr. Chair. I'm a guest at this committee, but substitutions happen all the time between members of Parliament.

Mr. Genuis is at transport committee, my normal committee, doing the work of a parliamentarian. It's outrageous that a member would use her platform to attack and impugn the reputation of another member, and I hope, Mr. Chair, that you will not allow this to continue in this committee. It's simply not true that he is somewhere else—

[The Chair, Liberal, Ali Ehsassi]

Mr. Strahl, that's not a point of order, but thank you.

[Mark Strahl, Conservative, Chilliwack—Hope, BC]

It absolutely is a point of order, Mr. Chair. You cannot reference where a member may be, even if it's from your own imagination. I would hope you would call that member to order.

[The Chair, Liberal, Ali Ehsassi]

Thank you, Mr. Strahl.

[Sameer Zuberi, Liberal, Pierrefonds—Dollard, QC]

On a point of order, I just want to thank you, Mr. Chair, for managing this spicy committee and helping us to study very important legislation.