Government Operations Committee on June 6th, 2006

[The Chair, Liberal, Diane Marleau]

Mr. Alghabra.

[Omar Alghabra, Liberal, Mississauga—Erindale, ON]

Thank you, Madam Chair. I'm actually enjoying watching the colleagues opposite speak up against transparency and accountability and being selective about it. This is not an issue about whether it was done under the previous government or this government. We're talking about a specific case. We had witnesses last week talk about certain issues.

What we're saying is that if it costs us another month, if this is the right property--and it could be, and it probably is the right property--why don't we just put specifications together and ask for a public tender process, and then we may end up with the right decision? There is nothing wrong with that.

Madam Chair, I'd ask that we move to a vote on this motion.

[Mike Wallace, Conservative, Burlington, ON]

We have the right to speak to this motion.

[The Chair, Liberal, Diane Marleau]

Madam Clerk, you have to advise me on this one. We have to put it to a vote when--

[The Clerk of the Committee, Ms. Bibiane Ouellette]

When there's debate and the members wish to speak--

[The Chair, Liberal, Diane Marleau]

He has called for the vote.

[Daryl Kramp, Conservative, Prince Edward—Hastings, ON]

Do we not have a right to speak on this issue?

I'd like to have a ruling from the chair that we are being denied a right to speak on this issue.

[The Chair, Liberal, Diane Marleau]

No, but if you call for a vote, then what happens? Do we have to have the vote?

[Raymond Bonin, Liberal, Nickel Belt, ON]

We have a vote to see if we vote now.

[The Chair, Liberal, Diane Marleau]

We have to have a vote to see if we vote now.

[Mike Wallace, Conservative, Burlington, ON]

Is it debatable?

[The Chair, Liberal, Diane Marleau]

Is this a point of order or a question?

[Cheryl Gallant, Conservative, Renfrew—Nipissing—Pembroke, ON]

I guess it would be a point of clarification of a point of order. I see that the wording says “competitive public call for tenders process”. It's my understanding that when that's done--

[The Chair, Liberal, Diane Marleau]

That's not a point of order, though.

[Cheryl Gallant, Conservative, Renfrew—Nipissing—Pembroke, ON]

Well, it is, because what I want to know is if he intends that the specific security requirements would be part of that transparency.

[The Chair, Liberal, Diane Marleau]

Yes, obviously it would, if you go to tender.

I'm going to ask for a vote to see whether we should go ahead with the vote on this motion now.

Quorum? Oh, no, we have quorum.

(Motion agreed to)

[Louise Thibault, Bloc, Rimouski-Neigette—Témiscouata—Les Basques, QC]

We're all here.

[The Chair, Liberal, Diane Marleau]

We have a full complement of members.

[Daryl Kramp, Conservative, Prince Edward—Hastings, ON]

On a point of order, Madam Chair, I just want it on the record that I'm disagreeing with your interpretation or the clerk's interpretation of how we should proceed with this. What I am saying is that if the said procedure is correct, you are denying us the opportunity as a party to speak against this motion.

[The Chair, Liberal, Diane Marleau]

If the vote passes, there will be continued debate in the House, because I'll have to report this to the House, and you'll have a chance there to defend it.

This is only a recommendation, by the way.

So I will call the vote. All those in favour of the motion?

[Cheryl Gallant, Conservative, Renfrew—Nipissing—Pembroke, ON]

We have to debate this further.

[An hon. member]

They called the question on it.

[Chris Warkentin, Conservative, Peace River, AB]

[Inaudible--Editor]...complex. I'm just curious. If I may just ask the--

[The Chair, Liberal, Diane Marleau]

I can't tell you. I don't know.

[Chris Warkentin, Conservative, Peace River, AB]

I do need to seek some clarification on that.