Evidence of meeting #114 for Government Operations and Estimates in the 44th Parliament, 1st Session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was point.
A video is available from Parliament.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Kelly McCauley
I call this meeting to order.
Good morning. We're here to discuss the estimates.
Premier Higgs, the floor is yours for five minutes. Go ahead, sir.
Liberal
Blaine Higgs Premier of New Brunswick, Government of New Brunswick
Before we start and before you raise a point of order, I'm not here for a controversial debate. I would just like the opportunity to make a comment—
Premier of New Brunswick, Government of New Brunswick
—about thinking bigger in Canada and how we can meet the climate change objectives. We can be a major player here in New Brunswick.
I'm not here to—
Conservative
Liberal
Irek Kusmierczyk Liberal Windsor—Tecumseh, ON
Mr. Chair, I'm looking forward to the testimony of both premiers today and to getting an explanation from both of them on why they're both raising taxes and the cost of heating and energy on the residents by 12%.
Liberal
Irek Kusmierczyk Liberal Windsor—Tecumseh, ON
I'm really interested in hearing why they're raising the cost of living for their residents.
Conservative
Liberal
Irek Kusmierczyk Liberal Windsor—Tecumseh, ON
My concern, Mr. Chair, is that we are right now meeting in contravention of Standing Order 108 and also in contravention of a motion this committee passed yesterday that prohibits you, Chair, from calling meetings and witnesses unilaterally without consultation and consent from committee.
I would ask the clerk to provide some comment and direction, because this is now the third meeting this week that we've had scheduled without any consultation with the committee and without any instruction from the committee. This is the third meeting we've held in a row during a constituency week. This is a sacred week that is focused on constituents.
I know that our Conservative colleagues couldn't give two hoots about our constituents, but we do, so—
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Kelly McCauley
Mr. Kusmierczyk, can you just stick to the point of order, please, and not an editorial?
Liberal
Irek Kusmierczyk Liberal Windsor—Tecumseh, ON
Absolutely. I'm just about to wrap up.
Whenever we have—
Bloc
Simon-Pierre Savard-Tremblay Bloc Saint-Hyacinthe—Bagot, QC
I have a point of order, Mr. Chair.
The interpretation has stopped because there seems to be some interference.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Kelly McCauley
Interpretation is on. Mr. Savard-Tremblay is just pointing out that other people are talking.
Could you get to your point of order, please?
Liberal
Irek Kusmierczyk Liberal Windsor—Tecumseh, ON
I'm just about to conclude right here, shortly, because I want to get to the premiers as well.
Meetings during constituency weeks are reserved for—
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Kelly McCauley
That's not a point of order, Mr. Kusmierczyk.
Get to the point of order or we will move back to Premier Higgs.
Liberal
Irek Kusmierczyk Liberal Windsor—Tecumseh, ON
My point, Mr. Chair, is I that am asking the clerk to comment on whether this meeting is in contravention of both Standing Order 108 and the motion that this committee passed yesterday, prohibiting the chair from calling meetings without the consultation and consent of this committee.
What is particularly egregious, I have to say, Mr. Chair, is that you called three of these so-called emergency meetings this week, and not one of the permanent Conservative members of this committee even bothered to show up, ask questions and do their work—
Conservative
Liberal
Irek Kusmierczyk Liberal Windsor—Tecumseh, ON
No one from the opposition leader's front bench bothered to show up to ask questions. That is egregious.
We're here from the Liberal side, the NDP side and and the Bloc side. We're here to do the work of Canadians—
Conservative
Liberal