Government Operations Committee on March 28th, 2024

[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.

[Irek Kusmierczyk, Liberal, Windsor—Tecumseh, ON]

I have a point of order, Mr. Chair.

[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—

[Irek Kusmierczyk, Liberal, Windsor—Tecumseh, ON]

I have a point of order.

[Blaine Higgs]

—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—

[Irek Kusmierczyk, Liberal, Windsor—Tecumseh, ON]

We will provide time for that—

[The Chair, Conservative, Kelly McCauley]

I'm sorry, Premier Higgs.

What's your point of order?

[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%.

[The Chair, Conservative, Kelly McCauley]

What's your point of order?

[Irek Kusmierczyk, Liberal, Windsor—Tecumseh, ON]

I'm really interested in hearing why they're raising the cost of living for their residents.

[The Chair, Conservative, Kelly McCauley]

What's your point of order, Mr. Kusmierczyk?

[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—

[The Chair, Conservative, Kelly McCauley]

Mr. Kusmierczyk, can you just stick to the point of order, please, and not an editorial?

[Irek Kusmierczyk, Liberal, Windsor—Tecumseh, ON]

Absolutely. I'm just about to wrap up.

Whenever we have—

[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.

[Irek Kusmierczyk, Liberal, Windsor—Tecumseh, ON]

Is the interpretation on?

[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?

[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—

[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.

[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—

[The Chair, Conservative, Kelly McCauley]

I will address your point of order, Mr. Kusmierczyk.

[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—

[The Chair, Conservative, Kelly McCauley]

Mr. Kusmierczyk, you've made your point of order—

[Irek Kusmierczyk, Liberal, Windsor—Tecumseh, ON]

Where are the permanent Conservative members?

[The Chair, Conservative, Kelly McCauley]

I will rule on your point of order.