Government Operations Committee on March 28th, 2024

[Charles Sousa, Liberal, Mississauga—Lakeshore, ON]

I just want clarity again from the clerk. We have an opportunity here that the chair has the right to call these meetings. I understand that, but he also has the right and the need to abide by the members' consent, and—

[The Chair, Conservative, Kelly McCauley]

We've ruled on that already, Mr. Sousa, so that's not a point of order. Thank you.

[Charles Sousa, Liberal, Mississauga—Lakeshore, ON]

No. Again, I'm asking for—

[Wayne Long, Liberal, Saint John—Rothesay, NB]

I have a point of order, Chair.

[The Chair, Conservative, Kelly McCauley]

Go ahead, please, Mr. Long.

[Charles Sousa, Liberal, Mississauga—Lakeshore, ON]

I need clarity on the rules.

[The Chair, Conservative, Kelly McCauley]

The clerk has advised already, Mr. Sousa.

We'd be happy to email it out to you as well if you are having concerns about following along with the conversation.

Go ahead, Mr. Lawrence.

[Charles Sousa, Liberal, Mississauga—Lakeshore, ON]

You need consent to adjourn.

I'm asking a question, Mr. Chair, and now you're trying to shut me down, and that's inappropriate. It's the way you flagrantly operate independently without consulting with the members.

[Philip Lawrence, Conservative, Northumberland—Peterborough South, ON]

I have a point of order, Mr. Chair.

[Charles Sousa, Liberal, Mississauga—Lakeshore, ON]

My question, as a point of order, is for the clerk.

Can the chair—

[The Chair, Conservative, Kelly McCauley]

Mr. Sousa, you've been around for a long time as well. It pains me to have to repeat this, because it almost feels like you're doing this on purpose, and I'm sure that is not your intent, Mr. Sousa.

You know that you can not ask questions of the clerk. They should be directed to the chair.

[Charles Sousa, Liberal, Mississauga—Lakeshore, ON]

Through you, Chair, to the clerk—

[The Chair, Conservative, Kelly McCauley]

Mr. Kusmierczyk has already asked about page 29, and I've ruled on it.

If you need the clerk to repeat that to you, I will get him to. It appears you're doing this on purpose, either to disrupt the committee or for some bizarre film clip. I'm not sure, but I'll have him repeat it if you wish.

[Charles Sousa, Liberal, Mississauga—Lakeshore, ON]

Mr. Chair, that's not the intent here. My intent is to provide decorum in this committee to ensure that we operate collectively and co-operatively. Right now, unilateral decisions are being made by you, even with yesterday's adjournment of the debate when we had a motion before the House.

I'm asking the clerk, through you, to tell us if consent was required to do so.

[The Chair, Conservative, Kelly McCauley]

I adjourned on—

[Yasir Naqvi, Liberal, Ottawa Centre, ON]

I have a point of order, Chair.

[The Chair, Conservative, Kelly McCauley]

You can't have a point of order during a point of order and you can't point-of-order a point of order.

[Yasir Naqvi, Liberal, Ottawa Centre, ON]

It's a point of order in the queue.

[The Chair, Conservative, Kelly McCauley]

I adjourned on disorder. I'll read the section. It reads:

Disorder and misconduct in a committee may arise as a result of the failure to abide by the rules and practices of a committee or to respect the authority of the Chair. Disorder and misconduct also include the use of unparliamentary language—

—which we had yesterday—

—failure to yield the floor—

—which we had yesterday—

—or persistent interruption...

That is directly from the green book. I can have the clerk reaffirm what's in the green book for you, if you wish, but that was it.

[The Clerk]

Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Under the section “Committees and Questions of Procedure and Privilege”, as stated by the chair, it says, “Disorder and misconduct in a committee may arise as a result of the failure to abide by the rules...or to respect the authority of the Chair. Disorder and misconduct also include the use of unparliamentary language”. I would cite also page 1099, in chapter 20, stating, “The committee Chair [may] adjourn the meeting...[if] the Chair decides that a case of disorder or misconduct is so serious as to prevent the committee from continuing its work.”

[The Chair, Conservative, Kelly McCauley]

Thanks.

I have Mr. Long and then Mr. Naqvi.

[Wayne Long, Liberal, Saint John—Rothesay, NB]

Thank you, Mr. Chair, and good morning.

I'm puzzled, Mr. Chair.

This is obviously.... I'm happy to be here on OGGO—

[The Chair, Conservative, Kelly McCauley]

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

[Wayne Long, Liberal, Saint John—Rothesay, NB]

Well, Mr. Chair, I'm confused. Why is the Premier of New Brunswick here with respect to the main estimates? Can you explain that?

Also, Mr. Chair, I'm wondering if you're able to table any conversations or emails that led to the premier being invited here for the main estimates.

I have questions on the main estimates that I can certainly ask the Premier of New Brunswick, but—

[The Chair, Conservative, Kelly McCauley]

Mr. Long, I'd ask you to get to your point of order, please.