Evidence of meeting #18 for Health in the 43rd Parliament, 2nd Session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was vaccines.
A recording is available from Parliament.
4:25 p.m.
Liberal
4:25 p.m.
Liberal
Kevin Lamoureux Liberal Winnipeg North, MB
Thank you.
On the same point of order dealing with the member's matter of privilege, I'm wondering if the member is suggesting that if we cannot provide French interpretation then we should continue on, because I would strongly advise against that. If we cannot provide French interpretation, I don't think it would be appropriate to continue.
Can she provide some clarification as to whether she is recommending that we continue despite not being able to provide interpretation?
4:25 p.m.
Conservative
Michelle Rempel Conservative Calgary Nose Hill, AB
No, Mr. Chair, on that point of privilege what I am saying is that it is a failure of the chair and the House of Commons to obtain resources for interpretation during this meeting.
To underscore, again, the Liberals—including the government House leader Mr. Lamoureux—are filibustering this motion. He has not talked about the contracts. It's very clear that the Liberals don't want this motion to pass. The opposition parties are clear that we do. House resources should be here to ensure that debate can happen, that includes in both official languages, so my privilege is being violated. The privilege of every member here is being violated.
Of course we want proceedings to happen per the Standing Orders with regard to interpretation, but we're a year into this pandemic. The House of Commons has been proceeding virtually for some time, and I do not accept that my privilege should be violated because they or you or whoever it is can't find interpretation. This should be something that is accommodated for. I don't believe that Liberal members of Parliament and the government should be able to abrogate democracy with the excuse that they can't find resources. If the government and the House of Commons can't find resources for a Zoom meeting and interpretation, how are they going to deliver vaccines for Canadians? Come on.
Mr. Chair, I need to finish this.
The privilege that I, as a parliamentarian, have is directly tied to my ability to pass motions or debate motions like this on behalf of my constituents. The excuse that somehow we don't have resources is the definition of a breach of privilege. This debate must continue, so you need to find resources, Chair. You need to find interpreters.
The clerk should have seen, and you should have known—in fact, I'm sure you've been privy to discussions with the centre and with other people—that this is a filibuster, so this needs to finish. I assert that my parliamentary privilege will be being breached if you decide to suspend or attempt to adjourn this meeting due to “lack of House resources”. I think most Canadians would agree. We are a year into this. The government has prorogued Parliament. It has done everything possible to stop opposition members from getting answers from it.
The Liberals can filibuster this all they want, but I don't think that it is fair. It is a breach of my privilege to allow them to have a break on their filibuster because of “lack of resources”. Find interpreters. Find House resources. Do it. This is democracy. Get it done. This is my privilege.
4:30 p.m.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Ron McKinnon
Thank you, Ms. Rempel Garner.
I am going to just say that the House resources are a matter of House administration to allocate, and the current situation is a matter of agreement between all the House whips and leaders. It's really not up to the chair, and it's not up to the government how to allocate House resources.
If you wish to raise—
4:30 p.m.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Ron McKinnon
I am speaking. Do not interrupt, please.
If you wish to raise a point of privilege, the committee cannot deal with points of privilege. You will have to take it up with the House.
4:30 p.m.
Conservative
Michelle Rempel Conservative Calgary Nose Hill, AB
On a point of order, Chair, actually, the committee has to deal with this point of privilege. It has to deal with it in order to go to the House. If I go to the Speaker to raise this point of privilege, he will say, “Go back to the committee”, so I urge you to learn your procedure.
I am raising a point of privilege and I urge you to rule on it.
4:30 p.m.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Ron McKinnon
The chair cannot rule on a point of privilege.
The committee can move a motion of privilege, and if the committee passes it, that motion can be passed to the House and the House can deal with it. You can also raise your point of privilege directly in the House at the next opportunity.
Be that as it may, we are over time. We have no resources. We do not have access to this room. We're already minutes over.
The interpreters—
4:30 p.m.
Conservative
Michelle Rempel Conservative Calgary Nose Hill, AB
On a point of order, Chair, on procedure, according to the Standing Orders and procedure, you actually have to decide whether or not you consider this a matter of privilege. You have to. I have raised this, so that is a ruling you need to make today before you attempt to shut down this meeting.
4:30 p.m.
Liberal
Kevin Lamoureux Liberal Winnipeg North, MB
Mr. Chairperson, as much as the member Ms. Rempel Garner likes to, she doesn't get to dictate the rules of the committee and try to misrepresent your responsibilities.
4:30 p.m.
Conservative
Michael Barrett Conservative Leeds—Grenville—Thousand Islands and Rideau Lakes, ON
Did I miss the election of the chair? Was Mr. Lamoureux elected chair during that exchange, Chair?
4:30 p.m.
Conservative
Michael Barrett Conservative Leeds—Grenville—Thousand Islands and Rideau Lakes, ON
Mr. Chair, on a point of order, the member was addressing the chair, and Mr. Lamoureux was not recognized. Is it a free-for-all?
4:30 p.m.
Liberal
4:30 p.m.
Conservative
Michael Barrett Conservative Leeds—Grenville—Thousand Islands and Rideau Lakes, ON
You've been asked to rule on Ms. Rempel Garner's point.
4:30 p.m.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Ron McKinnon
It is my understanding that if the member feels it's a point of privilege she can take it up with the House.
I don't think it's a point of privilege at this point for me to deal with, but I certainly invite her to—
4:35 p.m.
Conservative
4:35 p.m.
Conservative
4:35 p.m.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Ron McKinnon
I will deal with your point of order in due course.
It is my view that this is not an infringement on the member's privilege and we—
4:35 p.m.
Conservative
Michelle Rempel Conservative Calgary Nose Hill, AB
I challenge the chair on his ruling that this is not a matter of privilege.
4:35 p.m.
Liberal
