Evidence of meeting #23 for Procedure and House Affairs in the 39th Parliament, 1st Session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was amendment.
A recording is available from Parliament.
Conservative
Conservative
Scott Reid Conservative Lanark—Frontenac—Lennox and Addington, ON
I have no objection to going to the question right now, but it would be my desire, and I suspect that of my colleagues, if, as I anticipate, this goes through, that we would file a dissenting report. I'm not sure what the procedure is for doing that.
The motion calls for the adoption of the motion being reported to the House forthwith, right? I assume it's a report from the committee, and we'll have to file a dissenting report.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Gary Goodyear
We're going to have a ruling on that.
It is allowable. The chair rules that it is allowable that there be a dissenting report.
Does the committee agree with that? My ruling is that it's allowed. I want to know if anybody's challenging my decision. No?
Monsieur Guimond is going to challenge my decision. There's no debate on my decision.
Bloc
Michel Guimond Bloc Montmorency—Charlevoix—Haute-Côte-Nord, QC
No, no, it's just a question. I have a question.
Conservative
Bloc
Michel Guimond Bloc Montmorency—Charlevoix—Haute-Côte-Nord, QC
What is the length of the report? There's a report of five lines. Will the dissenting report be two lines, one line, one line and a half...?
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Gary Goodyear
All right, that's fair: length of report, deadline....
One paragraph?
Deadline?
Conservative
Scott Reid Conservative Lanark—Frontenac—Lennox and Addington, ON
Marlene, I can't tell you.... Give me time to come back, and then I can give it to you. But that's going to slow down our ability to get through the original motion today.
You notice I've been very quiet. It hasn't been my goal to slow this process down or anything; I've been very respectful. My goal now is not to do anything disrespectful. It's just....
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Gary Goodyear
A dissenting report, approximately one paragraph in length.
Mr. Guimond, do you have anything further?
Bloc
Michel Guimond Bloc Montmorency—Charlevoix—Haute-Côte-Nord, QC
I believe Standing Orders state that a minority report cannot be as long as the committee's report. I will check that. I agree to reporting to the House, but we are reporting a motion to the House. I do not think this is a committee report. I will not appeal your decision, because I am getting tired of this. Besides being the official languages censor, I am going to be the procedural censor. I am tired of this. However, I do not think this is a committee report.
First, if it is a report, it is exactly five lines long. It will not be a one paragraph report. Minority reports are provided for in the Standing Orders. Second, we will have to decide when the minority report will be presented. I maintain, however, that it is not a minority report, that this is not a committee report. Honestly!
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Gary Goodyear
I'm allowing a dissenting report to go forward. That's my ruling. If you want to challenge my ruling, then put the challenge on the table.
If the Standing Orders suggest that a dissenting report has to be less in length than the original report, then I think we can respect that. Five lines is a paragraph to me. This will be a paragraph less one word. I think we're splitting hairs here. I don't see the value in continuing this conversation.
If you want to challenge the chair, I'm open for a challenge. Is there a challenge?
Conservative
Jay Hill Conservative Prince George—Peace River, BC
On a point of order—I'm not challenging the chair.
My point of order is I thought we had agreed to proceed with the question before the time runs out. It's now three minutes to one, and if we're going to have the vote, then let's have the vote.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Gary Goodyear
That's where I am right now. Is there any further debate?
I believe there has been no further debate on the main motion. Are we ready for the question?
Conservative
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Gary Goodyear
We have a call for a recorded vote.
Would the dissenting report be prepared by tomorrow? Because we will be....
It will be reported then, because it's “forthwith”, just so everybody's clear.
Okay, I call the question.
Would you please read the original motion, and we will have a recorded vote.
The Clerk
The question is on the motion:
That this committee recommends that the Standing Orders in effect on October 5, 2006, including the provisional Standing Orders, be made permanent, and that the adoption of this motion be reported to the House forthwith.
Conservative
Bloc
Michel Guimond Bloc Montmorency—Charlevoix—Haute-Côte-Nord, QC
I will tell you how this works: you look at your list and you ask the people on it if they are voting yes or if they are voting no.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Gary Goodyear
Monsieur Guimond, you obviously missed your medication this morning.
(Motion agreed to: yeas 6; nays 5)
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Gary Goodyear
Before we end the meeting, I would like to remind you of Tuesday's meeting. We're again going back to clause-by-clause on Bill C-16. Monday at 11 a.m. is the deadline for any amendments that members might have.
Thank you very much.
Members, have a great day.
The meeting is adjourned.