Procedure and House Affairs Committee on May 15th, 2007

[Michel Guimond, Bloc, Montmorency—Charlevoix—Haute-Côte-Nord, QC]

Mr. Chair, I would like you to ask the clerk if this motion can be debated or if we move immediately to a vote. Can we debate the question, given that, according to the procedure, I have indicated that I am challenging your decision?

[The Chair, Conservative, Gary Goodyear]

Your question, just for my clarification, is that you want to know if you can debate or vote on the appeal? I see.

[Michel Guimond, Bloc, Montmorency—Charlevoix—Haute-Côte-Nord, QC]

Yes, this is what Jay has done.

[The Chair, Conservative, Gary Goodyear]

I see. He's asking for another point of order on the same issue.

[Michel Guimond, Bloc, Montmorency—Charlevoix—Haute-Côte-Nord, QC]

And I think we must deal with the first--

[The Chair, Conservative, Gary Goodyear]

Okay.

Colleagues, let me read from chapter 20: “While the Chair's rulings are not subject to debate, they may be appealed to the committee. A member appeals a ruling by requesting that the committee vote on the motion”. And the motion, obviously worded properly, is that the chair's ruling be sustained. That isn't debatable. You are correct, Mr. Guimond.

I'm going to ask for a vote on whether my ruling that Mr. Plamondon's motion is out of order be overturned.

Does everybody understand what I'm asking? There can't be any debate, I'm sorry. We're voting.

[Jay Hill, Conservative, Prince George—Peace River, BC]

A point of order, I guess.

[The Chair, Conservative, Gary Goodyear]

I can't have a debate on it, Mr. Hill. I'm sorry. The rules are clear. There's a motion on the floor that--

[Jay Hill, Conservative, Prince George—Peace River, BC]

I just point out, Mr. Chair, that if we proceed with this--

[Some hon. members]

Out of order.

[The Chair, Conservative, Gary Goodyear]

I'm sorry. I'm very sorry. There's a motion on the floor that my ruling be appealed.

[Jay Hill, Conservative, Prince George—Peace River, BC]

It has to be that your ruling be sustained, and then we can vote it down.

[The Chair, Conservative, Gary Goodyear]

Correct.

Can I have a vote on the sustainment of my ruling? My ruling was that Mr. Plamondon's motion is out of order.

All in favour of the appeal and my motion being sustained?

[Tom Lukiwski, Conservative, Regina—Lumsden—Lake Centre, SK]

Not appeal, that the ruling--

[Jay Hill, Conservative, Prince George—Peace River, BC]

You should say all in favour of your ruling.

(Ruling of the chair overturned)

[The Chair, Conservative, Gary Goodyear]

We're back to the motion.

Order, please.

[Louis Plamondon, Bloc, Bas-Richelieu—Nicolet—Bécancour, QC]

Now we vote.

[Jay Hill, Conservative, Prince George—Peace River, BC]

That's a debatable motion.

[The Chair, Conservative, Gary Goodyear]

The motion before us now is.... I'm sorry?

[Tom Lukiwski, Conservative, Regina—Lumsden—Lake Centre, SK]

Mr. Chair, a point of order, I just noticed that it's after one o'clock. Are we extending the meeting or are we adjourning?

[The Chair, Conservative, Gary Goodyear]

I don't see a motion to adjourn.

[Jay Hill, Conservative, Prince George—Peace River, BC]

Then I move adjournment.

[The Chair, Conservative, Gary Goodyear]

I have a motion on the floor already. I'm sorry. I have a motion on the floor. My understanding from my clerks is that this is a debatable motion. If it's on the floor right now, the committee has agreed that this is a valid motion.

The motion is that we move to the vote. Correct?

[Louis Plamondon, Bloc, Bas-Richelieu—Nicolet—Bécancour, QC]

But the motion said to vote immediately on the second report. My motion said that.

[The Chair, Conservative, Gary Goodyear]

We still have to debate it. We still have to debate the motion, if members want to.