Procedure and House Affairs Committee on Nov. 25th, 2010

[Scott Reid, Conservative, Lanark—Frontenac—Lennox and Addington, ON]

Okay. Well, that's a kind of an answer, actually. It's actually an answer that indicates to me what--

[Mario Laframboise, Bloc, Argenteuil—Papineau—Mirabel, QC]

A point of order, Mr. Chair.

[The Chair, Conservative, Joe Preston]

Yes.

[Mario Laframboise, Bloc, Argenteuil—Papineau—Mirabel, QC]

Mr. Chair, if Mr. Reid wants to know the opposition's position, all he has to do is request a vote on his amendment. That way, he will find out what we think of it, won't he?

[The Chair, Conservative, Joe Preston]

You're still up.

[Scott Reid, Conservative, Lanark—Frontenac—Lennox and Addington, ON]

Actually, both those comments are very helpful in giving me a very clear idea of where the opposition is going on it, and that indicates to me how I ought to proceed as well. Thank you.

With regard to this whole thing, this was raised.... I think this motion is the identical text, but I'm not actually sure, because this was sprung on us with no prior notice at our House leaders meeting.

[Marcel Proulx, Liberal, Hull—Aylmer, QC]

Scott has really gone into it deeply.

[The Chair, Conservative, Joe Preston]

Address remarks through the chair, please, instead of across the table.

[Scott Reid, Conservative, Lanark—Frontenac—Lennox and Addington, ON]

I think that actually was through the chair.

[The Chair, Conservative, Joe Preston]

It's amazing how the sound was coming from that way. I do have--

[Marcel Proulx, Liberal, Hull—Aylmer, QC]

I was paying him a compliment. It's not committee business.

[The Chair, Conservative, Joe Preston]

Thank you.

[Scott Reid, Conservative, Lanark—Frontenac—Lennox and Addington, ON]

Actually, I do want to correct the record on one thing. Someone, I think it was Ms. Foote, said, “Scott's a lawyer”. I'm actually not a lawyer.

[Marcel Proulx, Liberal, Hull—Aylmer, QC]

You wish you were, though.

[Scott Reid, Conservative, Lanark—Frontenac—Lennox and Addington, ON]

I'm lawyer-like in my presentation of things. I'm actually a historian.

[Marcel Proulx, Liberal, Hull—Aylmer, QC]

You wish you were, don't you?

[Scott Reid, Conservative, Lanark—Frontenac—Lennox and Addington, ON]

I might have wished it, but I actually love this job. I can't imagine one that I could enjoy more than this. I'm not saying that lightly. I really do think that. I particularly enjoy the collegiality we have in this place--

[An hon. member]

Hear, hear!

[Scott Reid, Conservative, Lanark—Frontenac—Lennox and Addington, ON]

--and the deep respect we have for each other. I've always found that personally moving, and I have a high regard for the colleagues both in this room and...I want to say all colleagues in the House, maybe to somewhat varying degrees. In general, I have very high regard for all of us, and also particularly for the institution itself. One of the things that makes the institution of Parliament work best, I believe, Mr. Chair, is to have all of us acting respectfully.

[Marcel Proulx, Liberal, Hull—Aylmer, QC]

Is he going to talk about his dogs?

[Scott Reid, Conservative, Lanark—Frontenac—Lennox and Addington, ON]

No, I won't talk about my dogs. Thank you for that suggestion, Mr. Proulx.

[Marcel Proulx, Liberal, Hull—Aylmer, QC]

Oh, you do have a dog.

Oh, I'm sorry, Mr. Chair.

[The Chair, Conservative, Joe Preston]

It's nice to have you come back to the committee today, Mr. Proulx.

[Marcel Proulx, Liberal, Hull—Aylmer, QC]

Yes, I was late and I'm trying to catch up.

You know, you have to know the sense of this filibustering. You have to know where it's coming from and where it's going.

[Some hon. members]

Oh, oh!