Thanks, Chair.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker and Ms. O'Brien, for being here.
My question--when I get to the question--might be considered slightly out of order here, but I think it's a question all of us here have a great deal of interest in having answered, so I preface my remarks by saying that. It has to do with ten percenters, so it does have some relationship to the reasons you're here.
As you know, Mr. Speaker, yesterday there was a motion passed through the House to stop the regrouping or the mailing of ten percenters outside of our own ridings. That issue is mainly within the purview of the Board of Internal Economy, which you chair. Subsequent to that, the Liberals have indicated they would be voluntarily stopping those mailings, but they would want a review to see if other parties complied with the motion.
The Conservative Party said we would stop mailing outside of our own ridings if all of the other parties did as well, so if all parties said that was good, and we all agreed, then fine, and it would be a done deal. The cost of ten percenters would go down. That would be a good thing.
My question--and this is where we might be just fringing on whether or not this is in order--is what happens if you do not get unanimous consent amongst all parties to stop mailing ten percenters outside of our own ridings? Is the BOIE compelled to follow the wishes of the House, based on the motion that was carried, or does it have a certain autonomy on that issue of ten percenters?
Again, Mr. Speaker, I don't know whether you're in a position to answer or not, but I think everyone here would love to get your take on that.