Procedure and House Affairs Committee on Oct. 22nd, 2013

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

I'm not sure if this was a legitimate point of order, but it speaks to something that David was saying and some of the concerns that the NDP were offering because of the situation we're in now, and that is to deal with the makeup of committees. The fact that with this mini-filibuster—and I call it “mini” because David and I have gone much longer than that, and I know you have as well, so I would suggest this is a small one—there is the opportunity in my view....

Mr. Chair, I believe you've got the membership report ready to go. I'm assuming that it has been ratified or signed off by all parties. If there were general agreement among this committee—there is certainly no opposition from the government side—we could table that report in the House of Commons so that committees can begin their work.

[An hon. member]

Whoa, whoa. I have the floor.

[The Chair, Conservative, Joe Preston]

We're still on these points of order.

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

I didn't know if it was a point of order, but I wanted to get that on the record.

[The Chair, Conservative, Joe Preston]

That one we'll get to. We're still having a discussion over here on the other one.

[Nathan Cullen, NDP, Skeena—Bulkley Valley, BC]

Could I make a suggestion that rather than try to hash that out here on the microphones, Tom and I break off to the side and talk about a way through that?

[The Chair, Conservative, Joe Preston]

The part on committee administration?

[Nathan Cullen, NDP, Skeena—Bulkley Valley, BC]

Sure, my understanding of his intention is that the delay that has been created today doesn't affect the work of the other committees that are going ahead. There's a particular preoccupation—

[The Chair, Conservative, Joe Preston]

A number of things that were delayed today will cause some issues, but that for certain is one of then.

[Nathan Cullen, NDP, Skeena—Bulkley Valley, BC]

As Tom would remember, last night we had a vote in the House of Commons about two particular committees' work. One was this one, ironically enough, urging the government to follow through on the motion we passed unanimously at the end of last session and again last night. The second one, which I know is of great importance to a lot of committee members, is the study into missing and murdered aboriginal women.

There is certainly concern in that regard among New Democrats to allow this, regardless of the games being played with this particular motion we see from the government today. I think there will be interest in that, but I think Tom and I can go offline and talk about that.

I don't want to put the clerk on the spot with my previous point of order but if there is a recommendation or suggestion—

[The Chair, Conservative, Joe Preston]

There does not appear, from a procedural point of view, to be a way we can amend an amended motion to include further details.

[Nathan Cullen, NDP, Skeena—Bulkley Valley, BC]

Could it then come when we deal with the main motion, if we get to that point today? Do you follow my meaning?

I just want to find an expedient way through this, which is difficult obviously if we can't get a response.

[The Chair, Conservative, Joe Preston]

If it were the first amendment to the main motion, you could then—

[Nathan Cullen, NDP, Skeena—Bulkley Valley, BC]

Or the motion then as amended. For example, and I don't want to delay this, but as Mr. Lamoureux's amendment is taken by the—

[The Chair, Conservative, Joe Preston]

You would have to key it first, but you're right.

[Nathan Cullen, NDP, Skeena—Bulkley Valley, BC]

If that becomes the main motion—

[The Chair, Conservative, Joe Preston]

There's a better chance of it being the real amendment to the main motion, yes.

[Nathan Cullen, NDP, Skeena—Bulkley Valley, BC]

Right, amended or otherwise.

[The Chair, Conservative, Joe Preston]

Right.

[Nathan Cullen, NDP, Skeena—Bulkley Valley, BC]

That's the clarification I can more or less get back. What I would then do, in the interests of saving time, is work with the clerk on what the language would be. Again, I'm not familiar with using this type of technique within a motion.

We get motions like that from the House all the time.

[The Chair, Conservative, Joe Preston]

We try to do it a lot, but it's not possible.

[Nathan Cullen, NDP, Skeena—Bulkley Valley, BC]

We have one, right? The motion we voted on last night had a very specific date prescribed by the House. I'm aware of this, and it may require some extra hours now that we've lost a day due to the government motion. I think time can obviously be included in the direction a committee takes on anything, be it a study or the recommendation on a vote. This sounds like it may be into some grey area.

Regardless, I'll work with your team.

[The Chair, Conservative, Joe Preston]

I'm going to let you give it a try, but we're drastically running out of time.

[Nathan Cullen, NDP, Skeena—Bulkley Valley, BC]

Sure. In the meantime, I'll talk to Mr. Lukiwski.

[The Chair, Conservative, Joe Preston]

Mr. Lukiwski, on another point of order.