Evidence of meeting #12 for Procedure and House Affairs in the 41st Parliament, 2nd Session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was court.
A video is available from Parliament.
Conservative
Tom Lukiwski Conservative Regina—Lumsden—Lake Centre, SK
Mr. Chair, despite the protestations of my friend opposite that I'm trying to make this into a partisan discussion, I'm not trying to make this partisan in any way, shape, or form. I think this is important for all parliamentarians. We have to come to at least a clear understanding and a clear set of rules and procedures to guide us. In my view, and I'll make it quite public, as I've done in the past, if there is a dispute that cannot be resolved between discussions from the Chief Electoral Officer and a candidate's team, legal team or otherwise, then the only proper and appropriate recourse would be for the courts to decide and let that decision be final.
Thank you, Chair.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Joe Preston
Thank you very much.
Monsieur Mayrand, thank you for coming today and thank you for helping start this.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Joe Preston
You may have brought us more questions than answers, but we thank you for your help in getting us going on this. We have to answer now to what the Speaker has asked us to do on this motion of privilege.
You have a point of order, Mr. Christopherson.
NDP
David Christopherson NDP Hamilton Centre, ON
I'm seeking advice or guidance, Chair. What would be the appropriate time to move a motion to invite the parliamentary law clerk?
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Joe Preston
Right after we excuse our witnesses, we're going to do some committee business based on this study.
David Christopherson NDP Hamilton Centre, ON
We can't do that in public? I can't move the motion in public?
NDP
David Christopherson NDP Hamilton Centre, ON
That's great, thanks. Could you signal when that would be appropriate?
NDP
David Christopherson NDP Hamilton Centre, ON
I move that this committee call in the parliamentary law clerk as a second witness. If we can, I'd like to have Mr. Mayrand there at the same time.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Joe Preston
The committee would like to have some discussion on that motion, I would think, because it's about witnesses.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Joe Preston
We'll allow them to go, so they can get on with their day while we do a little bit of our business. Some of this is the selection of witnesses, which isn't usually done by motion, but we're happy to talk about it today.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Joe Preston
I know.
l have Mr. Reid, then Mr. Lamoureux.... Actually, I have it backwards: it's Mr. Lamoureux, then Mr. Reid.
Liberal
Kevin Lamoureux Liberal Winnipeg North, MB
I don't have a problem in terms of inviting another witness, but I do want to make a comment, Mr. Chair.
I'm somewhat concerned that when we have these independent offices like Elections Canada come before the committee, we have to be a little bit more guarded, I suspect, in some of the allegations. In one of the lines of questioning, for example, we posed a question in which it seemed to me we were implying to Elections Canada that they should consider breaking the law. I thought Elections Canada witness was actually very clear in the presentation that he wrote the letter because his interpretation of the law was that he had to write the letter.
I just say it as a cautionary note. As a committee member, I wouldn't want to tell Elections Canada in any fashion, or imply in any way, that they have broken the law. If I had moved the motion, my motion would have been to that effect, that we commend Elections Canada on following the law and providing the letter to the Speaker, because I think that's an important point.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Joe Preston
Let's not write the report from this committee until after we've heard all our witnesses.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Joe Preston
I'm happy for the input, but right now I have a motion from Mr. Christopherson.
Liberal
Kevin Lamoureux Liberal Winnipeg North, MB
In regard more specifically to the motion, Mr. Speaker, if there is the opportunity for us to have more witnesses, I think that would be an appropriate witness to call.