Procedure and House Affairs Committee on Feb. 6th, 2014

[The Chair, Conservative, Joe Preston]

I did not rule—

[Kevin Lamoureux, Liberal, Winnipeg North, MB]

We are prepared. You should be prepared.

[The Chair, Conservative, Joe Preston]

—Mr. Christopherson out of order for doing so, and his motion is noted.

I think at this moment, folks, we're using up our clock very quickly. We had expected to use some time at the end of this meeting to talk about our next steps, and what we might do.

I guess the point is: can we use five minutes, folks? Can we excuse our witnesses and move on or...?

[David Christopherson, NDP, Hamilton Centre, ON]

Yes, I'm okay with that.

[The Chair, Conservative, Joe Preston]

Mr. Lamoureux.

[Kevin Lamoureux, Liberal, Winnipeg North, MB]

Just one quick issue, then.

What should the House do with the members about whom these letters are received? Is that something we could get an answer on from Mr. Mayrand before he leaves?

[The Chair, Conservative, Joe Preston]

Monsieur Mayrand, do you want to give us a quick one on that, on what the House should do when a letter's received, or do you want us to carry on with our thing? That was the question.

[Marc Mayrand]

It's a matter for the House. I don't think it would be appropriate for me to suggest how the House should be dealing with those matters.

[Kevin Lamoureux, Liberal, Winnipeg North, MB]

Okay. Thank you.

[The Chair, Conservative, Joe Preston]

Thank you. I gave you the shot.

Thank you very much for coming today. I apologize on behalf of...yes?

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

Sorry. On a point of order, Mr. Chair.

[The Chair, Conservative, Joe Preston]

Yes, of course.

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

You said, “Should we”, so I took that as—

[The Chair, Conservative, Joe Preston]

And I looked for agreement among the groups. But, go ahead, yes.

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

Yes.

I actually would prefer to have the questioning continue, if it's okay. We've got this witness for less time than we thought. I note that there's an important follow-up question from this side, so....

[The Chair, Conservative, Joe Preston]

Okay, I'm game. You've got a minute.

Go ahead. One more round of a minute.

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

Thank you.

I just want to go to the last intervention I had with you, Mr. Mayrand, because we certainly have a difference of opinion on what section 459 says, and I will quote:

(1) A candidate or his or her official agent may apply to a judge who is competent to conduct a recount for an order (a) relieving the candidate or official agent from complying with a request referred to in subsection 457(2)....

Section 457 means when you ask for a corrected return.

Then it goes on to say, an application may be made (a) within two weeks after the expiration of the period. In other words, you gave Mr. Bezan until May 17 to file a corrected return. He did not. He informed you he would be filing an application with a judge to relieve him of that obligation before the two-week period had ended. Knowing that he was going to file the application with the judge, you sent the letter to Speaker Scheer.

I simply want to know why. You had to have known that he would have sent that application to the judge within the two weeks. He stated he would. If the judge had come back and said, continue the discussions, the letter would never have been sent. It was your choice, and I just don't know why.

[The Chair, Conservative, Joe Preston]

Thank you, Mr. Lukiwski.

Mr. Christopherson, one minute, please.

[David Christopherson, NDP, Hamilton Centre, ON]

I would just try to get back to where I was before, Chair.

[The Chair, Conservative, Joe Preston]

Sure.

[David Christopherson, NDP, Hamilton Centre, ON]

I don't have any more questions. I would just afford Mr. Mayrand an opportunity to use any of the time that I have to say anything he'd like to that he hasn't yet had a chance to, if you wish, sir.

[Marc Mayrand]

Maybe these discussions will clarify matters, but I'm of the view that the very question of whether an MP could sit while a matter is pending before the court is a matter of privilege that should be decided by the House. I leave it to you to advise otherwise.

[David Christopherson, NDP, Hamilton Centre, ON]

Merci beaucoup.

Thank you, Chair.

[The Chair, Conservative, Joe Preston]

All right.

Seeing that, and seeing the absence of Mr. Lamoureux, we will adjourn.

Thank you very much, Monsieur Mayrand, for coming and staying as long as you could.

We will be sending a notice of motion on Tuesday's meeting. Private members was to meet in one hour. We may now add a piece to that second hour about steering, and where we're heading with the rest, and your motion.

We are adjourned.