I did not rule—
Evidence of meeting #14 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 bezan.
A video is available from Parliament.
Evidence of meeting #14 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 bezan.
A video is available from Parliament.
12:55 p.m.
Liberal
12:55 p.m.
Conservative
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...?
12:55 p.m.
Liberal
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?
12:55 p.m.
Conservative
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.
12:55 p.m.
Chief Electoral Officer, Elections Canada
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.
12:55 p.m.
Conservative
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?
12:55 p.m.
Conservative
Scott Reid Conservative Lanark—Frontenac—Lennox and Addington, ON
Sorry. On a point of order, Mr. Chair.
12:55 p.m.
Conservative
Scott Reid Conservative Lanark—Frontenac—Lennox and Addington, ON
You said, “Should we”, so I took that as—
12:55 p.m.
Conservative
12:55 p.m.
Conservative
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....
12:55 p.m.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Joe Preston
Okay, I'm game. You've got a minute.
Go ahead. One more round of a minute.
12:55 p.m.
Conservative
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.
12:55 p.m.
Conservative
12:55 p.m.
NDP
David Christopherson NDP Hamilton Centre, ON
I would just try to get back to where I was before, Chair.
12:55 p.m.
NDP
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.
12:55 p.m.
Chief Electoral Officer, Elections Canada
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.
12:55 p.m.
Conservative
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.