Evidence of meeting #40 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 work.
A video is available from Parliament.
Conservative
Stephen Woodworth Conservative Kitchener Centre, ON
I'd like to ask my next question since the question has been answered—
Leader of the Official Opposition and Leader of the New Democratic Party, NDP
We were in constant contact with the legal service of the House of Commons. Everything was approved by those people and by us. That is why it took some time. According to all those people, we were obeying the rules. Every time an issue arose, it was resolved by discussion. To our knowledge, we complied in every way.
Conservative
Stephen Woodworth Conservative Kitchener Centre, ON
Mr. Mulcair, did you and your team inform yourselves from the rules before you reached the conclusion that you were respecting them all, yes or no?
Leader of the Official Opposition and Leader of the New Democratic Party, NDP
Mr. Chair, I am the kind of person who checks. We have looked at the entire matter in detail on several occasions in the past few weeks.
I am going to cite one of the most important rules. It is useful to refer to it in response to my colleague's question. I am going to do it in his language so that he misses nothing.
This is straight from the Members By-Law of the Parliament of Canada Act:
duties and activities that relate to the position of Member, wherever performed and whether or not performed in a partisan manner, namely, participation in activities relating to the proceedings and work of the House of Commons and activities undertaken in representing his or her constituency—
Conservative
Conservative
Stephen Woodworth Conservative Kitchener Centre, ON
I did not ask the witness to quote whatever rule he's quoting. It's not the rule I'm interested in and surely I'm entitled to ask questions about what I'm interested in and not be prevented by the witness rambling on about what he wants to explain. He had his five minutes. He has other members here at the table who will give him an opportunity to explain whatever he wants to explain. Surely I'm entitled to ask my questions.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Joe Preston
You are entitled to ask questions. The answers may be a different thing.
Françoise Boivin NDP Gatineau, QC
He's the one who asked if the leader of the official opposition had, with his MPs—
Conservative
NDP
Conservative
Stephen Woodworth Conservative Kitchener Centre, ON
Thank you, Mr. Chair.
I'm going to ask you about a rule that I'm interested in, Mr. Mulcair, and I'm going to quote it to you from section 4.1 of the Members' Allowances and Services Manual.
Members may share office space with another Member, a member of a provincial legislature or an elected municipal representative.
Are you familiar with that rule, yes or no?
Leader of the Official Opposition and Leader of the New Democratic Party, NDP
Yes, of course I am.
Conservative
Stephen Woodworth Conservative Kitchener Centre, ON
Do you agree that the plain words of this rule do not authorize members of Parliament to share space with a partisan political party, yes or no?
Leader of the Official Opposition and Leader of the New Democratic Party, NDP
No, I don't.
Conservative
Stephen Woodworth Conservative Kitchener Centre, ON
Do you see that referenced in the rule anywhere, Mr. Mulcair?
Leader of the Official Opposition and Leader of the New Democratic Party, NDP
Yes, I do.
Conservative
Stephen Woodworth Conservative Kitchener Centre, ON
Can you read to me where in section 4.1 you find authorization for a member to share space with a partisan political party?
Leader of the Official Opposition and Leader of the New Democratic Party, NDP
Mr. Chairman, on April 8, 2014, some one and a half months ago, there was a change of rules and I'll read it to you:
...adopting the following provisional amendment to the Members By-law:
Place of work
93.1(1) No employee of a Member or House Officer may have as their regular place of work any space in premises owned, leased or under the effective control of a political party.
Now, what's interesting here is that it comes into force on April 14 and it has the effect of preventing employees or contractors whose salaries are being paid by the House of Commons from working on premises owned or leased by a political party.
Conservative
Leader of the Official Opposition and Leader of the New Democratic Party, NDP
Oh, darn.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Joe Preston
I'm going to go to Mr. Julian. Something tells me he may allow you to finish.