Procedure and House Affairs Committee on Feb. 4th, 2016

[Ruby Sahota, Liberal, Brampton North, ON]

I'm sorry, but comments on what? I missed the last sentence.

[The Chair, Liberal, Larry Bagnell]

The time is up. Does the committee agree to extend the time? We're past one o'clock now.

[Ruby Sahota, Liberal, Brampton North, ON]

For how long?

[The Chair, Liberal, Larry Bagnell]

How long do you suggest, Mr. Christopherson?

[David Christopherson, NDP, Hamilton Centre, ON]

I only need five or six minutes. I really don't have a lot. It's just a couple of things that I want to get on the record on the motion, and that's it. I don't know about anybody else. Otherwise, we don't pass motions. It's that simple.

[The Chair, Liberal, Larry Bagnell]

Mr. Graham.

[David Graham, Liberal, Laurentides—Labelle, QC]

I'd like to amend it so that the end of the motion concludes with “subject to the availability of the minister”.

[The Chair, Liberal, Larry Bagnell]

You're amending the motion. We have to vote on the time first, though. We're past the time.

[David Christopherson, NDP, Hamilton Centre, ON]

How about an end time? Availability could be “never”.

[A voice]

Make it 1:15.

[David Christopherson, NDP, Hamilton Centre, ON]

No, I mean the availability of the minister.

We're talking about the motion, right?

[David Graham, Liberal, Laurentides—Labelle, QC]

I'm talking about the motion. We've already agreed to extend, haven't we?

[David Christopherson, NDP, Hamilton Centre, ON]

Yes.

[The Chair, Liberal, Larry Bagnell]

You are proposing that the committee extend to 1:15?

[A voice]

Yes.

[An hon. member]

We could do it in blocks of a few minutes.

[Kevin Lamoureux, Liberal, Winnipeg North, MB]

Why are you extending it, David?

[David Christopherson, NDP, Hamilton Centre, ON]

Because you, the government, seem to want to get these motions passed today. We in the opposition are not looking to delay that, but it's partly because you took the floor for so long that there's not enough time to get the comments in before one o'clock.

All I'm asking for individually is about four to six minutes, or five minutes, to get my piece on the record, and then I'm ready to vote, but we can't do that if we don't get an extension. I can't speak for my colleagues, but that's where I am. They've already indicated that they are looking to see this come to a vote.

It's up to you. If you want the motion, you have to give us another 15 or 20 minutes. If you don't care, let's adjourn.

[Kevin Lamoureux, Liberal, Winnipeg North, MB]

Go ahead and start speaking, then.

Mr. Chair, I suspect.... I don't want to speak on behalf of the committee.

[David Christopherson, NDP, Hamilton Centre, ON]

Ha. Why not? You speak on behalf of that half.

[Kevin Lamoureux, Liberal, Winnipeg North, MB]

David, you're not—

[David Christopherson, NDP, Hamilton Centre, ON]

Go ahead. What's your point?

[Kevin Lamoureux, Liberal, Winnipeg North, MB]

You're not being fair, David, on this. It's now past one o'clock—

[David Christopherson, NDP, Hamilton Centre, ON]

I'm not being fair? You shouldn't even be here.

[Kevin Lamoureux, Liberal, Winnipeg North, MB]

Typically, every member has a right to sit in the committee. Every member has a right. Don't try to deprive me—