Evidence of meeting #26 for Procedure and House Affairs in the 43rd Parliament, 2nd Session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was prorogation.
A recording is available from Parliament.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Ruby Sahota
No, I don't think you've done anything wrong. I think maybe sometimes the channel just gets disconnected.
Liberal
Stéphane Lauzon Liberal Argenteuil—La Petite-Nation, QC
If I speak French, can you hear interpretation now?
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Ruby Sahota
Yes, we can hear it.
Sorry, Mr. Lauzon. Please carry on.
Thank you, Ms. Vecchio, for bringing that up.
Liberal
Stéphane Lauzon Liberal Argenteuil—La Petite-Nation, QC
Thank you very much.
I will just rewind two sentences because they're very important.
I'm proud to have a feminist Prime Minister. I agree with all his remarks concerning women and equity. However, I feel the Deputy Prime Minister is the person in the best position to come and speak to us about the situation of women during the pandemic.
The amendment that Mr. Turnbull has proposed would be an opportunity for her to come and speak to us. I think it would also be highly appropriate for her to tell us about the $133 million earmarked for mental health services, substance abuse support and other programs.
She could also discuss authorization of the planned increase in extraordinary borrowings.
To date, however, the Conservatives have prevented the bills from being put to a vote.
Since we're considering inviting the Deputy Prime Minister, I'm going to quote her. In her letter to Mr. O'Toole, she wrote the following:
Partisanship is part of our democratic system. During the COVID-19 global pandemic, however, we have witnessed a rare unanimity in Canada's Parliament with respect to the emergency measures designed to support Canadians in need. As I am sure you will agree, that is how it should be.
I have decided to quote the remarks that the Deputy Prime Minister made in her letter to Mr. O'Toole because she could come and explain them to us if we allowed her to come and testify in committee. Then we could close the loop and move on to something else.
I couldn't agree more with the Deputy Prime Minister's words and impressions. They are absolutely valid, highly relevant and topical considering the amendment Mr. Turnbull has moved. My objective today is to underscore the importance of the Deputy Prime Minister's testimony in connection with Mr. Turnbull's amendment.
I know this political game is sometimes difficult for the opposition. The purpose of Mr. Turnbull's proposal is to amend a purely political motion that doesn't hold water. It's unprecedented.
We had an opportunity to reach a compromise until Mr. Blaikie said he didn't agree on the amendment.
Conservative
Conservative
Karen Vecchio Conservative Elgin—Middlesex—London, ON
In all fairness, I appreciate this, but we've been filibustering now for six days. Daniel's comment came just an hour ago, so perhaps you could explain to me why we filibustered for the first five days then. Let's just get back on track. I really love the relevance, and I just really would like to one day get to a vote on this, perhaps before I'm 95.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Ruby Sahota
I hope we do get to a vote on this before you're 95, Mrs. Vecchio.
Mr. Lauzon, go ahead.
Liberal
Liberal
Liberal
Kevin Lamoureux Liberal Winnipeg North, MB
Thank you.
I understand that the committee is reviewing a couple of motions in which I have a real keen interest, and I'm hoping to be able to address them sometime today if not this evening. I just wanted to make sure, by raising my hand now, that I would be put on the list. I don't know how you're proceeding with the list—
Liberal
Kevin Lamoureux Liberal Winnipeg North, MB
Mr. Turnbull's up there, too. Mrs. Vecchio is on there. I want to make sure I'm doing it properly. Could you just provide clarification as to how one gets onto the list, so that we can contribute to this debate?
My apologies to Mr. Lauzon, who's a man I'm a big fan of in terms of interrupting.
NDP
Daniel Blaikie NDP Elmwood—Transcona, MB
On a related point of clarification, Madam Chair, I'm just wondering if there are enough hours left in the day for an intervention by Mr. Lamoureux. Perhaps you could provide some clarification for the committee on that as well.
Liberal
Kevin Lamoureux Liberal Winnipeg North, MB
On the same point, Madam Speaker, I can tell my friend and colleague from Elmwood—Transcona that I'm told that you're adjourning, unfortunately, sometime around 10. I hope to get a good portion of my comments in before we adjourn anyway. I'll do my best.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Ruby Sahota
We have yet to have that discussion as to whether we'll be adjourning or not. I'm assuming there'll be plenty of time to hear from you, Mr. Lamoureux, but that is just an assumption. We'll see how the committee feels, at least before the vote for today. Then we'll take it from there.
I'm glad you did bring up the list because you wouldn't want to go hours and then not have your name on the list. The list that you see before you right now is not the entire list. The list is actually longer than what you see. We're on Mr. Lauzon, then we have Madame Normandin, Ms. Petitpas Taylor and Mr. Blaikie. I believe after that we have Mrs. Vecchio.
Mrs. Vecchio, you intentionally had your hand up, right? It wasn't from the points of order earlier, was it?
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Ruby Sahota
It's Mrs. Vecchio, then Mr. Turnbull and then, Mr. Lamoureux, it would be you.
Liberal
Kevin Lamoureux Liberal Winnipeg North, MB
To that end, Madam Chair, if by chance I'm not able to stay in the room, is it okay that I don't lose my place in the list and that I would be able to come back? Do I have to stay on inside the room currently?
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Ruby Sahota
It would be fine as long as you're here when your name comes up on the list.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Ruby Sahota
That's how we've been operating. If you're not here when your name is called on the list, then you would lose your spot.
Conservative
Peter Kent Conservative Thornhill, ON
I have a point of order, Chair.
You disallowed Christine for not being here.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Ruby Sahota
We had moved past her name on the list. She was supposed to be earlier in the day and she wasn't here at the time, so then when she came in she put her name on the list. If Mr. Lamoureux is not here when his speaking spot comes up, he will be removed from the list. He would have to come back to the meeting, actually put his hand up and get back on the list.