Procedure and House Affairs Committee on April 13th, 2021

[The Clerk]

We'll try to continue for now and see if it corrects itself.

[Alain Therrien, Bloc, La Prairie, QC]

May I speak?

[The Chair, Liberal, Ruby Sahota]

Yes.

[Alain Therrien, Bloc, La Prairie, QC]

I thought the word "Frankenstein" was unparliamentary and that I was being cut off because of that.

I'll briefly summarize what I was saying, because I don't know when the interpretation cut out.

I was just telling my Liberal colleagues that they ought to be proud of their leader. He is the Prime Minister, after all. I'm convinced that they have confidence in him and know that if he were to appear before the committee, he would manage nicely. I'm sure that if my leader, Mr. Blanchette, were to appear before this committee, he would handle it well.

I'll close by saying that I think the members of this committee will get things right; all we're doing is looking for the truth. We will ask questions about it. I'm sure that the Liberals will also get some satisfaction from his presence. They no doubt have some questions of their own.

When I listen to Ms. Duncan, Mr. Turnbull, and others, I'm convinced that people want to know the true story behind the prorogation. Maybe we'll be able to tell our children and our grandchildren that we managed to find out exactly why the government decided to prorogue Parliament in 2020.

We have a challenge and a responsibility towards our fellow citizens.

I'll stop there.

[The Chair, Liberal, Ruby Sahota]

Thank you, Mr. Therrien.

We have no more speakers on the speakers list. By that, I am assuming that everyone is ready to move on to deciding on the subamendment put forward by Mr. Blaikie.

Would you like a recorded vote on that? Okay.

Mr. Clerk, could we have a recorded vote?

[The Clerk]

Yes, Madam Chair.

The question is on Mr. Blaikie's subamendment.

[Tom Lukiwski, Conservative, Moose Jaw—Lake Centre—Lanigan, SK]

Madam Chair, I can hear members answering “yes”, but I didn't hear the question.

The only audio I'm getting is a one-word response.

[The Chair, Liberal, Ruby Sahota]

The question is on Mr. Blaikie's subamendment. Would you like us to read out the subamendment?

[Tom Lukiwski, Conservative, Moose Jaw—Lake Centre—Lanigan, SK]

No, I'm fine. I know what the subamendment is. I'm just not getting any audio other than a response of one word from, in this case, the Liberals.

I won't even know when my name is called to cast my vote.

[The Chair, Liberal, Ruby Sahota]

You're not hearing the calling of the names.

[Tom Lukiwski, Conservative, Moose Jaw—Lake Centre—Lanigan, SK]

No, I'm not.

[The Chair, Liberal, Ruby Sahota]

You're not hearing the feed from the clerk, then.

[Tom Lukiwski, Conservative, Moose Jaw—Lake Centre—Lanigan, SK]

No, I'm not.

[The Chair, Liberal, Ruby Sahota]

Mr. Clerk, can you say something so that we can test it?

[The Clerk]

Yes. We can test it from the room.

Mr. Lukiwski, can you hear us?

[Tom Lukiwski, Conservative, Moose Jaw—Lake Centre—Lanigan, SK]

I'm not hearing a thing, Madam Chair.

[The Chair, Liberal, Ruby Sahota]

He's not hearing anything.

[The Clerk]

Apologies, Madam Chair. We'll probably have to suspend to try to figure out what the issue is.

[The Chair, Liberal, Ruby Sahota]

Can you hear me, Mr. Lukiwski?

[Tom Lukiwski, Conservative, Moose Jaw—Lake Centre—Lanigan, SK]

I can hear you. I cannot hear the clerk.

[The Clerk]

Are other members having difficulty hearing me now, as I speak?

[The Chair, Liberal, Ruby Sahota]

I can hear you.

[Bobby Morrissey, Liberal, Egmont, PE]

Yes.

[The Clerk]

Okay.

Just stand by. We'll try to see if it's an issue that's emanating from—

[Tom Lukiwski, Conservative, Moose Jaw—Lake Centre—Lanigan, SK]

If the clerk is speaking now, I'm not hearing anything.