Human Resources Committee on Feb. 15th, 2007

[The Chair, Conservative, Dean Allison]

Thank you, Madame Lavallée.

Given what I've heard in terms of essential services and the issue that it's not even referenced in section 87.4, I am going to say the motion is out of order.

[Mario Silva, Liberal, Davenport, ON]

With all respect, Mr. Chair, we can challenge the chair.

[Ruby Dhalla, Liberal, Brampton—Springdale, ON]

Before we challenge the chair, I believe when the legislative clerk was—

[Mike Lake, Conservative, Edmonton—Mill Woods—Beaumont, AB]

Is the challenge of the chair debatable?

[Ruby Dhalla, Liberal, Brampton—Springdale, ON]

I have a point of order that I want to bring up.

When the legislative clerk was speaking to the committee earlier, he mentioned that it would be up to the committee to decide if the amendment was within the scope of the bill. He also said the chair would have to make a ruling, but he did say it was up to the committee to decide.

Mr. Chair, with all due respect, do you think perhaps it would be beneficial if someone brought forward a motion to determine whether we, as committee members who have spent many months analyzing this bill, make that decision collectively and have a vote on it?

[The Chair, Conservative, Dean Allison]

Thank you, Ms. Dhalla.

Mr. Silva is challenging me. If the committee wants to overrule, we can go that route.

[Ruby Dhalla, Liberal, Brampton—Springdale, ON]

Could we go the route I'm suggesting as well?

[The Chair, Conservative, Dean Allison]

No.

The motion is that the decision of the chair be sustained.

(Ruling of the Chair overturned: nays 7; yeas 4)

[The Chair, Conservative, Dean Allison]

The chair has been overruled, so the amendment will stand as is.

Now we will have a vote on the amendment as Mr. Silva has put it.

[Mike Lake, Conservative, Edmonton—Mill Woods—Beaumont, AB]

Can we have a recorded vote?

(Amendment agreed to: yeas 7; nays 4)

[The Chair, Conservative, Dean Allison]

Now we are going to move on to amendment NDP-1.

[An hon. member]

We withdrew that.

[The Chair, Conservative, Dean Allison]

You withdrew that. Okay, thank you.

[Mario Silva, Liberal, Davenport, ON]

Mr. Chair, can I circulate the new proposed subsection (2.4)?

[The Chair, Conservative, Dean Allison]

You can circulate the amendment.

[Michael Savage, Liberal, Dartmouth—Cole Harbour, NS]

Mr. Chair, are we stopping at 5:30?

[Ruby Dhalla, Liberal, Brampton—Springdale, ON]

We have flights.

[Lynne Yelich, Conservative, Blackstrap, SK]

I think this is important.

[An hon. member]

Why don't we just finish the bill?

[Libby Davies, NDP, Vancouver East, BC]

I'm rearranging my flight and I have to go all the way to Vancouver. I'm going to get in at 1 a.m.

[Michael Savage, Liberal, Dartmouth—Cole Harbour, NS]

Mr. Chair, I move to adjourn.

[The Chair, Conservative, Dean Allison]

Hold on. We have a motion to adjourn. This is not debatable.

[Michael Savage, Liberal, Dartmouth—Cole Harbour, NS]

Mr. Chair, does the meeting not end at 5:30 unless there is a motion to continue?

[The Chair, Conservative, Dean Allison]

No, it doesn't, unfortunately.

[Mike Lake, Conservative, Edmonton—Mill Woods—Beaumont, AB]

Oh, it's not debatable.