Human Resources Committee on June 12th, 2007

[Yves Lessard, Bloc, Chambly—Borduas, QC]

With all respect, Madam Chair, please understand that we believe it is admissible because it deals with the amendments to Bill C-284.

If by chance we had affected section 14.7, I would have understood your refusal. But the provisions of Bill C-284 already give us room to submit the amendment. This is why we sincerely believe that this amendment must be considered admissible, Madam Chair.

I would like the amendment to be looked at in the light of the arguments that I have put forward. I say again that we have not affected section 14.7.

[The Vice-Chair, Liberal, Ruby Dhalla]

Mr. Lessard, the authority on which I based my ruling is found on page 654 of the House of Commons Procedure and Practice. It's also going to apply to the subsequent amendment BQ-4.

If anyone would like to challenge the chair's ruling, we can definitely do that, as this is not a debatable matter.

[Yves Lessard, Bloc, Chambly—Borduas, QC]

[Editor's note: inaudible] your permission.

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

Madam Chair, I have a point of order.

Can we be told if there are any other amendments that are out of order?

[The Vice-Chair, Liberal, Ruby Dhalla]

I have ruled both amendments BQ-3 and BQ-4 out of order.

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

What about the Liberal amendments? What about amendment L-1 on page 9?

[The Vice-Chair, Liberal, Ruby Dhalla]

Prior to the commencement of debate on any of the other amendments that are brought forward, nothing has been deemed to this point inadmissible.

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

Were the Bloc ones inadmissible before we had debate? Are you suggesting that something...?

You government chairs of these committees are very hard to deal with. Is this in the book that you guys were given?

[Some hon. members]

Oh, oh!

[The Vice-Chair, Liberal, Ruby Dhalla]

I wasn't privy to that book.

I have been advised by our expert legislative clerk that the chair cannot rule something inadmissible until it's been brought forward and an amendment has been moved.

[Geoff Regan, Liberal, Halifax West, NS]

Are you saying we can't bring forward amendment L-1 now?

[The Vice-Chair, Liberal, Ruby Dhalla]

We can bring forward amendment L-1 once we commence our debate on the particular motion and it's brought forward. Right now we're discussing amendment BQ-3, which is on page 10, and Mr. Lessard asked for a few minutes.

Mr. Lessard, your only option at this point is to challenge the ruling of the chair. We can have a vote.

[Yves Lessard, Bloc, Chambly—Borduas, QC]

Madam Chair, it is of course with deep regret that I challenge your ruling. This is why: our amendment deals only with the clauses of Bill C-284. That is to say that the opting-out provision applies only to the clauses of Bill C-284. This is why we believe that it is admissible, and why I challenge your ruling, Madam Chair.

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

This is not debatable.

[The Vice-Chair, Liberal, Ruby Dhalla]

It's non-debatable, so we can ask for a—

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

Can we get a recorded vote, please?

[The Vice-Chair, Liberal, Ruby Dhalla]

We can get a recorded vote if Mr. Lessard would like.

The question is, shall the ruling of the chair be sustained?

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

It's a recorded vote, right? I asked for a recorded vote.

[The Vice-Chair, Liberal, Ruby Dhalla]

It's a recorded vote, yes.

[An hon. member]

We respect our Chair.

[The Vice-Chair, Liberal, Ruby Dhalla]

(Ruling of the chair sustained [See Minutes of Proceedings])

[The Vice-Chair, Liberal, Ruby Dhalla]

The ruling of the chair is sustained. I'm sorry, Mr. Lessard.

If we would like, I can also make a ruling with respect to amendment BQ-4.

Going on, we're going to start with amendment BQ-1, which is on page 1.

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

Can we vote on amendment BQ-4?

[The Vice-Chair, Liberal, Ruby Dhalla]

We've just dealt with amendment BQ-3, which has been ruled inadmissible. Amendment BQ-4, which is on page 11 and which should be the last page of your package, will also be ruled inadmissible.

We can finish up with that, perhaps, if everyone would like, and then move on to the first amendment.

Once again, amendment BQ-4 will be ruled inadmissible, as it is out of the scope of Bill C-284. If anyone would like to challenge the chair's ruling, they may do so at this particular point.

[Ken Epp, Conservative, Edmonton—Sherwood Park, AB]

I have a point of order.