My point of order is that when you recognize somebody, anybody around this table, and you give them the floor, you cannot remove them from the floor saying your recognition was assumed on a point of order. You recognized him, you gave him the floor, he then has the floor. For you to interrupt him is against the Standing Orders, so the floor is Mr. Blaney's.

3:45 p.m.

Liberal

The Chair Liberal Bryan May

Okay.

Mr. Blaney.

3:45 p.m.

Conservative

Steven Blaney Conservative Bellechasse—Les Etchemins—Lévis, QC

Thank you very much, Mr. Chair.

I want to thank you first of all for giving me the opportunity to speak this afternoon. I would point out once again that I intend to table a motion this afternoon so the committee can continue to be as effective as it has been in recent months and to ensure the full cooperation of each of its members. As you know, the success of the committee and of its work depends on a climate of trust, and the official opposition considers that this trust has been undermined for various reasons, but there is no point rehashing the past.

That said, three ministers attended the meeting on May 23, 2018. The goal was to approve the votes in the Main Estimates. For various reasons, however, the committee members, including government and opposition members alike, were not able to ask any questions at all. That is why I am tabling my motion. I will read it out and will then explain why, in my opinion, it could resolve the committee's current impasse. The trust and respect of each member must be restored.

Before I read the motion, I want to point out that, on May 23, the committee's schedule was disrupted by measures in the House of Commons, that I would go so far as to describe as stalling tactics. It was an unusual situation. What the steering committee had planned was thwarted and we were caught off guard. As members of the opposition, we consider it extremely important to preserve the right and need to ask questions, especially for budget votes.

My motion is as follows:

That, in relation to the study of the Main Estimates 2018-19, the Committee invite the Minister of Families, Children and Social Development, the Minister of Employment, Workforce Development and Labour, and the Minister of Sports and Persons with Disabilities; that the Committee request that the ministers appear for questions from all members on or before Wednesday, June 13, 2018.

We appreciate the fact that the ministers appeared before the committee, but, as I said, we were unfortunately unable to ask them any questions. Asking questions is a fundamental right of parliamentarians. We would like to pick up the meeting where we left off, which is after the ministers had given their presentations. Moreover, we do not think those presentations were necessary in this context, since the committee had started half an hour later than scheduled. After that, there was a vote right in the middle of the committee's work, and then another at the very end of the meeting.

We want to serve our role as parliamentarians. It is important to me that members of the Conservative Party and all the other members are able to exercise this democratic right of asking questions. If the ministers appear but do not have the opportunity to take questions on an issue we consider important, we are not completing the process. We have questions to ask those ministers. I would even suggest that this take place this Wednesday, because that is the time available to the committee to approve the Main Estimates. It could be a way of turning the page and concluding this episode in which we were unable to achieve the desired results owing to certain circumstances.

Once again, the fundamental issue is that three ministers appeared before us but no questions were asked in the end. I am confident that the ministers were prepared to answer the opposition's questions.

Ministers are part of the executive branch. As the legislative branch, we are one of the three pillars of our system of government. It is an important element. People often point out that the oral question period is not the only important aspect; the work done in committees is also important. We have important questions to ask, specifically to the Minister of Employment, Workforce Development and Labour and to the Minister of Families, Children and Social Development.

As you know, Mr. Chair, in previous conversations we have had the opportunity to acknowledge the committee's important role. Parliamentarians must be allowed to exercise their right to ask questions. At the committee's last meeting, however, votes were held in the House of Commons to limit debate on parliamentary reform. That is something of paradox: the government prides itself on its sunny ways and promotes transparency, which we recommend, but it seems they are taking additional measures to muzzle the opposition, as I said last Wednesday. That is the reason for this motion. We recognize that the government has a majority, but we consider this motion necessary to restore trust and to ensure the full co-operation of the opposition.

We want to do our work and co-operate with the government, provided that the climate of trust is restored. We consider it essential for the ministers to appear again to answer our questions in order to restore the climate of trust. We could suggest to the ministers, at a subsequent appearance, that they submit their notes to us in writing. As to their appearance regarding the budget votes, we have important questions for them and we consider it important to ask them those questions.

Once again, we would like the three ministers to appear before the committee next Wednesday to answer our questions. We know the ministers are extremely busy, but we are flexible and can accommodate their schedule in order to complete the process that began somewhat chaotically.

I would point out once again that the government held votes in the House. I would consider it completely unacceptable not to be able to ask questions of the ministers. In previous conversations, you mentioned that the House of Commons is entering a very intense period. The next four weeks will be hectic. We can make sure it all goes smoothly if we are allowed to exercise our role and ask questions. That would create a win-win situation.

That is why this motion is being put forward this afternoon. The motion has been tabled and presented to the committee. All the members have reviewed it. I am sure that the committee members know what happened at the last meeting and that the official opposition would like to ask questions in the interest of transparency. We are impatient to see the ministers and to ask them questions, within the parameters set by the committee. That would not only allow us to complete the last meeting, but also to restore trust, which is so important. I think we can restore that trust. As you know, the committee has done good work. It has tabled reports and studied the bill on harassment and violence in the workplace, among other things. I am also very proud of the committee's work. We want this to continue. In my view, it is important for each member of the committee to have the opportunity to do so.

I recognize that, when ministers appear before the committee, not all the members will necessarily be present, but at least one member of each party should be in attendance. It will be up to each party to work together to get to the bottom of the matter.

We are talking about several billions of dollars. There are important issues at stake. There are issues that we need answers on. Committees are the established forum and that is how we proceed. I am sure the ministers would appreciate closing the loop by returning to the committee to answer questions. Moreover, they have been co-operative, since they did return. Unfortunately, due to time constraints, we were unable to get answers to our questions.

Essentially, three ministers appeared, but we did not have the opportunity to ask them questions. We want to complete the process. That is why we would like them to come back and, as I said, I am willing to be flexible.

I would once again suggest this Wednesday. Why that day? Because it is the last day we have scheduled to approve the votes in the main estimates.

I am sure that, as the chair, you would like in a sense to put your stamp of approval on the main estimates that the ministers presented to us. I cannot presume to know how they will answer, but ministers are usually well prepared to answer our questions. At the end of the process, we will be pleased to co-operate and consider approving the main estimates. As it stands right now, it is hard for us to offer our co-operation because we think being able to ask the government questions is an important part of our work as parliamentarians, but we have not been able to do that. This of course undermines our trust.

We truly want the committee to function effectively and respectfully. It is of course a partisan forum, and we know that we will not always agree on all the issues. As long as there is trust and good will, however, we can achieve good results for the people who elected us.

That is why the motion is before you, Mr. Chair. We want to complete the process that we began last week by having the opportunity to ask the ministers questions during the committee's proceedings.

3:55 p.m.

Liberal

The Chair Liberal Bryan May

Thank you.

MP Fortier, please.

3:55 p.m.

Conservative

Rosemarie Falk Conservative Battlefords—Lloydminster, SK

I have a point of order.

3:55 p.m.

Liberal

The Chair Liberal Bryan May

Rosemarie.

3:55 p.m.

Conservative

Rosemarie Falk Conservative Battlefords—Lloydminster, SK

I wanted to note, Chair, that you had seen that my colleague Mark and I both had our hands up, and you proceeded to go to the Liberal side of the table and were looking for somebody to put their hand up.

3:55 p.m.

Liberal

The Chair Liberal Bryan May

I have you both on the list.

May 28th, 2018 / 3:55 p.m.

Liberal

Mona Fortier Liberal Ottawa—Vanier, ON

My hand is up already.

3:55 p.m.

Conservative

Mark Warawa Conservative Langley—Aldergrove, BC

May I speak to that point of order?

3:55 p.m.

Liberal

The Chair Liberal Bryan May

No.

3:55 p.m.

Liberal

Mona Fortier Liberal Ottawa—Vanier, ON

I'm next.

3:55 p.m.

Conservative

Mark Warawa Conservative Langley—Aldergrove, BC

I challenge the decision of the chair that I cannot speak to the point of order.

3:55 p.m.

Liberal

The Chair Liberal Bryan May

Points of order are not debatable.

3:55 p.m.

Conservative

Mark Warawa Conservative Langley—Aldergrove, BC

No, it's not debate, but you can speak. A member can speak to the point of order.

Is that your ruling?

3:55 p.m.

Liberal

The Chair Liberal Bryan May

Yes.

3:55 p.m.

Conservative

Mark Warawa Conservative Langley—Aldergrove, BC

Okay, I challenge the chair's ruling. Shall the decision of the chair stand? I'd like a recorded vote.

(Ruling of the chair sustained: yeas 5; nays 4)

4 p.m.

Liberal

The Chair Liberal Bryan May

MP Fortier.

4 p.m.

Liberal

Mona Fortier Liberal Ottawa—Vanier, ON

Thank you, Mr. Chair.

I move that the debate be now adjourned.