Evidence of meeting #83 for Citizenship and Immigration in the 41st Parliament, 1st Session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site.) The winning word was chair.

A recording is available from Parliament.

On the agenda

MPs speaking

Also speaking

11:35 p.m.

Conservative

Roxanne James Conservative Scarborough Centre, ON

A point of order.

It's my understanding that when a chair is chairing this committee, he or she must remain in his or her seat. I'm actually reading this bill, listening intently to Madame Groguhé, and I look up and the chair is not even present in that chair.

I'd like clarification on that particular rule.

11:35 p.m.

NDP

The Vice-Chair (Ms. Jinny Jogindera Sims) NDP Jinny Sims

I'm going to give you that clarification right now.

11:35 p.m.

Conservative

Roxanne James Conservative Scarborough Centre, ON

Can the chair just simply walk away from the committee?

11:35 p.m.

NDP

The Vice-Chair (Ms. Jinny Jogindera Sims) NDP Jinny Sims

I have been a member of this committee for about two years and a bit, and while we've been here, Mr. Tilson has often gotten up, either to get food or to get a coffee or a cup of water. That's all the chair did—poured some hot water and walked back to her seat.

Mr. Dykstra agrees with me and thinks I did nothing untoward.

June 12th, 2013 / 11:35 p.m.

Liberal

Kevin Lamoureux Liberal Winnipeg North, MB

On the same point of order, if I may, Madam Chair, I did get the opportunity to take a look at the speaking order, and I just conferred with Ms. Freeman. I think both of us were of the opinion that I was going to be speaking before her. Now, I don't know—

11:35 p.m.

NDP

The Vice-Chair (Ms. Jinny Jogindera Sims) NDP Jinny Sims

The clerk kept the speaking order.

11:35 p.m.

Liberal

Kevin Lamoureux Liberal Winnipeg North, MB

Right.

11:35 p.m.

NDP

The Vice-Chair (Ms. Jinny Jogindera Sims) NDP Jinny Sims

It's there and that's what we're going to go with. I'm not sure of any other way to address this.

11:35 p.m.

Liberal

Kevin Lamoureux Liberal Winnipeg North, MB

I don't think anyone would be offended. Ms. Freeman and I definitely wouldn't be offended if we just reversed the two of us in terms of—

11:35 p.m.

NDP

The Vice-Chair (Ms. Jinny Jogindera Sims) NDP Jinny Sims

If I can get unanimous agreement to that....

11:35 p.m.

NDP

Mylène Freeman NDP Argenteuil—Papineau—Mirabel, QC

Madam Chair, Mr. Lamoureux and I were just chatting. We were both of the same original opinion that we had been switched. I think we would both agree, at least, that he was before me before and that I would be okay with switching my spot with him now. I think that would be okay.

11:35 p.m.

NDP

The Vice-Chair (Ms. Jinny Jogindera Sims) NDP Jinny Sims

Can I seek unanimous agreement that the two spots between Mr. Lamoureux and Ms. Freeman can be switched?

11:35 p.m.

Some hon. members

Agreed.

11:35 p.m.

NDP

11:35 p.m.

NDP

Mylène Freeman NDP Argenteuil—Papineau—Mirabel, QC

Thank you. That's very much appreciated.

11:35 p.m.

NDP

The Vice-Chair (Ms. Jinny Jogindera Sims) NDP Jinny Sims

Well, thank the committee.

11:35 p.m.

NDP

Mylène Freeman NDP Argenteuil—Papineau—Mirabel, QC

We want to make sure that our Liberal colleagues are accommodated within a committee setting. I'm very glad that we are able to do that.

Thank you to the committee.

11:35 p.m.

NDP

The Vice-Chair (Ms. Jinny Jogindera Sims) NDP Jinny Sims

He feels warm to the cockles of his heart.

11:35 p.m.

Liberal

Kevin Lamoureux Liberal Winnipeg North, MB

It was a touching moment.

11:35 p.m.

NDP

The Vice-Chair (Ms. Jinny Jogindera Sims) NDP Jinny Sims

Madame Groguhé, is this a point of order? Can I ask you to state your point of order first, which is the way we're doing it?

11:35 p.m.

NDP

Sadia Groguhé NDP Saint-Lambert, QC

Madam Chair, I would like to ask a question concerning points of order that are currently being raised indiscriminately.

Does the chair have the right to decide whether points of order are justified or acceptable? Perhaps this would help us progress with the study of this bill. It is up to you to decide.

11:35 p.m.

NDP

The Vice-Chair (Ms. Jinny Jogindera Sims) NDP Jinny Sims

Your point is well taken, Madame Groguhé, and the chair will monitor whether it's a point or order or whether it's just someone who should put their name on a list and wait until it's their turn to speak.

11:35 p.m.

NDP

Sadia Groguhé NDP Saint-Lambert, QC

Madam Chair, with your permission, I would like to come back to the important matters that I have just mentioned, so that they can be recorded clearly once and for all, and I hope that I will not be interrupted.

It is certainly unfortunate that the Conservative majority is forcing us to meet in camera, but it is certainly not surprising, because their attitude is absolutely consistent with what is going on both in the House and in committees, especially during the study of Bill C-425.

11:35 p.m.

NDP

The Vice-Chair (Ms. Jinny Jogindera Sims) NDP Jinny Sims

Thank you, Madame Groguhé.

I do want to remind my colleagues on both sides of the table that we are in a committee. We are trying to listen and be respectful to one of our colleagues while she speaks. It would be appreciated if the noise could be kept down. We have extra people in the room, and we're not saying we're not delighted to see you. Who wouldn't want to see extra friends late at night? But we're going to suggest that you take your conversations outside. If you're going to be in the room, a slight whispering in the distance is fine. But if the chair hears your conversation, then I have to think about interference with the speaker, and I cannot accommodate that, because it's my job is to make sure that the proceedings go along in an orderly manner.

We will go back to Madame Groguhé.

Madame Groguhé.

11:40 p.m.

NDP

Sadia Groguhé NDP Saint-Lambert, QC

Madam Chair, I would like to raise a point of order. I think that it is important and necessary to genuinely insist on decorum. This is often done in the House. So I think that this reminder is very important, because we need to respect decorum once and for all in this committee.

This committee meeting is currently being held in public, and the image being conveyed to Canadians by the attitude of certain members is quite deplorable. Bill C-425 nonetheless raises a very important question.

Madam Chair, decorum must be respected, and I would ask you to ensure that this is done.